Bruins Bartkowski will not face hearing

Bartkowski/Gionta is an example of incidental head contact on an otherwise full body check. pic.twitter.com/iCAyDjRwsN
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 22, 2014

I told a friend of mine that if Brian Gionta was taller, he wouldn't have been injuried. This doesn't make Buffalo Sabres fans any happier. Obviously, some fans are unhappy with the move.

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• Matt Bartkowski hit on Brian Gionta (video)(ndgoon.blogspot.com)

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

#488838945 / gettyimages.com

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.

In case we forgot... Rocco Grimaldi

Last season was a lost season for University of North Dakota's highly regarded and talented freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi - his season was cut short by a knee injury, more specifically by a rather rare condition called bipartite patella.

Definition: A bipartite patella occurs when the patella, or kneecap, occurs as two separate bones. Instead of fusing together in early childhood, the patella remains separated. A bipartite patella is usually not a problem; it occurs in at least 1 percent of the population, and perhaps more.

Rocc had season ending knee surgery to repair the aforementioned bipartite patella and is expected to be 100 percent to start the 2012-13 season.

In case anyone has forgot - this is what Rocco Grimaldi is going to add the UND hockey line-up. [Rocco Grimaldi's first collegiate goal against the Gophers]

I see Grimaldi as a top six forward that will bring an element of speed that UND hasn't seen in a very long time. Well, unless it was the Fighting Sioux playing against the Boston College Eagles in the NCAA Playoffs and we know how those games played out. When I think of small UND forwards, the name Jeff Panzer comes to mind.

I would compare Grimaldi to a Brian Gionta or a Nathan Gerbe type of players - very quick, smart and elusive type player that is going to be very dangerous when he gets behind the opposition's defense. I believe his speed is going to strike fear in the oppositions defenders and goaltenders.

Last season I had an opportunity to watch Rocco Grimaldi skate in practice – this was right before he made his season ending announcement that he needed to have season ending surgery to repair his bipartite patella – even at 75-80 percent, Grimaldi was an amazing skater that had an extra gear that we haven’t seen for a very long time.

Slightly Chilled on Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi

USHL Photo

Ryan Clark from the Fargo Forum has a really nice article on Fighting Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi who is coming to UND this fall. Some have compared Roco Grimaldi to players like Brian Gionta or a Nate Gerbie because of the type of game that he plays. Roco coach on the U-18 team has already compared him to Brian Gionta. Personally, I hope Roco is half a good as the two aforementioned players.

Slightly Chill ---- Just about anyone following sports or even pop culture knows that Tebow is a God-first athlete that’s just about as devout as it gets. He did mission trips to the Philippines where he was born and during spring break at Florida, he did ministry with inmates in the Florida prison system.


Has Grimaldi done that? No. Should he? No. But can he leave a mark on college hockey like Tebow did with college football? Absolutely. It has come out that Grimaldi is an extremely devout young man. Sit down and hear the kid talk and you know this isn’t an act. He has his favorite Bible verses, he understands the stories in the Bible and furthermore, you know he’s the kind of kid that’s grateful for everything.

Every sport has its knuckleheads and its good guys. Hockey, whether it be pro or college, has its good guys but there’s a chance Grimaldi could become that shining example. He’s going to a school where hockey is religion and at that place, if you’re good enough, people will treat you as if you are larger than life.

That’s a lot for a 18-year-old to handle. Really, it is a lot for many people to handle. The pressure of a fan base can cripple anyone but this is what makes kids like Grimaldi so different. His faith, he feels, can lift that burden and make him stronger for it.

Grimaldi might not give “The Speech” like Tebow but he can certainly have an impact on a locker room and his infectious attitude and views can spread further. Colten St. Clair, who’ll also be at UND next year, said he was impressed with the way Grimaldi handles himself and how he is strong in his faith.

His faith could also be the other thing that really impresses people. We all have heard the jokes regarding Tebow and his faith and we saw the way he dealt with it. Of course, Grimaldi won’t get nearly the national attention Tebow got, but we all know whether it be in the stands or through a message board, people can be pretty vocal. Just ask Todd Reynolds about it.

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today.