Game Day: Flyers at 1

These fuckers again? (Have a look at this throwback to Lucic's name-creating days bearing number 62 and still technically a Jr. Hockey call-up)

Fine. I'd like to say that i will not be laying action on this one after the bruins covered a 1.5 spread the other night and i moronically parlayed the over with that pick...let's just say that didn't pan out.

Some notes from the trainer's room for today:

Lucic is going to be back, after a CAT scan revealed no break in his left foot. He skated at practice yesterday. Kobasew and Ryder (took a nice cut to the face Thursday) should be available, but the Globe's online reporting makes it sound ominous for Ward, who appears to be the next victim of the locker room flu. No word, of yet, on Hunwick's status.

In other news, we recently discovered a very well written blog by our friends north of the border at fiveforsmiting.com which has an awesome concept called "Behind Enemy Lines". In said section, the authors dubiously point to commentary from the upcoming opponent's blogosphere. I'm so moved to have been found, much less quoted, that i feel compelled to quoth the raven back, right here. This is what the Sens faithful had to say in their retelling of Brian Elliot's performance Thursday:

"Sweep the leg!: Brian Grasshopper, you grow stronger with each passing sun. Man who catch Phil Kessel wrist shot out of thin air, accomplish anything!"

Well done boys.

As for today's Behind Enemy Lines, well there aren't any good Philly blogs, so fuck Philly. Now, if you'll excuse me, the Caveman is sans vehicle, and needs to exchange his golf shoes. So it's "off to Saugus, we go".

Balls.

Philly Preview

Given that the Bruins are meeting the Flyers for the first time this season and in almost a year (3/15/08 being the last meeting), i thought some preview fun facts would be in order.

The Bruins took the season series, 3 games to 1, last year. You might remember game 1 (no, i won't relive the experience here) from such times as Randy Jones can lick my balls and if i ever see the fucker, I'm pulling a Marty McSorley on his ankle-bending ass.

Sorry...i blacked out for a second.

Here's a better, more random note: Aaron Ward potted the game winner in each of the final two meetings last year. Pretty good contribution, considering Aaron had 5 goals in 2007-08. Kind of reminds me how Thornton always seems to score against the Hurricanes. By the way, let's go off on a tangent to the circle that is Aaron Ward. This is a guy who, prior to this season, had a career minus 42. You read that right. That's bad. In fact, it is outright horrible. As a guy who contributes little offensively, yet is highly touted for being a solid veteran with good decision making, he sure sucks in this regard. But wait. What's that you say? He's a career-best plus 15 this year? He's a plus 16 in two (plus) seasons since joining the Bruins? Wow, way to turn it around late there Mr. Ward. In retrospect, the guy had a -23 in 02/03, so really what you should learn here is that i like to go overboard and in reality, one bad season on a bad team can KILL your career +/-. To be completely fair and rounded, I think Ward's physical play is highly under appreciated (except by Jack Edwards) and he's been a solid leader, at least from afar, to a relatively younger team.

Another random tidbit involves goal tending. In the 3 wins, the Bruins had 3 different winning net minders! Rask, Auld and Thomas in that order.

Not to be outdone in references, the Flyer's website notes that Martin Biron is "8-0-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average in his last 10 starts versus the Bruins".
Well FUCK THAT NOISE. I'm looking for the B's to continue their road tear of late (9 for their last 10) and slam some pucks into the twine behind Marty "Not that Marty" Biron. Let's just hope, for Philly's sake, Biron doesn't have a pregame ritual where he gazes at his skate's like this.