NHL Releases 2014-15 Schedule

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Today, the National Hockey League released it's 2014-15 schedule. As soon as the NHL releases their television schedule, I will post some games of interest.

Perusing the schedules, I found a few items of interest. My two favorite NHL teams, the Boston Bruins and the Minnesota Wild will meet on October 28, 2014, at the TD North Garden. They two teams meet at the Xcel Energy Center on December 17,2014.

The Boston Bruins play the Winnipeg Jets on Friday November 28, 2014 at the Boston Garden. On Friday December 19, 2014 the Bruins play the Winnipeg Jets in at the MTS Centre.

The @NHL has announced the #NHLBruins 2014-15 regular season schedule. View the 82-game slate here: http://t.co/gz0BwxZ41J ^BB
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 22, 2014

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The Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche kick off the regular season with a home-and-home series. This should prove to be interesting, because the Wild eliminated the Av's in the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Also, this will be the first meeting between Matt Cooke and Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie. Cooke took out Barrie with a dirty leg check.

Hey #Avs, we'll see you Oct. 9 at @XcelEnergyCtr for the #mnwild opener: http://t.co/MKhIaqoR1V pic.twitter.com/2Bfw6QfKFn
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) June 21, 2014

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NHL 15 Cover Vote... #NHL15Bergeron

RT this if you're going to vote for #NHL15Bergeron as much as you can today. pic.twitter.com/CbR6Z4Vjif
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 1, 2014

It ends today. You can use this link to vote. Voting closes today.

Lambert, "Stop your complaining about diving already"

Today, Ryan Lambert of Puck Daddy fame has a blog post about diving. I always love those writers and fans that tell us to stop complaining about the on-ice officials. Moreover, I also love the people that tell us to stop complaining about player embellishment.

People seem particularly aggrieved these days by “the head snap,” that is, when a stick or a glove gets somewhere up near a guy's face, he throws his head back. Tomas Plekanec famously did this in Game 4, after everyone talked about how both teams had “embarrassed” the refs by embellishing for calls in Game 3. The reason why is simple: They'd been able to do it to great effect in the past, but because the officials were on the lookout for it, they spotted it in Plekanec's case. The guy who gets caught is always the one who gets vilified, and the quote-unquote hilarious hashtag “#Plekanecing” quickly made its way around social media (spurred on by, who else, Bruins media hacks). The reason for this is that it's hard to take a picture of throwing yourself on the ice with the force of 10 atomic bombs because a guy's stick tapped the back of your skate (#Marchanding), and that people's memories are short (#Boychuking).

I am sorry, but diving and embellishment has gotten way out of hand in all levels of hockey. It doesn't matter if you watch the NHL, College or youth hockey. Hockey players are flopping all over the ice to get calls and draw penalties. Face it, diving is poor sportsmanship and it cheapens the game of hockey. We don't want the NHL resembling soccer.



Seriously, I don't know too many hockey fans that want to see any more displays like these two examples. I posted two videos of Vancouver Canucks frauds Alex Burrows and Ryan Kessler. These two are the epitome of diving. Burrows is known around the NHL as being a head snapping embellishing clown. Lastly, Lambert a known Boston Bruins hater, is again using his blog to troll the Boston Bruins fan base, but none of us should be shocked by that.

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NHL Cover Vote: #NHL15Bergeron

Since former UND forward T.J. Oshie has been eliminated from the voting, I am not shifting my focus to Patrice Bergeron.

Humor: Milan Lucic's trip through the handshake line (Video)

This version is more than humorous than Milan Lucic telling someone that he's going F'N kill them.

Boston Bruins: Brad Marchand Punches Tomas Plekanec before the Face-Off

This happened right before a face-off during the third period of last night's game. Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand punches Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec in the side of the head. This isn't going to play well with the Marchand haters. During the regular season, this would have probably started a line braul.

Milan Lucic's trip through the hand shake line. Lucic Threatens Dale Weise and Alexei Emelin

At the end of the game, Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic used the handshake line to say his piece to Montreal Canaidens Dale Weise and Alexei Emelin. According to Weise, Lucic threatened him. Traditionally, the handshake line is considered sacred ground and it a taboo to start something in the handshake line. Once the game is over, it's over, the handshake line is supposed to be devoid of extracurricular activities.

From Michael Hurley of CBS Boston.

Weise didn’t repeat exactly what Lucic said, but TSN’s Aaron Ward reportedly watched slowed down video that showed Lucic telling Weise, “I’m going to [expletive] kill you next year.”

“You look at a guy like Shawn Thornton who has been around the league and he plays hard and he plays that role and he had good things to say to everybody,” Weise told the media. “He [lost] with class and Milan Lucic just couldn’t do that. Well I won’t get into what he said — it’s just poor, it’s a poor way to lose.”

Weise says Lucic threatened him in the handshake and said something similarly threatening to Emelin. Emotional series ends with tough words.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 15, 2014

Milan Lucic and Dale Weise had an awkward moment with this handshake, and Lucic giving him a few choice F words. pic.twitter.com/eZMyQNz4AC
— Jeff Adams (@jeffmadams) May 15, 2014

(Video) Brad Marchand snows Carey Price

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was given a two-minute penalty for snowing Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, seven seconds into the second period. Fortunately for the Bruins, they were able to kill the Montreal power-play.

All class, Milan Lucic pelted with trash as he leaves the ice in Montreal

The Canadiens fans are unhappy with Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic as is pelted with trash as he leaves the ice. s/t the score.

(Video) Milan Lucic runs over Alexei Emelin

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic absolutely destroy Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin with a good, hard, legal check. Emelin didn't seem quite right after this hit.

Boston and Montreal: A few GIFS to start game six

Not a real good start to the game between Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens as a puck gets past Tuukka Rask in the early minutes of game six.  The Bruins seemed to pick it up after Montreal tried playing physical against them. The Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask had to be good to start the game.

Gionta, "For the most part of the series we’ve outplayed them"

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Former Boston College Eagle Brian Gionta is delusional if he thinks that the Canadiens have outplayed the Boston Bruins. For the most part. I think that the Habs have gotten some great breaks, but Boston has been the better team.

Pat Hickey, The Gazette --- We knew what we’re getting into in this series,” captain Brian Gionta said Sunday after the team held an optional workout in Brossard. “They’re a good team. We’re playing at home. For the most part of the series we’ve outplayed them and we feel comfortable.”

“Some of our guys have done this before,” added David Desharnais, who was referring to the last playoff meeting between these teams in 2011, when the Canadiens won Game 6 at home and then lost in overtime in Boston in Game 7. “We’re in front of our fans and we like the way we play at home.”

The confidence in the Canadiens’ dressing room might stem from the fact they never trailed in this series until the loss Saturday gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead. There’s an argument to be made the Canadiens could have swept this series — they had a late two-goal lead in Game 2 and a Boston bounce produced a 1-0 overtime win for the Bruins in Game 4.

Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton fined for water bottle incident

I know it's not supposed to be funny, but.... I could just see the video now. Saturday night in Boston, in the waning minutes of game five, Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton squirted water from the players bench at Montreal Canadiens Defenseman P.K. Subban, striking him in the visor. This is unsportsmanlike conduct. The NHL Department of Player Safety has decided to fine Thornton $2,820.52.

James Mirtle (@myrtle) tweeted at 10:09 AM on Sun, May 11, 2014: Shawn Thornton fined $2820.52 for "unsportsmanlike conduct" i.e. the water bottle incident with PK Subban. Ho hum.

Matt Fraser celly (GIF)

s/t to Steph @myregularface.... Check out Matt Fraser's Celly... That was a sweet goal. The last time that he scored a goal was on January 9, 2014, against the L.A. Kings.

Boston Bruins: Matt Fraser scores the game winning goal against Montreal in game four (Video)

Boston Bruins forward Matt Fraser was recalled yesterday, and this was only the fourth NHL goal of his career. His first in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You have to love his quote though.

“I said earlier today that I have played for the Stanley Cup 100 times,” Fraser said. “On an outdoor rink – on my buddy’s outdoor rinks, but to do it on a place like this is pretty amazing.”

Fraser special night congrats it's a series lets gooooooooo
— marc savard (@MSavvy91) May 9, 2014

Jarome Iginla drills Max Pacioretty hard

Boston Bruins forward Jarome Iginla drills Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty with a clean, hard, legal check. Pacioretty looked like he was a bit woozy after the hit. Pacioretty would return to the game.

Is Milan Lucic playing with fire?

First, Milan Lucic will not be fined, suspended or even slapped by the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety for his latest stick transgression. That being said, the Montreal Canadiens, and their fans were up in arms with the Boston Bruins tough guy and his latest cup check of his favorite dance partner Hab's defenseman Alexei Emelin. Let's just say, those two have a history.

No hearing or fine for Milan Lucic after "spearing" Alexei Emelin in 3rd period last night. #canadiens #bruins #nhl #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 7, 2014

Another game, another Lucic cup check. We got quit a history starting to develop here. Emelin isn't going to fight Lucic or anyone else. There's a reason for that, and Taylor Shire from the Bleacher Report tells us why.

During a 2009 playoff game, while playing with Kazan AK-Bars in the Kontinental Hockey League, Emelin got into a fight with Alexander Svitov, who rearranged Emelin’s face. Emelin was left face down, bleeding profusely on the ice after taking a couple solid punches to the face.

Emelin had a concussion, a broken nose and needed facial reconstruction. Now he has several metal plates under his left eye. So, that’s a good enough reason not to fight Malone. Why risk more injury to your already-injured face? There could be long-term effects.

Last night,  at the 12:05 mark of the third period, Lucic again stuck his stick in Emelin's nether region. Like most of us watching, it was so subtle that we didn't see it. For the most part, the play went undetected, even by the television announcers. After the play in question, the two separated without incident and went their separate ways. After the whistle, Looch whispered sweet nothings in Emelin's ear. I am sure they weren't exchanging phone numbers.



I would say that Lucic is starting to develop a nasty reputation of having a way ward stick. This way ward stick, seems to keep connecting with his opponents' testicles. In my opinion, that's bush league, Lucic is better than that.

After reading the book "The Code" - one might say that Lucic has broken the hockey code by doing these types of bush league tactics. Let's not forget, that turnabout is also fair play. Someday, someone is going to catch him with a retaliation type hit. Lucic brought this on himself.



Lastly, I am a Boston Bruins fan, for that I make no apologies, but I must say that these incidents are starting to become a regular occurrence. This is disappointing. Again, Lucic is better than this, he doesn't need to resort to these types of dirty, cheap hits.

At what point does the NHL step in and sanction him a punishment that more teeth to it, it's not like he hasn't been warned. Before we go there, the Hab's aren't a bunch of saints and they don’t hold the moral high ground, either. Last night, Zdeno Chara was caught with a vicious slash by a Hab’s player as well.

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• (Video) Bruins Milan Lucic cup checks the Habs Alexei Emelin, again

(Video) Bruins Milan Lucic cup checks the Habs Alexei Emelin, again

Apparently, the Montreal Canadiens are unhappy with another cup checking incident involving Bruins forward Milan Lucic and Canadiens forward Alexei Emelin. (Click to read the link) No clue, if the National Hockey League is going to do anything about it. I guess they could fine him again.

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So, where are the Boston Bruins?

#488495703 / gettyimages.com

Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe asks some really good questions in his article. So, where are the Boston Bruins? I think if they lose on Thursday night, this series is over. Some of the top players of the Bruins have been missing in action, so far during this series.

MONTREAL — The Bruins are the better team. This is what the hockey folks keep saying. This is what the regular-season record shows. The Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy, earning home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The Bruins are better than the Canadiens at the five-on-five game. The Bruins play a heavy game. They will overwhelm Montreal with Maximum Heaviosity.

Hmmm. This sounds like what folks in Detroit were saying last October when they played the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Tigers were clearly better. Just like the 2007 Patriots were clearly better than the New York Giants. Just like the ’84 Lakers were better than the Celtics.

So why did Montreal win, 4-2, Tuesday night? Why are the Bruins trailing this series, 2-1? In three playoff games, why have the Canadiens led for 107 minutes, while the Bruins have led for only 11½ minutes? When do the Hub’s Heavy Hitters take control of this series? Where is the Bruins first line? Where in the world is David Krejci?

Sorry for asking. I guess this is the time to have faith in the battle-tested Bruins. They trailed the Canadiens in the first round of the magical Cup run in 2011. They trailed Toronto by a couple of goals late in the third in Game 7 last year. They know how to handle this situation.

Still, there is something nagging about this series. If not for three goals in six minutes of the third period Saturday, the Bruins would be staring down the barrel of a 0-3 deficit going into Thursday night’s game at the Bell Centre.

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There's plenty of blame to go around, too. Hockey is a team game and the players need to put them on the table, if they want to win this series.  Time to sack up, or go home. The Bruins have spent a lot of time fooling around with some of the Canadiens players instead of playing hockey. The Bruins have spent too much time jawing with P.K. Subban and Brendan Gallagher. They need to shut up and just play some hockey. 

(GIF) Travis Moen blows up Jarome Igninla

Watch this hit by the Montreal Canadiens forward Travis Moen as he blows up Jarome Iginla. Ouch!