Bergeron and Lucic to play tonight.

Here is the Bruins lineup for tonights game.

Forward
Milan Lucic----Marc Savard----Chuck Kobasew
Blake Wheeler----David Krejci---- Patrice Bergeron
P.J. Axelsson----Stephane Yelle----Shawn Thornton
Matt Hunwick----Petteri Nokelainen----Byron Bitz

Defense
Zdeno Chara----Aaron Ward
Andrew Ference----Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart---- Shane Hnidy

Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask

Notice Bergeron and Lucic return to the line up after missing time with injuries.
Also with the return of Andrew Ference defenseman Matt Hunwick is playing forward.

Bruins 7 Sabres 4

The Bruins played the Buffalo Sabres tonight in Boston and and the College hockey was represented pretty heavily on the score sheet. The Bruins chased former Michigan State University goalie Ryan Miller from the game after putting six pucks behind him.

Former Gopher Thomas Vanek score two goals for the Buffalo Sabres (1st goal) (2nd goal) Vanek also had an assist to give him three points for the evening.

Former Boston College Eagle Chuck Kobasew and Fighting Sioux killer Boston's first goal tonight and the Bruins fifth goal.

Former Michgan player Matt Hunwick had two assists for the Boston Bruins to goal along with a goal he scored the other night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Former Gopher and current Bruin Phil Kessel has two points a goals and an assist on the evening.

Former Sioux and current Sabre Drew Stafford had a an assist on Buffalo's second goal.

Joe Finley favorite dance partner Blake Wheeler had an assist on Chuck Kobasew's first goal of the evening.

Illegal Curve ranks the top fantasy D-men... (Former NCAA)

I found this on the Illegal Curve one of my top daily reads for hockey information. Since it is almost that time of the year again here are some of the best fantasy defensive players in the NHL as ranked by the Illegal Curve.

I don't see much to take issue with other than I disagree with is that Burns will have more than 40 baring injury.I think Brent Burns is quickly becoming an elite player in the NHL and that is a major reason the Wild locked up to a long term deal.

1. Dion Phaneuf (projection: 70 points)
Possesses a cannon of a shot, and quarterbacks a potent power play. A workhorse that never misses a game.

2. Nicklas Lidstrom (projection: 67 points)
Although Father Time is catching up to him, Liddy still skates like the wind and will be in the running for another Norris Trophy.

3. Mike Green (projection: 65 points)
Playing for the high-octane Caps, Green will no doubt get his fair share of points this season. You probably could too if you were playing with Ovechkin.

4. Brian Campbell (projection: 64 points)
The newest Blackhawk cashed in quite nicely this off season as a UFA. Although there will be pressure to live up to his new contract, the Hawks forwards are just too good for him not to rack it up.

5. Dan Boyle (projection: 63 points)Former Miami U
Just what the Dr. ordered for the Shark Tank. Fully recovered from his bizarre wrist injury last season, Boyle could post career numbers.

6. Andrei Markov (projection 63 points)
Playing for the best power play in the league last year likely inflated Markov’s numbers. Similarly, this year’s power play will keep his points inflated, despite Streit’s exile to Long Island.

7. Chris Pronger (projection: 59 points)
They don’t come tougher than Pronger. Well, maybe Kevin Lowe. If healthy, Pronger should hover around the 60 plateau.

8. Joe Corvo (projection: 58 points) Former WMU
Corvo’s production once he was traded to the Canes last season was real and spectacular. Look for his numbers to be enlarged once again this year.

9. Sergei Zubov (projection: 56 points)
Despite his hip injury, Zubov will match his age and still score points in the mid 50’s.

10. Kimmo Timonen (projection: 55 points)
It’s just Kimmo being Kimmo.

11. Lubomir Visnovsky (projection: 54 points)
The newest Oiler with a great shot will run a young, but effective powerplay.

12. Zdeno Chara (projection: 53 points)
Big Zdeno Chara plays big minutes and will accumulate big numbers once again this year.

13. Brian Rafalski (projection 53 points)Former Wisconsin Badger
The mobile Rafalski should again get around 50 points. Rumours have Hossa playing the point on the powerplay as well, so things could get a tad interesting in MoTown.

14. Tomas Kaberle (projection: 48 points)
Despite the mess that is the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kaberle should still get his points. Now if only he would shoot.

15. Sheldon Souray (projection: 46 points)
How can a man married to a former Baywatch star not get around 50 points? And no, I don’t mean Mitch Buchanan.

16. Scott Niedermayer (projection: 45 points)
Oh hi Scott. Are you planning on playing again this year? That’s nice. Thanks for telling us ahead of time this year.

17. Shea Weber (projection: 42 points)
Weber’s season got off to a brutal start after he was injured right away. Look for the Pred’s #1 blueliner to get back to form. Terry Crisp will tell you the same thing.

18. Ed Jovanovski (projection: 42 points)
After playing his first injury-free season in quite some time, JovoCop is guaranteed to go down for a brief period with a “groin” injury.

19. Brent Burns (projection: 41 points)Wild Defenseman
A great skater with a cannon of a shot, Burns could lose the odd 5 on 3 situation to the newly acquired Zidlicky. Also of note, he is coming off of an elbow injury.

20. Wendy Redden (projection: 40 points)
A change of scenery was desperately needed for Redden, and should help him rehabilitate his offense production.

Jeff Frazee's WJC back up sent down to Manchester.

I was checking the NHL wire and found this story. If you look at the players that were sent to Manchester you will see a good balance of former NCAA Division one hockey players.

KINGS ASSIGN 13 TO MANCHESTER
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have announced the following player transactions: Assigned to the Manchester Monarchs (AHL):

Justin Azevedo - C
Andrew Campbell – D
Paul Crosty – D
Vladimir Dravecky - RW
Gabe Gauthier - C (DU)
Bud Holloway - LW
Josh Kidd - D
Brady Murray – LW (UND)
Marty Murray - C
Scott Parse - RW (UNO)
Daniel Taylor – G
Eric Werner – D
Jeff Zatkoff - G (Miami)

Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree ok after hit

Goon's world is relieved to know that Kyle is OK after being hit from behind by Geoff Paukovich.

A Scary Moment For Kyle Greentree
Posted by adn_aces --- Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree survived a scary moment relatively unscathed over the weekend, when he escaped a hit from behind into the boards with nothing more severe than a compressed neck.

Greentree, skating for the Calgary Flames in the Oil Country Rookie Tournament in Alberta, was driven head-first into the boards by Edmonton's Geoff Paukovich. Greentree was taken off on a stretcher and spent a couple of hours in the hospital before being released.

Michigan fans are going to love this.

If this were the case why were the Canadians in such a hurry to sign Max Pacioretty if he isn't going to stick with the big club? This story will really make Michigan fans happy when they read this. This is all the more reason to stay in school a couple of more years.

Canadien's Pacioretty eyes NHL job
MONTREAL - There's no room for young guns like Max Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell on the Montreal Canadiens roster going into training camp, so if they want a spot on the NHL club, they'll have to make one.

So says coach Guy Carbonneau, a former Chicoutimi junior star who bulled his way onto the Canadiens roster and made Dan Daoust redundant in the early 1980s to launch his 19-year NHL playing career.

"You've got to steal a job from someone," Carbonneau said Monday as the Canadiens' four-day rookie camp opened at the Bell Centre. "That's what I did.

"It's a jungle."

The off-season acquisitions of veterans Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay and Georges Laraque gave Montreal what looks like a complete 23-man roster going into the 2008-09 season.

Former B.C. Eagle Gordon Named Head Coach of the Islanders

Well we finally have a head coach for the New York Islanders hockey team. What could be looked as the New York Islander's gain, would also be the Boston Bruin's loss. Now the Providence Bruins are without a hockey coach and are going to have to hire a replacement for now departed coach of the Providence Bruins AHL team, soon.

Incidentally, Gordon is a former Boston College Eagle goaltender during the 1980's.

Reigning AHL Coach of the Year to Lead Islanders
New York Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has named Scott Gordon the team's head coach. Gordon, the reigning American Hockey League Coach of the Year with the Providence Bruins, is the 14th head coach in franchise history. He has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Islanders.

"Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason," said Snow. "Through his work in the minor leagues and most recently with Providence over the last eight years, he has gained an impeccable reputation. The entire Islanders organization looks forward to working with Scott."

"Garth has given me an unbelievable opportunity to coach in the NHL with the Islanders,” said Gordon. “From my time coaching in Providence, I’ve seen firsthand the talented young players in this organization. I look at the direction and the vision for this team and see a bright future.”

Last season, the 45-year old Gordon led Providence to an AHL-best record of 55-18-3, while ranking second in the league in goals scored and seventh in fewest goals against. After spending two full seasons as an assistant coach for Providence, Gordon was promoted to head coach in his third season for the final nine games of the 2002-03 regular season and playoffs. Gordon then spent the next five seasons as the head coach of Providence, leading the team to a record of 221-141-20-27 (W-L-T-OT/SOL).

College Hockey Back Ground

An Easton, Massachusetts native, Gordon began his hockey career as a goaltender. He attended Boston College from 1982-86, posting a 64-35-3 record over that span. He backstopped Boston College to an NCAA Frozen Four appearance in 1985 and was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star in 1986. He helped Boston College finish in first place in the ECAC East Region in 1983-84 before leading them to first place finishes in Hockey East in 1984-85 and 1985-86.

A few things.

What to do now that the season is over? Here are a few interesting things I found.
As pointed out by Davyd83 five ex-college hockey players got their name on the cup; two Badgers, one Husky, one Wildcat and Fighting Irish.

Chris Chelios and Brian Rafalski (Wisconsin), Mark Hartigan (St Cloud), Brett Lebda (Notre Dame) and Dallas Drake (Northern Michigan) add their names to the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings win over Pittsburgh. Drake now has both an NCAA Title (Northern Michigan, '91) and a Stanley Cup (Detroit '08) to his credit.

Here is the list of potential free agents

There are a lot of potential free agents on the list from the WCHA. I apologize is I missed anyone.

Curtis Glencross, UAA

Joey Crabb, Brett Sterling, Mark Stuart, Curtis McElhinney, Toby Petersen, Marty Sertich, Noah Clarke, Mark Cullen, Matt Zaba, C.C.

Ryan Caldwell, Kevin Doell, Brett Skinner, Mark Rycroft, Adam Berkhoel, Gabe Gauthier, Glenn Fisher, Wade Dubielewicz, Connor James, DU

David Backes, Minnesota State Mankato

Brett Engelhardt, John Scott, Andrew Hutchinson, MTU

Danny Irmen, Wyatt Smith, Barry Tallackson, Jeff Taffe, John Pohl, Chris Harrington, *Ryan Potulny, Minnesota

Junior Lessard, Craig Weller, Minnesota Duluth

Bret Hedican, Tim Conboy, Joe Jensen, Nate DiCasmirro, Jeff Finger, Mark Hartigan, Ryan Malone, SCSU

Brandon Bochenski, Ryan Bayda, Mike Commodore, Ryan Johnson, Jordan Parise, David Hale, Travis Roach, Matt Jones, Colby Genoway, UND

Curtis Joseph, Rene Bourque, Alex Brooks, Matt Hussey, Sean Hill, Brad Winchester, Ryan Suter, Chris Chelios, Joe Piskula, Joe Pavelski, Wisconsin

*Recently traded to Edmonton.

Boston College's mighty mite signs with Buffalo

Durig the Frozen Four the Boston college Eagles led by Nathan Gerbe shredded the Fighting Sioux's defense and made them look like a bunch of pylons. Two days later Gerbe was just as impressive as he helped his team win a national title against Notre Dame. For fans of these two teams this is great news.

Goon's World is excited about watching Gerbe play in the NHL and would like to wish him good luck. Nathan Gerbe small on stature is a big time player with explosive offensive talent that will give opposition defenses fits. I think that Gerbe could have the same impact Martin St Louis has in Tampa Bay.

Gerbe signs with Sabres
by John Vogl -- News Sports Reporter

Nathan Gerbe has decided to leave college and has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced late this afternoon.

Gerbe, the Boston College junior who led the Eagles to the national championship last month, is in Buffalo today for a physical.

"As of yesterday, we really weren't sure which way it was going to go," said Jordan Neumann, Gerbe's agent. "We really had a flurry in the late afternoon."

The 20-year-old Gerbe told The News last week he was "50-50" on whether to turn pro or finish school. But he held his own during his first stint with NHL-level talent, and that may have convinced him to make the jump. He trained with the United States' world championship team, and he had a goal and an assist during an exhibition against Sweden.

"Toward the end of the year [with Boston College] and during his time with the World Championship team he really felt he was ready to go," Neumann added.