Here are the three stars:
3. Marco Sturm
2. Steve Begin
1. Marc Savard
The Bruins outshot the Hurricanes 42-27. I'm off to the dressing room now for quotes. Goodnight everyone and be sure to check NESN.com later for postgame reaction.
RIP Fred Cusick. That one was for you!
Third period, 2:55, 7-2 Bruins: The Bruins are killing off another double-minor here with Mark Stuart in the box for high-sticking. But while doing so, Dennis Wideman just laid an open ice hit on Erik Cole, sending Cole off the ice injured. This has been a "statement" game for Boston in every sense of the word!
Big question though. Why are they playing "Brass Bonanza" here right now while playing the former Whalers?
Third period, 4:52, 7-2 Bruins: While this wasn't a good performance by the Hurricanes, Kessel supporters have to admit tonight that the Bruins are showing the potential to collectively replace his offense. As of now, five Bruins are having multi-point nights.
By the way, Begin as of now, is one of the most underrated signings of the summer!
Third period, 10:26, 7-2 Bruins: Matt Hunwick just scored a power-play goal. Hunwick made a beautiful pinch down low and buried a Sturm feed. Savard had the other assist.
I love Hunwick's ability to pinch down low like that and read the play. Great job by him!
Also, Thornton just beat up his old teammate Andrew Alberts.
Third period, 13:13, 6-2 Bruins: Sergei Samsonov just took a hooking penalty and effectively helped the Bruins kill off the double-minor to Morris.
Thomas was amazing on that kill by the way and has bounced back nicely tonight.
Third period, 17:19, 6-2 Bruins: Eric Staal just scored on the power play to make it 6-2. Oh by the way, Staal who went out after taking a puck to the head, came back with 25 stitches and is still playing. That's a hockey player folks!
Morris just took some liberty with Walker and is in the sin bin for four minutes on a high-sticking call.
Third period, 17:53, 6-1 Bruins: We're under way here in the final period with the Bruins in command. The penalty boxes are jammed from all the rough stuff at the end of the second.
Interesting observations here in the press box by some scouts and even some Bruins people. Many think that Lucic went a bit too far with that final shot on Harrison and ironically that's not the first time I've heard that. Last season I had a few well-respected league executives and also former tough guys say the same about Lucic.
Many fear this could come back to haunt him and/or his teammates, so it's something worth paying attention to.
Second period, 0:00, 6-1 Bruins: Julien said before the game, if the Bruins wanted to use the revenge factor as motivation for tonight's game, then go ahead. Maybe they should figure out why they need revenge on 29 clubs, eh?
The rout and revenge is on folks!
Second period, 1:37, 6-1 Bruins: The Bruins just answered the Walker tally as Thornton buried a beautiful feed from Begin. That's Begin's second assist of the night and third of the season.
And finally we have our first bout of the night! Lucic just pummeled Jay Harrison. The final shot by "Luch" bloodied Harrison and sent him to the ice. As Pierre McGuire said, Lucic is a "deavastating machine and cyborg!"
There was also a scrap between Chara and Kostopoulos.
Second period, 4:39, 5-1 Bruins: Well the Hurricanes finally awoke from their slumber here and of course Scott Walker breaks the shutout! A lot of booing going on here at the TD Garden.
Also, two former Bruins get the assists, Ward and Samsonov.
Spoke to Walker earlier and that was pretty much the reception he expected every time he touched the puck, but the fans have surprisingly showed mercy towards him or maybe they are just too happy with the Bruins thus far?
Second period, 7:16, 5-0 Bruins: The Bruins' power play just struck again! Dennis Wideman blasted a one-timer from Bergeron by Leighton. Recchi got the secondary assist.
Some great tic-tac-toe passing by the Bruins and the power play has found its groove. The Bruins are 3-5 now.
Second period, 9:23, 4-0 Bruins: The Bruins just took a 4-0 lead on a beautiful play by Marco Sturm and Marc Savard. Sturm stole the puck from Aaron Ward, gave it to Savard and then buried the give-and-go play past Cam Ward.
Cam Ward was just pulled and replace by Michael Leighton.
Great chemistry there between Savard and Sturm. If that keeps up, Sturm may keep that spot on the top line.
Second period, 13:11, 3-0 Bruins: The Bruins are now honoring Fred Cusick on the big screen and playing highlights of his career. Thanks for the memories, Fred!
I'm getting chills now, thinking of my childhood and watching the games he called with my Dad and grandfather. Wow!
Second period, 15:17, 3-0 Bruins: The Bruins failed to score on their fourth power play and now the Canes are on their third.
The Bruins are still outshooting Carolina decisively. Sometimes when a goalie doesn't see many shots it can be more difficult, but Thomas still looks alert.
Second period, 18:32, 3-0 Bruins: The Bruins are on their fourth power play, compliments of a hooking call to Staal. Can't really fault Staal for a lazy play here and there tonight. He played over 26 minutes last night!
First intermission, 3-0 Bruins: We are almost ready to go here for the second period.
Some quick notes: The Bruins were 2-for-3 on the power play and the Hurricanes were 0-for-2.
Boston also had a decisive edge in shots at 21-7.
Forty more minutes of this and they will finally look like the contenders people have them pegged as.
First period, 0:00, 3-0 Bruins: A great opening frame by the Bruins here at the TD Garden. As I stated before, they had a lot of purpose and a good jump in their skates out there. That is what Julien wanted and he has to be happy. The key is to do it for 40 more minutes now.
First Period, 6:15, 3-0 Bruins: The Hurricanes are on a power play here. But I just wanted to point out that this game reminds me a lot of Game 5 between these clubs last spring. The Bruins are playing with heart and purpose, something they clearly lacked on Thursday and also in the first four games of that series last spring.
Just to note, Dennis Wideman appears to be hurt after taking a puck off the wrist.
First Period, 6:56, 3-0 Bruins: Wow! The Bruins just took a commanding 3-0 lead on a Blake Wheeler goal. Steve Begin and Milan Lucic had the assists.
First Period, 7:22, 2-0 Bruins: After killing off the Canes' first power play, the Bruins just scored another one of their own.
Michael Ryder gets the goal from Chara and Morris. Morris now has two assists and is looking for more and more at home.
First Period, 9:44, 1-0 Bruins: The Hurricanes are on their first power play after Tim Thomas took a delay of game penalty. Carolina also killed off the Bruins' second power play.
With the exception of this Thomas penalty, the Bruins look a lot more focused and disciplined.
First Period, 13:16, 1-0 Bruins: The Bruins are on another power play here as old friend Stephane Yelle is in the sin bin for hooking.
That Savard goal was just what the Bruins needed. They got the first goal and also seem to have the power play clicking. Good way to start.
First Period, 15:54, 1-0 Bruins: The Bruins finally converted on their power play as Marc Savard buried home the goal for a 1-0 Bruins lead. Michael Ryder and Derek Morris had the assists.
First period, 17:25: There is no score here early but Carolina has had some chances. Tim Thomas though, has been up to the task. Thomas would definitely like to have a solid bounce-back game tonight and show that Vezina Trophy style.
Good friend and now three-time Stanley Cup Champion Kevin Stevens just came over to show me his new Stanley Cup ring. Kevin is a pro scout for the Penguins. The ring was huge!
Bruins just went on the power play.
7:00 p.m.: Back from another delicious dinner in the "Will McDonough" press room! I must say the food has really improved here over the years and as always, the hospitality from Blanch and Ronnie is top-notch!
So the lights have dimmed here and we're almost ready for the face-off. There are no lineup changes to report but Bruins fans are certainly hoping this Bruins lineup produces a better performance and outcome!
For that to happen, I think the Bruins really need to have a strong beginning and score the first goal. They also need to somehow create traffic in front and frazzle the always calm and collected Cam Ward.
Enjoy the game and let's hope the Bruins can win this one for Fred Cusick! Time for Rene Rancourt.
5:45 p.m.: Greetings from the TD Garden here in Boston as we get closer to the long-awaited rematch between the Bruins and Hurricanes. The Bruins are focused on this season but they admitted they're using the revenge factor tonight. Checkout my report from the morning skate here on NESN.com.
Also, I am
honored to be here on Fred Cusick Night. Hearing his voice brings back
such good memories. RIP Fred and thanks for the memories! Checkout what Jack Edwards had to say about him in a story I just sent into NESN.com. The always classy Edwards figures he will be very humbled tonight calling the game from what will now be called the "Fred Cusick Broadcast Booth."
“I’ll be humbled,” Edwards said when asked how he will feel calling
the game and being part of the ceremony. “It’s funny, but sometimes in
this job I still feel like a kid and I’ll feel like a kid again tonight
when that booth is named for Fred. I’ll be asking myself, "What am I
doing here?'”
OK. Going to head down to the "Will McDonough Press Room" here in the TD Garden for some dinner. We'll be back for the pre-game skate report in a bit.
9:48 a.m.: The Bruins and Hurricanes renew acquaintances tonight at TD Garden for the first time since Carolina and Scott Walker sent the Bruins home with a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 7 of the Conference Finals. But after both teams laid eggs in their season openers, the revenge and rematch factors may be put on the back burner. This is a new season, and both the Hurricanes and Bruins look to get back on track and earn their first tonight.
This also marks the return of former fan favorite, defenseman Aaron Ward, as well as forward Stephane Yelle and old friend Andrew Alberts. Should be another packed house on Saturday night, and we'll have you covered all day at NESN.com with injury updates, line updates and more.
