Hammers Ready for Game Three -- A Win Sends Them to Gold Medal Round

Its Saturday morning and its 1030 am. Roc is still passed out in his bed with an occasional groan. He did wake up to tell me he was still drunk and figured he would vomit around 1:00 pm.

As for me, I was up late and up early. I feel good and hope that can carry over to our game at 3:30 against the guys from Montreal. I met a couple of them last night at the bar. They were Bruins fans who live in Montreal. I loved it. After watching them play we should be able to handle them quite easily. We will have to see. A win will put us in the gold medal round. We will surely be playing against the Syracuse Rangers who beat the Nordiques this morning 7-0.

We lost to the Rangers yesterday 5-3. Their goalie is awful, but they were definitely the better team. I don’t want to admit it but I really have no choice. They’re much faster than us but tire easily. If we can wear them down tomorrow morning we will have a game. Its important to note that we can beat them. They were better but not unbeatable. We are a good team when everybody does their part, spreads out and sticks to the game plan.

As a side note, Charlie must have made 45 saves yesterday. He played magnificently and as much as I don’t want to say he’ll have to be a huge factor for us tomorrow, he really is going to need to be. I don’t think I have ever seen him play better than the performance he turned in yesterday. The score sheet said 21 saves but I’m pretty sure the scorekeeper was blind in one eye. Speaking of blind, the referees we had were terrible. I have never seen a game called as lop-sided as they called it yesterday. Not to mention, those bastards looked pretty young. I’m going to go out on a limb and say they probably just started growing pubic hair this year. I hope they don’t ref us again and for their sake too because I will be shooting at them when I dump the puck in the zone. We shall see.

So Chris Mackin will be doing the shootout. Hope he does well. He looked much better today than he did yesterday. He looked like the floor of taxi cab yesterday. Im pretty sure Roc took that analogy today.

So with all that being said, I’m done here. Ill have a game recap after our game later.

GO HAMMERS!

Hammers Dispose of Nordiques, 5-1

Lake Placid, NY – After a long night of drinking and shenanigans, the opening game for the tournament could have gone very well or terribly for the Hammers. After a slow start though, the boys in red started hunting down pucks, threaded passes and slowly picked apart the defense and goaltending of the Westmount Nordiques. When the final buzzer sounded, the Hammers were victorious by a score of 5-1.

It’s should be known that they didn’t play their best and were quite sloppy, but still managed to up their record to 1-0 in the Sarajevo division of 2009 Can/Am Classic.

Mike Gresko, Ric Novak (2) and Johnny Dagostino did all the goal scoring, while Jeremy Lemoine and Paul Carpenter chipped in with three assists apiece.

As always, Hammers netminder Charlie Kunkel was stellar between the piped with a 15 save effort.

The Auburn Hammers will look to go up 2-0 in the tournament when they take on the Syracuse Rangers tonight at 5:00 pm. A win will put them in a great position to play for the gold medal on Sunday morning at 8:00 am in the Herb Brooks 1980 Arena.

To view the box score of the game click here.

Hammers Gear Up for Day One in Lake Placid

It is 8:55am and I am awake. Should I be? Probably not, but then again I have never been able to sleep late so who cares. We made it Lake Placid yesterday afternoon about 3:30 pm and after seeing my room I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

Rock is my roommate. Eric Plainte is his real name, but for the record, I have never ever heard anybody use his name. Actually, the first three years playing with these guys I never knew his real name.

Now, I get here and check-in and head to the room. I open the door and walk in. My jaw hit the floor.

“How the hell did I manage to land a suite,” I muttered to myself.

Yes, you read right. We got a suite. Now, this could be great or very bad. No matter what, I love it. We have a couch and a fireplace up in here. It’s awesome. So right now, I am on the couch, buck naked, typing this while Rock-o sleeps. I really am naked and I only told you so you can picture it perfectly in your head! SORRY! Hahah

So last night we went to Rumours – a nice bar/ club in the hotel. It was dead at first and I was skeptical, but as the night went on it got better. I should not fail to mention that George had already put me in a Jacuzzi and soaked me so I was on my second set of clothes for the day. Figures, the year I don’t bring much and that happens. It’s ok though, you know what the say about payback.

So back to Rumours. I’m a young guy and single so naturally when I see a girl by herself at the bar, I’ll say hi. Her friend stood her up and she’s throwing back Long Island Ice Tea’s like a champ. I’m impressed… and attracted. No, she was not fat. So, we get to talking and Paulie comes over and dumps popcorn on my head… and hers. Really?!?! I thought right there it was over, but shockingly enough, we kept talking.

We laughed it off so no big deal. But at this point I know any single guy on our team is going to try and mess up my game. Sure enough, I couldn’t have been more right. Where was Rock when I needed him? Mackin and Mike (Philly Cheese Steak) come over and start talking to her so I just said screw it. It doesn’t matter because I realized she was just looking for free drinks. So I let them by her the drinks. I am here to play hockey and win games anyway. If there are girls, that’s just bonus.

I let them do their thing… no clue what happened because I headed back to MY SUITE. Did they? No, so I don’t care, I was happy regardless.

Now, back to hockey. We have two games today. If you click here, you can follow us on Pointstreak.com.

Our first game is against the Westmount Nordiques. They are from Quebec so we won’t be able to understand any of their French. Dad, if your reading, thanks for teaching me the French you know… sense the sarcasm!

That first game begins at 11:20 am and then we play the Syracuse Rangers at 4:50 pm. Hopefully when I come back later for game recaps we will be 2-0. If we play the way we can, we are capable of coming up here and kicking the crap out of every team. That’s a fact.

Ok its 9:15 and I need a coffee and a bagel and need to hit the gym for a quick jog to loosen up. Keep checking in all day, Ill have updates!

Bruins Begin Second Round vs. the Hurricanes or Whalers?

This coming Friday, May 1, the Boston Bruins will commence the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This Eastern Conference Semifinal marks the first time the Bruins have made it to the second round in 10 years. Yes, I said 10 years -- much to my chagrin. I suppose rather than dwell on that, we should all be excited because this team is legit.

So, with the Carolina Hurricanes coming to town, the Bruins will look to get to the Conference Finals since the 90-91 season. The year before that, my beloved Black N’ Gold lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Edmonton Oilers. For me personally, I was playing youth hockey for Mid-State scoring loads of goals and watching a highlight video of that Bruins season entitled “Reach for the Stars.” A pre-Parkinson’s Michael J Fox narrated and Mike Millbury was the team’s head coach. I swear to god I watched that movie over 100 times. I can still quote it 17 years later. Pathetic? Oh I would say so! But at least it legitimizes me as a true fan rather than be labeled as a bandwagoner as the Bruins re-mark their territory in the Hub of Hockey.

Before I preview this year’s showdown, please bear with me and let me revel in a little more history. That year the Boston made it to the finals, their path to the silver chalice was the Hartford Whalers in Round 1, the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2, the Washington Capitals in Round 3 and then the Edmonton Oilers in the Finals. Do you any of you see a pattern here? I do, if you flip-flop the first and second round opponents this just may be the exact road the 2009 Boston Bruins take the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ok who’s scratching their head? Today’s Carolina Hurricanes are formerly the Hartford Whalers. Cue Brass Bonanza. The old Whale skated in Connecticut at the Hartford Civic Center, which is now called the XL Center, home to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. I saw two Bruins games in Connecticut against the Whalers -- one with my mom and one with my brother. It was a great place to catch a game and I really wish they would bring back the Whale.

So now that I have just rambled on and on about the History of the Bruins and the second round, I think I’ll give my short take on this coming series and then give a more in depth preview tomorrow. I can also preview the other playoff match-ups as well.

So the Bruins enter the series owning the regular season series 4-0. Throw it out the window folks. Paul Maurice’s Cardiac Canes are playing much better than when the season series concluded. Goalie Cam Ward is playing well, real well. Boston also outscored Carolina 18-6 throughout the season.

We all now about season series and then playoffs by looking at last year’s series vs. Montreal. With that being said, I still think the Bruins take this in six games. They’re big, tough, fast and have this season’s soon-to-be Vezina Trophy winner in Timmy Thomas. All things being equal though, the Bruins are too deep for the Hurricanes. To be more concise, the intrepid scribe believes that the B’s are the deepest team to come out of the East. I will be shocked if they don’t prove it. I really like Boston’s chances to go to the Cup Finals.

ESPN Analyst and recently shit-canned Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Barry Melrose picked the Hurricanes. That makes me feel even better because that guy may be animated, but he’s moron. Or better yet, a Don Cherry wannabe.

Be back tomorrow for less history and more fact so you can make your own prediction to the Bruins/ Canes series as well as the other games.

WOW, Jerry Remy just said Bruins in six during the Red Sox game. Well, the baseball guru agrees with me… do you? Bruins in six baby.

Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals Matchups Set

I have not been very good at keeping this updated because I have been so busy lately. As I sit on the couch and watch the Rangers vs. Capitals game seven, it makes perfect sense to make a post.

As I type this I was going to start out by saying that the Rangers are playing tremendous hockey, and by this eye, may sneak out with a series upset as a the seventh seed. Nevermind speaking too soon -- I thought too soon. As I was gathering my thoughts, suddenly, the Verizon Center erupts because veteran Russian forward Sergei Fedorov sniped a wrister that beat Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist short side. By the way, it was the old-farts 52nd career tally in the playoffs. To my memory, I think that is the second goal of the series that beat him short side. Not good for “King Henrik,” affectionately called in the Big Apple.

With four minutes to go, it looks as though the Capitals will win this series.

Now to the Western Conference upset where the President’s Trophy winning San Jose Sharks choked again in the post-season. They lost in six games to the Anaheim Ducks.

By the way, the Caps won. Game over. I love the handshake…although I hope someone sucker punches Sean Avery. The Versus announcers are all of a sudden loving the Capitals and pumping their tires. Funny how the second best team in the Eastern Conference barely makes it out the first round and the announcers suddenly love them. How? They should have lost tonight and were being chastised during the intermissions by the same guys. How contradicting... go figure.

Back to the Sharks. I thought they would at least get to the Cup Finals. I guess when you take two Norris Trophy defensemen and put them up against a perrenial playoff failure in Joe Thornton, we should have known. Physical play was the key to the Ducks win there.

Both No show Joe and Captain Patrick Marleau weren’t very influential in the series and that’s a big reason they lost to the Ducks. I should make note that they were drafted Nos. one and two respectively in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

On November 30, 2006 Thornton was traded to San Jose. I was an employee of the Bruins at the time and what an interesting week that turned out to be. I did say it was going to turn out to be a good trade and it was for the Bruins. Only one other reporter agreed with me… and that was Boston Globe Hall of Fame writer, Kevin Paul Dupont. Oh, my good buddy Joey MacDonald from the Providence Journal agreed too. Oops. This summer I will break down that trade because after three years, we can look at it more in depth and see all the pros and cons.

On a positive note, the Worcester Sharks, a former place of employment for me as well, upset the first seeded Hartford Wolf Pack in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League. After dropping the first two, the Baby Sharks stormed back to take four in a row. Good friend of mine, Riley Armstrong leads the team with eight assists. The Sharks began the Atlantic Division Finals (Round 2) against the Providence Bruins tonight and dropped game one by a score of 3-2 in overtime. Good luck to the Sharkies!

Right now I am waiting to see final matchups for the second round for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Once I find out I am going to bed. I will preview tomorrow.

SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Well, I just found out that the Boston Bruins will take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Washington Capitals in the other round.

Western Conference Semifinals
The Anaheim Ducks will take on Detroit Red Wings while the Vancouver Canucks and face off against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Now, seeing that’s done, Im hitting the sheets. Previews tomorrow…

PS. Versus in-studio analyst Brian Engblom picked perfectly in the first round. Maybe now he can pick a new hairstylist because his current hair-do is pathetic. Poor bastard!

I would be remiss to not mention my good buddy Joe Roche went 6.5 and 8 on his picks. He lost the Carolina/ New Jersey series and was pretty sure the Sharks would lose their series but was afraid to actually pick against them. Way to Work esquire Roche, way to work!

Bruins Sweep, Off to First Second Round Appearance in 10 Years

Well, here I am ready to talk about the win from last night and the series sweep and at this point its probably old news. Last night I was trying to enjoy the game and do a few other things so I didn’t have a chance to write.

Tonight, I have my own game, a tournament I might add that will go on through the weekend, so as I wait for that, now is a great time to talk about the Bruins.

The Bruins did exactly what I said they would do in my prior post. They came into the Bell Centre and steam-rolled those French …. Errr guys. As you can tell, I’m really not impressed by the Canadiens and never will be. It’s like a die-hard Red Sox fan liking anything to do with the Yankees. Of course I do not like the Yanks either, but you catch my drift.

Pacing the Bruins for the second game in a row was former member of the hated Canadiens, Newfie Michael Ryder. Ryder scored the equalizer in the first after the Habs took a quick 1-0 lead. Following his first of the game, he set up linemate David Krejci for eventual game-winner and then later added another. I believe that gave the sharp-shooting winger four goals in the series. I don’t feel like looking it up, but take my word for it because I’m very rarely wrong.

Obviously, after the Bruins took a commanding lead last night, it was important to preserve the win but also to be smart and get injured. Of course you had to know something would happen and why not believe it would be between Milan Lucic and Mike Komisarek.

Didn’t Mike Komisarek learn his lesson the first time the two fought? Lucic nearly destroyed his face and ripped his shoulder out of his socket. Apparently not because “Komi” goaded the Luciamotive into another round of fist-a-cuffs. Except this time, Lucic threw one punch that connected with Komisarek’s face and it the fight was over.

Well, I said that ended the fight, but certainly not the feud. Late in the third the Canadiens defenseman looked to try and decapitate Lucic. Yes, real classy to pull that with minimal time on the clock as well the series all but over. Komisarek cross-checked Lucic so hard it snapped his composite stick in half and cut Lucic on the cheek with a face-washing after. Obviously Lucic was fine, but it got Komisarek a five-minute major and 10-minute misconduct. Thus, ending his season a bit prematurely. See ya Mike!

Now that that’s out of the way, who do the Boys of Black ‘N Gold play next? The guess here is that New York finishes off Washington and plays the Bruins because they have the seventh seed. If Washington win it will come down to if Carolina beats New Jersey. Again, if New Jersey wins, it will become the winner of Philly vs. Pittsburgh series. I truly don’t think Washington will come back because Lundquist is too hot. He is playing some real good hockey.

If the Bruins get the Rags, look for Sean Avery to pull his usual. Of course, look for the Bruins to continue in the discipline factor and get to Lundquist quickly.
During the regular season the Bruins went 2-1-1 against the Rangers and shut them out twice (2-0 and 1-0 respectively).

I leave it at that for now. Ill be back soon to weigh in on some Western Conference thoughts as well as some things in the Eastern Conference I expected and didn’t expect.
As for my tournament tonight, Go Hammers!

PS. The Bruins broke out their Victory dance, did you?

Ryder Pushes Former Team to Brink

The 2009 Boston Bruins, owners of the top spot in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, are for real. As the team’s marketing slogan eloquently states, “We want it.” Truer words cannot be spoken. Game three lived up the hype as the pundits fully expected the game to be a physical affair, especially in front of the Montreal faithful.

From the initial puck drop both teams quickly set the tempo with hard hitting and speed. But it was the Bruins who prevailed with the shear will to want it more. For the first time since the lockout the Bruins marketing team can sit down and have a nice cold beer. They finally got the slogan right, “We Want It.”

There is absolutely no question the Bruins want it more than the Canadiens and any skeptics should watch a replay of Chuck Kobasew’s empty net goal. Granted it was an empty netter, but the loose puck battle he won against Captain Saku Koivu for the empty net was pure beauty. It was the proverbial nail in the coffin for the Habs in game three and as far as my eyes can tell, the series.

The Canadiens are on the brink and their fans are most likely on the ledge after last year’s phenomenal season and this year being the organizations 100th anniversary.

The biggest story of the game has to be Bruins forward Michael Ryder though. After a dismal season last year with the hated Canadiens, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli enticed the hard shooting forward with a four-million dollar pact over three three years to cross enemy lines and come play with his former coach Claude Julien. Ryder took a lot of heat in Montreal last year, but it was he who has the last laugh against his former team. The New Foundland native ripped a one-timer from the right faceoff circle off a Dennis Wideman rebound. The shot beat Carey Price under the cross bar for the Bruins third goal and the eventual game winner. No doubt Ryder was excited to see that one cross the goal line for his new team. His words to the fans who booed him all night? OLE THIS!?!?

So, Wednesday the boys in Black ‘N Gold will look to dispose of their hated rivals in game four for the series sweep. This will unquestionably give the B’s some serious confidence (not like they don’t already have it) heading into the second round of the playoffs. For right now, they just need to concentrate on game four and if there is one team that can do it, its Boston.

A four-game sweep will give the Bruins a nice rest period to heal and prepare for that second round while the rest of the first round completes.

This faithful scribe’s guess: The Bruins come in and steam role Montreal in game four to get ready for the semi final matchup versus either the New York Rangers or the winners the Penguins/ Flyers series.

By the way, helmets off to rookie Byron Bitz. Filling in for the suspended Milan Lucic, played defensively responsible and setup linemate Shawn Thornton for the B’s second goal. Depth continues to be a key factor here for the Bruins successful season. Phil Kessel added the other Boston goal on a beautiful tip past Price in the first period.

As for me, good fight and good night!