The Bruins put forth one of their best efforts of the season, not letting up at all after taking an early lead and playing a full 60 minutes. It's nights like this that make fans so frustrated because this shows how good the Bruins can be. Atlanta is reeling but still the Bruins never allowed a window of opportunity for them to seize the momentum and get back in it.
Vladimir Sobotka was amazing even though he didn't show up the score sheet. He played a great two-way game and that fourth line was once again not only a physical presence but a scoring presence. Byron Bitz's hard work finally paid off, as he scored the Bruins' first goal of the night.
It's on to Fenway Park from here for the 2010 Winter Classic. Be safe and happy new year!
Third period, 1:40, Bruins 4-0: Daniel Paille is in the sin bin for tripping and the Thrashers are on their fourth power play. They're 0-for-3.
The Bruins have done a tremendous job defensively as the Thrashers have been limited to 17 shots.
Third period, 10:09, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins killed off another Atlanta power play and the Thrashers are 0-for-3. The Bruins' penalty kill is really a thing of beauty. If they could get the power play to work that way, they would move right up in the standings.
Third period, 12:38, Bruins 4-0: Andrew Ference is headed to the sin bin and the Thrashers will go on their third power play of the game. They're 0-for-2.
Former Bruin and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Kevin Stevens is seated next to me in the press box, and with the help of former NHL linesman Kevin Collins — who was on the ice for this classic YouTube clip — he told me the story of how it all unfolded. Hilarious!
Third period, 18:00, Bruins 4-0: Underway in the third period in front of another sellout crowd at the TD Garden.
End of second period, Bruins 4-0: The Bruins have to be making head coach Claude Julien really happy right now. If not for the solid relief work of Johan Hedberg this could easily be a 6-0 game. The Bruins are not letting up and finally giving that long coveted 60-minute effort.
Another positive sign is the power play, which is 2-for-5. I'm sure they'd like it to be better but like I said, Hedberg has stoned them a few times. They're creating chances and cycling the puck out there.
Kudos also have to go out to Vladimir Sobotka who has been a force out there and is really becoming a key element to this lineup. His skill and physical play are a perfect fit for the grinding lines.
Now the key will be to finish off strong and bring that momentum into the Winter Classic Friday.
Second period, 4:50, Bruins 4-0: Patrice Bergeron is having one heck of a day and night! After being named to Team Canada, the Quebec native proves Hockey Canada GM Steve Yzerman right and gives the Bruins their second power-play goal of the night.
Bergeron shot in the rebound of a Mark Recchi shot. Blake Wheeler got the secondary assist.
Second period, 7:06, Bruins 3-0: It is a parade to the penalty box here in the second period and the Bruins are going on their fifth power play. They're 1-for-4 and really need to take advantage of these gifts from Atlanta.
Second period, 11:26, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins are on their fourth power play as Christoph Schubert is in the penalty box for hooking. The Bruins are 1-for-3 tonight.
Second period, 13:35, Bruins 3-0: The Bruins failed to score on their second power play but were granted another as Nik Antropov was called for high-sticking almost immediately after the Colby Armstrong penalty ended. But they apparently didn't want the gift as Zdeno Chara is now in the box for hooking.
That is the second minor for Chara tonight and he is playing an uncharacteristically undisciplined game.
Second period, 16:36, Bruins 3-0: Colby Armstrong is in the sin-bin and the Bruins are on their second power play. They're 1-for-1.
Second period, 17:29, 3-0: A solid crowd here at TD Garden. Always a festive atmosphere around the holidays and if the Bruins continue to play this way it may stay festive.
Second period, 19:45, 3-0: Underway in the second period here and the Bruins have killed off another power play. Atlanta is 0-for-1.
End of first period, Bruins 3-0: A great opening period by the Bruins as they come out and establish a tone quickly, leaping out to a 3-0 lead.
Many times this season, the Bruins have lacked that opening punch, so to speak, and tonight they found it. Unlike last week when they scored three first period goals in a 1:08 span but allowed the Thrashers to quickly make it a one-goal game, the Bruins spread out their scoring. That, in a way, is even more impressive because that means they're not letting up in terms of defense or intensity.
Marc Savard is everywhere tonight, and he and Marco Sturm continue to form a solid chemistry.
First period, 1:44, Bruins 3-0: Zdeno Chara is in the penalty box for hooking and the Thrashers will face the NHL's best penalty kill for the first time tonight.
First period, 3:10, Bruins 3-0: Steve Begin has given the Bruins a three-goal lead and for the second time in a week, the Bruins are up 3-0 on Atlanta in the first period. The Thrashers have pulled Ondrej Pavelec in favor of Johan Hedberg.
Marc Savard got his second helper of the game and Derek Morris also had an assist.
First period, 7:04, Bruins 2-0: Marco Sturm just scooped up a Marc Savard rebound and scored a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. Dennis Wideman had the secondary assist.
Great goal-mouth presence by both Savard and Sturm, and the "Sturmie face" shines for a third straight game and four times in the last five games.
Savard also has a five-game point streak in progress.
First period, 8:14, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins are on their first power play of the game as Evander Kane is in the sin bin for high-sticking.
Congrats to Patrice Bergeron on being named to Team Canada for the Olympics.
For those here in the States, that announcement was similar but way bigger than the NCAA March Madness drawing. The whole country of Canada was glued to their TV's, computers and radios today at noon and for Bergeron's name to be announced first must have been a thrill for him, his family and friends.
Also, congrats to David Krejci (Czech Republic), Zdeno Chara (Slovakia) and Marco Sturm (Germany).
First period, 13:27, Bruins 1-0: Now that was what you call grinding for a goal! Great job by Byron Bitz to really fight for the puck behind the net, dish it out to Shawn Thornton and then tip in Thornton's shot toward the net.
If that's how the team is going to play, then they have answered my question below and are focused on tonight's game.
First period, 15:01: It will be interesting to see how distracted the Bruins are from all the Winter Classic hype. Can they block it out?
First period, 19:22: Underway at TD Garden, where Tuukka Rask is in net for the Bruins for the first time since Dec. 19 at Toronto, when he was on the losing end of a 2-0 decision.
7:07 p.m.: Almost ready for faceoff, as we just made it over from Fenway Park. Lots to talk about from there but we'll get to that later. It's game time at TD Garden. Game On!
For the second time in a week, the Bruins (19-12-7, 45 points) host the Atlanta Thrashers (18-16-4, 40 points) at the TD Garden. The Bruins come into this game in better shape than the Thrashers, who have lost five straight games.
The Thrashers are 0-2-0 since losing a run-and-gun battle with the Bruins, 6-4, last Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Bruins are 1-1-0 and coming off a frustrating 2-1 loss to the Lightning on Monday. Unlike last week, though, the Bruins find themselves five points ahead of the Thrashers in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Reports from the Garden are that Tuukka Rask will start in net for the Bruins, while Johan Hedberg could start for the Thrashers, considering Ondrej Pavalec was lit up for three goals in a 1:08 span early in the game last week. Here are the expected lineups:
Bruins
Forwards
Steve Begin–Marc Savard–Marco Sturm
Daniel Paielle–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler–David Krejci–Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton–Vladimir Sobotka–Byron Bitz
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Dennis Wideman
Andrew Ference–Johnny Boychuck
Matt Hunwick–Derek Morris
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Thrashers
Forwards
Ilya Kovalchuk–Nik Antropov–Maxim Afinogenov
Evander Kane–Todd White–Colby Armstrong
Slava Kozlov–Rich Peverley–Bryan Little
Jim Slater–Marty Reasoner–Chris Thorburn
Defensemen
Tobias Enstrom–Christoph Schubert
Zach Bogosian–Pavel Kubina
Ron Hainsey–Boris Valabik
Goaltenders
Johan Hedberg
Ondrej Pavelec
