Monday, November 30, 2009

Should your best player be blocking shots?

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

Patrice Bergeron suffered an apparent leg injury in the first period of Saturday night's 4-3 shootout win over the Senators. He was helped off the ice, missed a few shifts but eventually came back and played the remainder of the game. Word today from Bruins practice was that he would be in the lineup Wednesday when the Bruins host the Lightning.

But if the injury had been worse -- and it looked as if it might be -- some critics were questioning that maybe head coach Claude Julien shouldn't have the Bruins' best player on the penalty kill blocking shots. Huh? Then what's the point of having a player like Bergeron that can play in all situations? Think the Red Wings debate putting Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk out on the penalty kill or thought about asking Steve Yzerman to do tha same? Or the Avalanche with Joe Sakic or Peter Forsberg?

Unfortunately yes, injuries happen in hockey and blocking shots has became an integral part of defense in today's game but maybe protection is needed. Not sitting your best player or penalty killer.

But many, including my good friend and colleague Joe Haggerty, of CSNNE.com whom I agree with on most points, think maybe Julien needs to avoid having Bergeron out there in such situations and blocking shots.

The ever-controversial and well-watched Don Cherry did just that on his most recent "Coach's Corner" segment on Hockey Night In Canada.

“How many times have I said, don’t have your stars blocking shots and killing penalties?" Cherry asked co-host Ron MacLean as they went over the highlight of Bergeron's injury. "Mike Milbury said at the start [of the show] that he’s their best player. Look at him. That’s their best player and they’d already lost Marc Savard -- their first-best player -- blocking shots. The Bruins have got the guy killing penalties and blocking shots. How stupid can you be, and that’s coach of the year, Claude Julien? He could have had a broken foot. You never have your stars killing penalties.”

Chances are that Julien heard about or watched Cherry's critique, and when asked by a reporter after practice Monday if he felt "lucky" that Bergeron wasn't going to miss any games, Julien immediately pointed out that blocked shots are part of the game.

“It is what it is, guys. It’s the game of hockey, where there are a lot of shots taken," Julien said. "A lot of shots blocked in this game today. That’s what most teams do. You just have to look at the sheet at the end of the night. The amount of blocked shots in this game is unbelievable. I don’t think he intended to block the shot that way. He slipped and when he tried to regain his balance that’s when he got hit. It wasn’t a matter of recklessness. It was just an unfortunate situation.

"Anytime you’ve got a player back that wasn’t seriously injured, it’s a fortunate thing in this game today," Julien added. "There are tons of injuries around the league. Broken feet and other things seem to be common these days.”
Defenseman Dennis Wideman said pretty much the same thing and credited Bergeron for his willingness to block shots and play so many roles.

“When he blocked a shot and he doesn’t get up it makes us worried,” said Wideman. “But you need your best players doing stuff like that, and "Bergie" is a guy that does that on a night-in, night-out basis. He blocks shots, he hits, he scores, he works hard. Those are the guys that win.”

I'd have to agree with Julien and Wideman. Right now Bergeron is too valuable to not have him out there. He is playing the best hockey of his career and limiting what he can or not do or bring to the team, would hurt his momentum and subsequently the team. Hopefully protective equipment is introduced soon and players start wearing it, but until then, if you have a player like Bergeron that can do anything you ask him to, let him do it!

Sláinte!

Murph

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Bruins Fans Better Than This (Thomas Gets "Bronx Cheer"; "USA USA" not necessary)

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

During the 2008 playoffs, Montreal fans viciously booed the Star Spangled Banner prior to a playoff game between the Bruins and Canadiens. When the series shifted back to Boston, the Bruins fans in attendance reacted with class and grace, cheering throughout and singing “O’ Canada".

But for some reason when the Bruins play one of the six Canadian NHL clubs, a usually small but sometimes big, faction of fans at TD Garden seem to believe chanting “U-S-A” will spur their team onto victory.

Such was the case sporadically during the Bruins-Senators game. Apparently, this group of fans never took the time to checkout the current Bruins roster on the team website, where 15 of the 24 players listed are Canadian. The head coach and GM are Canadian. So why the “U-S-A” chant? It makes no sense!

By no means is it as offensive as the booing of a national anthem, but Bruins fans already showed they’re better than that and this scribe believes they’re more original as well. If they did their research, they easily could have come up with a chant directed at the overrated Senators center Jason Spezza, who has only one goal in 10 games. Or maybe Ottawa defenseman Matt Carkner, who got into two fights the last time the two teams met.

But while the “U-S-A” chant was simply annoying and unoriginal, the booing and the “Bronx cheer” that reigned down on Thomas in the first period, when he let in a soft goal on the second shot he faced in two weeks was classless and is either the result of ignorance or a very short memory. Have these fans guilty of this act forgotten what Thomas has done and meant to this team over the last two seasons? Or are they simply bandwagon fans that don’t even know?

If their memory doesn’t work well enough, let’s just travel back to last season when he won the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender for those that don’t know the NHL, but consider themselves Bruins fans). Thomas stole plenty of games for the Bruins en route to a 36-11-7 record with a 2.10 GAA and .933 save percentage. He was also 7-4 with a 1.85 GAA and .935 save percentage in the playoffs, helping the Bruins reach the second round for the first time since 1999.

The “what have you done lately” mentality is understandable if the season is halfway done, but just past the quarter mark? Thomas has not been that bad at 6-6-3 with a 2.36 GAA and .915 save percentage. He self-admittedly had a bad game Saturday but he came through in the shootout.

"Those things are going to happen," Wideman said when asked about Thomas’ tough night Saturday in which he let in a soft goal with 19 seconds left, allowing the game to go to overtime. "But how many times has Timmy bailed us out? Unfortunately when the goalie has a bad night, there’s no one to bail him out. Timmy got the job done in the shootout and he’s got it done for us so many times before."

Bruins fans should remember that as well.

Sláinte!

Murph

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Inside Hockey Radio Show November 28 (Featuring Michel Goulet and Jerry York)

INSIDE HOCKEY RADIO SHOW



by James Murphy

Join James Murphy and Toddy Carroll for the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com this and every Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET on "NHL Home Ice" XM 204 and Sirius 208, and 3-4 p.m. ET on the Team 990 in Montreal (www.team990.com). Featuring notable hockey personalities as guests each week, Murph and Toddy get you inside the latest info and buzz around the rinks of the NHL, AHL, NCAA and Junior Hockey.

We've got a great show in store this week, with Toddy joining me in the studio. We will welcome on NHL Hall of Famer Michel Goulet, Boston College Head Coach Jerry York, Conor McKenna of The Team 990, and we'll hit the Junior Circuit with Patrick King of Sportsnet.ca. And last but not least, I'll finish things off by going "Toe to Toe" with Toddy to close out the show.

So be sure to get Inside Hockey this and every Saturday, 2-4 p.m. on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and Sirius 208 and 3-4 p.m. on the Team 990 in Montreal on the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Does Tim Thomas have a broken hand? Bruins-Wild Live Blog and preview; November 21 Inside Hockey Radio Show MP3's; Another great time in Montreal!

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the United States!

Sources told me today that the reason Tim Thomas has missed the Bruins last four games is because of a broken hand suffered the night of the Bruins 6-5 overtime loss to the Penguins on November 14. Thomas hasn't started a game since but thankfully for the Bruins, Tuukka Rask has been sensational going 3-1-0 and will be in net again tonight.

I've got more on that, a preview of the Bruins-Wild will be live blogging the game over at NESN.com.

In other Bruins news, Shawn Thornton has made his TV debut in a commercial for Pride Motors. I think he acts better than the Pride guy no?

Checkout my latest Northeast Division Notebook at NHL.com.

So I am just back from Montreal where as always I had a great time. Much thanks to the Dropkick Murphys who put on a great show at Metropolis last Friday and put me on their guest list along with my mates, Sean Ryan (Drunken Dru Band), Conor McKenna (Team 990), Lucas Tomalty, Chris Robitaille (Team 990), Mitch Melnick (Team 990) and Rod Applebee (Hurley's Irish Pub). A splendid time had by all there and at the after-party with the Mahones and Drunken Dru at Cafe Chaos!

Also great to catch up with the crew at Brutopia Jeff and Ariana and meet Deam Whalen, a good Irish and Scottish lad!

By the way, last week's Inside Hockey radio Show is up on Insidehockey.com. Thanks to Conor for hosting with me and to Chris for his help in allowing me to use the Team 990 production studio.

Also, yesterday was the 25th anniversary of this!

Finally, don't think I forgot what happened a week ago today! Let this be on your conscience in South Africa Henry!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy 96th to my inspiration, my grandmother "Mum"!

Sláinte!

Murph

Friday, November 20, 2009

Greetings From Montreal!

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

Hope you have a had a great week and enjoyed some great hockey!

Greetings from Montreal where as always people are fretting over the Habs! But as Pat Hickey points out, Carey Price is starting to come around and find his game. I said it here before folks and specifically for you Habs fans, don't give up on this kid. He will be a star!

Back in Boston, I'm hearing that Marc Savard is very close to signing as reported a seven-year deal but DPM is hearing it will be closer to or upwards of $40 million.

In other Bruins news, Milan Lucic returned to the lineup Thursday and Savard is expected to be back by Thanksgiving, most likely for the Bruins game at Minnesota November 25. But as I pointed out in a recent column for NESN.com, if the Bruins don't tighten up there game again and start showing the trademark edge and emotion they built into their identity over the past two seasons, major changes could very well take place. Peter Chiarelli is on record as saying that he will be patient and he "believes" in this current team, but no one can argue they have grossly underachieved and if they don't get better with Savard and Lucic in the lineup that patience will wear thin.

So besides being here for the Habs-Red Wings Saturday night at the Bell Centre, I'm also in what has become my second home to see my good friends the Dropkick Murphys, for whom the title of my blog pays homage too. The Dropkicks are great hockey fans and of course have a song in honor of the Bruins.

But I'm looking forward to what to this date is the best intro to a concert I've ever witnessed! The build-up during this moment right before the band takes the stage is insane to say the least and Metropolis in Montreal should be rocking tonight! I'm convinced the Bruins should come onto the ice to this intro. Their PR and marketing staff can thank me when they do!


Sláinte!

Murph

Inside Hockey Radio Show November 21

INSIDE HOCKEY RADIO SHOW


Join James Murphy and Toddy Carroll for the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com this and every Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET on "NHL Home Ice" XM 204 and Sirius 208, and 3-4 p.m. ET on the Team 990 in Montreal (www.team990.com). Featuring notable hockey personalities as guests each week, Murph and Toddy get you inside the latest info and buzz around the rinks of the NHL, AHL, NCAA and Junior Hockey.

We've got a great show this week as Conor McKenna of the Team 990 will join Murph in studio as a co-host. We will also welcome on Pittsburgh Penguins Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald, former NHLer and current Providence Bruin Dan LaCouture, and Greg Wyshynski (aka Puck Daddy) of Yahoo! Sports. We also will get the Campus Buzz from Bob Snow of NHL.com.

So be sure to get Inside Hockey this and every Saturday, 2-4 p.m. on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and Sirius 208 and 3-4 p.m. on the Team 990 in Montreal on the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com.

Don't forgetyou can find the archives here:

http://insidehockey.com/radio

Sláinte!

Murph

Monday, November 16, 2009

Bruins-Islanders preview; Live-Blogging at NESN.com

My "Facing Off" Bruins-Isles preview is up at NESN.com and I will be live-blogging the game later tonight. Looking forward to seeing John Tavares in person for the first time this season.

Sláinte!

Murph

Saturday, November 14, 2009

New Feature at DPM.com: Picks of the night

Hello folks,

Figured we'd start this as a Saturday tradition. So here's my three "picks" of the night for November 14.

Flames over Leafs

Red Wings over Ducks

Devils over Capitals

Enjoy your hockey Saturday night!

Sláinte!

Murph

Remember, Inside Hockey Radio Show today 2-4 p.m. ET!

Join James Murphy and Toddy Carroll for the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com this and every Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET on "NHL Home Ice" XM 204 and Sirius 208, and 3-4 p.m. ET on the Team 990 in Montreal (www.team990.com). Featuring notable hockey personalities as guests each week, Murph and Toddy get you inside the latest info and buzz around the rinks of the NHL, AHL, NCAA and Junior Hockey.

This week: Stephen Brunt (Globe and Mail; author of "Gretzky's Tears"); Tyson Nash (Coyotes radio color man, former NHLer) Patrick King (Sportsnet.ca); Conor McKenna (Team 990) Toe-to-Toe with Toddy Carroll.

Special thanks to Lauren Adelson and Roger Sonia of Verizon for help making this show possible from my new studio!

Sláinte!

Murph

Bruins-Pens Preview; Live-Blogging Bruins-Pens and Plus-Minus

Here's a preview of tonight's Bruins-Pens game at "The Igloo" in Pittsburgh. Also, I'll be live blogging the game tonight.

Checkout my weekly Plus-Minus for the Bruins column as well.

Sláinte!

Murph

Friday, November 13, 2009

My Latest Hockey Scribblings From NESN.com and NHL.com

Here's my latest Northeast Notes and On Campus Notebook from NHL.com as well as all my latest Bruins coverage for NESN.com. Really amazing story in On Campus with Denver goalie and Florida Panthers prospect Marc Cheverie. Hope you enjoy!

Sláinte!

Murph

Props To The NHL For Veterans Day Ceremonies

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

Hope you have a had a great week and enjoyed some great hockey! My apologies for not posting for a week, but it has been a hectic week on the home front and well, just one of those weeks. But after a week of reflecting on and appreciating our veterans and those who are serving for us or sacrificed their lives for us, there's no self-pity here. Things could be a lot worse!

I must really commend the NHL and players like Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart and Mike Cammalleri who made donations to and bought tickets to Veterans in honor of Veterans and Remembrance Day which was celebrated this past Wednesday but throughout the week in the NHL. Also checkout the mask Carey Price wore and is auctioning off to help veterans.

There were some moving moments during the Bruins-Panthers game when the TD Garden played a surprise video for a soldier's wife and her children in attendance for the game. That was the scene across the NHL and they deserve mad props for the respect and appreciation they showed to our Veterans.

Don't forget Don "Grapes" Cherry's annual Remembrance Day Coach's Corner on Hockey Night In Canada. Of course he never forgets the veterans and shows the faces and names of fallen soldiers each week. Also, checkout what to this date is one of the best interviews I've been a part of on the Inside Hockey Radio Show. Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing the legendary Milt Schmidt who is not only a Hall of Famer but also a WWII veteran who left the game for four years and then returned to win the Hart Trophy. Amazing!

But that and this past week reminded me that we should always pay homage to those who are sacrificing and have sacrificed for us. Every day should be treated like that and we should show our appreciation for veterans and soldiers regardless of our views on war! If you see a soldier anytime, thank them!

I just want to take this time to thank my Dad (USMC), my late Grandfather (US Army), my cousins Patrick (USMC) and Chris (US Army), my friend Josh Staunton (USMC) and all veterans and soldiers. Thank you for your service and my freedom!

Sláinte!

Murph

Inside Hockey Radio Show 11/14 Featuring Stephen Brunt, Tyson Nash and more!

INSIDE HOCKEY RADIO SHOW



by James Murphy

Join James Murphy and Toddy Carroll for the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com this and every Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET on "NHL Home Ice" XM 204 and Sirius 208, and 3-4 p.m. ET on the Team 990 in Montreal (www.team990.com). Featuring notable hockey personalities as guests each week, Murph and Toddy get you inside the latest info and buzz around the rinks of the NHL, AHL, NCAA and Junior Hockey.

We've got a great show this week as we welcome on award-winning writer and author Stephen Brunt. The lead sports columnist for the Globe and Mail has a new book out, Gretzky's Tears, chronicling the trade of "The Great One" from Edmonton to Los Angeles on August 9, 1988. We'll talk about his new book and also get Brunt's take on the new proposed "blindside hit rule", the NHLPA and some other NHL issues. We will also chat with Phoenix Coyotes radio color analyst and former NHLer Tyson Nash. The Phoenix Coyotes have been one of the most pleasant surprises this season, especially in light of what's going on with the team outside the rink. Tyson will give us the latest on the team and the ownership situation as well as discuss the role of the agitator in today's NHL.

Patrick King of Sportsnet.ca will join us to take us on the "Junior Circuit" and discuss the world of junior hockey and Conor McKenna of the Team 990 is on to talk some NHL. As always we'll go Toe-to-Toe with Toddy Carroll as we tackle and debate the latest hot button issues across the hockey world. This week we're lucky enough to get two segments worth of "Toe-to-Toe" as Toddy will open and close shop with us!

Don't forget to checkout last week's show where I had the honor of interviewing WWII veteran and Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt

So be sure to get Inside Hockey this and every Saturday, 2-4 p.m. on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and Sirius 208 and 3-4 p.m. on the Team 990 in Montreal on the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com.

Sláinte!

Murph

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Bruins-Sabres preview up on NESN.com; Rask vs. Enroth; Thanks to Milt Schmidt and guests

My Bruins-Sabres preview is up at NESN.com and I will be live blogging the game from TD Banknorth Garden tonight. Tuukka Rask vs. Jhonas Enroth between the pipes.

Thanks to Milt Schmidt for one of the best interviews I've ever been a part of and to all my guests on Inside Hockey Radio Show today! Thanks to John, Matt and Jimmy G for working the boards as well.

Off to Beantown for Bruins-Sabres. Have a great hockey Saturday night!

Sláinte!

Murph

Friday, November 6, 2009

Metro Happy In Montreal

Glad to see old friend Glen Metropolit doing well in Montreal.

http://www.nesn.com/2009/11/glen-metropolit-always-appreciative-of-boston.html

Sláinte!

Murph

Report: Lucic eyeing November 19 return

According to Matt Kalman at ESPNBoston.com Bruins injured forward Milan Lucic is eyeing a November 19 return from surgery for a broken right index finger.

Sláinte!

Murph

Thanks To All Who Serve And Have Served For Our Freedom; Recchi; Price; Hall Of Fame

Hello, Bonjour & Hóigh!

Hope you have a had a great week and enjoyed some great hockey! It was a busy week for DropPuckMurphy.com as I covered the struggling and hard-luck Bruins and also plenty of NHL news. You can find links to all of my hockey scribblings from NESN.com and NHL.com on the site. You can also find the latest info on the Inside Hockey Radio Show, including this week's lineup and links to the last two shows. Should be a great show tomorrow as we welcome on WWII veteran and Hockey Hall Of Famer Milt Schmidt!

As for those Bruins who went an astonishing 192:06 without lighting the red light, I will just say that this team still has what it takes to turn around this season and once Marc Savard, David Krejci and Milan Lucic are all in the lineup again, then we can truly judge if this team is a legit Stanley Cup contender. Until then, please spare me the Phil Kessel banter and if I hear anyone else say that Mark Recchi is "done" I just may go Tuukka Rask on them! Or maybe pull a Milan Lucic on Chris Neil!

Recchi is a future Hall of Famer and for that alone deserves more respect. He is also one of the main leaders in that dressing room that is keeping this team sane through their early season injuries and struggles. Oh and by the way, I don't seem to see bigger Bruins constantly in front of the net and in the dirty areas the way the 5'10" Recchi always is.

For our readers in Montreal and Habs fans everywhere, let me tell you that just as Bruins fans and media shouldn't give up on Recchi, you should not give up on Carey Price! What I saw Thursday night, was in my opinion, Price's best game yet and encapsulated what this young talent can be on a regular basis. The Habs should've handled his development in much the same way that the aforementioned Rask was handled by the Bruins but that is in the past now and they must deal with where Price stands now. Be patient, be thankful they have Jaroslav Halak and soon enough Price will be the goalie you thought he could be. He single-handedly beat the Bruins with 42 saves and three in the shootout but somehow wasn't named the game's top star? That doesn't matter because if he is handled better going forward, he will win plenty more than a game's top star!

Finally, congratulations to all the 2009 Hall of Fame inductees Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille, and Lou Lamoriello, as well as Pittsburgh Post-Gazette long-time hockey scribe Dave Molinari who will receive the Elmer Ferguson Award and also St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations John Davidson who will be recognized for his brilliant career with MSG Network, CBC and various other networks in the United States and Canada as this year's winner of the Foster Hewitt Award.

Thank you to my father, grandfather, cousin Patrick, cousin Chris, Josh Staunton, Scruffy Wallace and all our fallen and active soldiers as well as all veterans who served for our freedom. Lest we forget…

Sláinte!

Murph

PS: You know why Yzerman is going into the Hall of Fame? Because he's Stevie Y! That's why!

Inside Hockey Radio Show November 7

Join James Murphy and Toddy Carroll for the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com this and every Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET on "NHL Home Ice" XM 204 and Sirius 208, and 3-4 p.m. ET on the Team 990 in Montreal (www.team990.com). Featuring notable hockey personalities as guests each week, Murph and Toddy get you inside the latest info and buzz around the rinks of the NHL, AHL, NCAA and Junior Hockey,

We've got a great show this week as we celebrate Hall of Fame weekend and also honor our veterans and soldiers for Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the United States. On that note, we are honored to welcome onto the show as our featured guest, WWII Veteran and Hall Of Famer Milt Schmidt.

Schmidt, 91 was a member of the famed "Kraut Line" with his childhood friends Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer. They were a strong and dependable line for the Bruins for most of the following fifteen seasons. They were a key ingredient to the Bruins' success as they rampaged to the regular season title and and won the 1939 Stanley Cup. The following season he led the league in scoring and guided the Bruins to another first place finish and the third most goals in team history to date.

In 1941 Schmidt spearheaded the Bruins to their second Cup win in three years. However, the Bruins were decimated by World War II the following year as Schmidt, Bauer and Dumart enlisted in the Canadian military and superstar American goaltender Frank Brimsek enlisted with the American Coast Guard. The Kraut Line found success playing hockey for the Ottawa RCAF team by winning the Allan Cup before heading overseas. Schmidt, Bauer and Dumart would end up missing three productive NHL seasons due to their service in the War.

Schmidt returned for the beginning of the 1946 season and resumed his star career finishing fourth in league scoring in 1947. Schmidt was named captain in 1951 and won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player that year. He retired as a player partway through the 1954-55 season to take over head coaching duties.

We're also glad to welcome on Bob Harwood of Versus and Elliotte Friedman of CBC's Hockey Night In Canada (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/11/time_to_revisit_the_interferen.html). We'll discuss this year's Hall of Fame inductees Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hulland Brian Leetch as well as a variety of NHL topics

We will go "On Campus" with our college hockey guru Bob Snow from NHL.com. Checkout Bob's latest pieces on brotherly at Harvard and Dartmouth (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=504904) and NHLer and former University of Michigan star Brendan Morrison (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=504909). Conor McKenna of the Team 990 is in to talk some NHL and as always we'll go Toe-to-Toe with Toddy Carroll as we tackle and debate the latest hot button issues across the hockey world.

So be sure to get Inside Hockey this and every Saturday, 2-4 p.m. on NHL Home Ice XM 204 and Sirius 208 and 3-4 p.m. on the Team 990 in Montreal on the Inside Hockey Radio Show brought to you by Hockeyprimetime.com.

Also for the last two shows go to Insidehockey.com

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Happy B-Day Dad! Crazy Day At TD Garden; Ready For Bruins-Habs

Happy Birthday to my Dad who yesterday on my birthday termed me "the strangest present your Mom ever gave me". Thanks Dad!

Getting ready for the Habs-Bruins here at the TD Garden and wow what a busy day it has been!

First this morning, the Bruins announced that center David Krejci had been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu and is day-to-day as he recovers. Then later this afternoon, the team confirmed that they had signed goalie Tuukka Rask to a two-year extension. GM Peter Chiarelli is due to speak to the media here at 6 p.m. so we'll have more on that later and I'll post a quick feature at some point tonight here on NESN.com.

Also, all my Bruins-Habs coverage, including the "Facing Off" preview, Live Blog, Bruins-Habs rivalry piece and soon a piece on old friend and former Bruin Glen Metropolit finding success on the other side of this rivalry in Montreal. You can find it all here.

OK, down to feed the meters, grab some great Will McDonough Press Room grub, cover the Chiarelli presser and head back up for the pregame warm-ups. I will also be on "Melnick In The Afternoon" on the Team 990 in Montreal at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Sláinte!

Murph

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Stressful Birthday But Looking Forward To Habs-Bruins tomorrow

So I'm halfway to 70 today but still a young 35, at least I think so. But I may have gotten some more gray hairs today as my MacBook laptop went into the Mac hospital I guess you'd call it. Good news though, all seems to be good with the MacBook I call "Stanley Comp" and I will be writing away from TD Garden in Boston tomorrow covering the first installment of the 2009-10 Habs-Bruins season series. Much thanks to JP Matta over at the Legacy Place Dedham Apple Store!

Writing my "Facing Off" NESN.com preview right now and I have to tell you, I feel more like I'm 15 again and waiting for my late grandfather to pick me up and take me to the Boston Garden. There's just something about Bruins-Habs games that still gets the juices flowing!

As I also plan to write later for NESN.com, this game and rivalry may be just what each struggling team needs. How can they not get up for another chapter of this storied rivalry. A win in this game could propel the winning team back on track. So we will see. Lots of new faces on the Montreal team but I'm sure when they step on that ice tomorrow night, they will figure out how special this rivalry is.

I know the Bruins understand what these games mean because many of them frequently ask me about the Habs and how they're doing due to my Montreal ties. So, hopefully that comes out on the ice and we get another classic. Maybe a few fisticuffs too? For now, I'll go back to writing and then dinner with my wife.

Oh and by the way, Go Pedro!

Sláinte!

Murph

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Murphy's Law Hits On My Birthday Eve But NESN.com's Adam Hirshfield Comes Through In The Clutch!

Wow, I feel like the Bruins power play or offense right now! Just a night of frustration as I tried to Live Blog the Bruins-Red Wings for NESN.com. First my MacBook laptop decided to slow and then freeze with that dreaded rainbow circle appearing halfway through the first period.

So I hopped onto my Mac Desktop thinking I could at least use that and deal with the laptop later. But low and behold, the desktop decides to pull the same act on me and now I'm in a pinch. Well, this continued throughout the game and by the end of the game I was sending gmail chat entries to my editor and savior tonight, Adam Hirshfield who was Chris Osgood-like calm under pressure. The entries were slowed every so often but Adam transcribed my verbal entries via phone and we made it through a frustrating 2-0 loss by the Bruins but not really frustrating because of their futile ways around the net, but just our struggles.

Thanks to Adam and the NESN.com crew for their help and patience. Guess I'll be spending time in the Apple Store Help Cafe on Wednesday, which happens to be my 35th birthday. I think they need a fully stocked bar in there no? Irish Coffees as you wait for them to fix your computers sounds just fine. Maybe just for my birthday?

As for the game, wondering if we'll hear all those "Red Wings dynasty is fading" folks tomorrow? That was text-book Wings dynasty hockey tonight. They were facing as Chris Osgood said after the game, a "snake-bitten" squad in the Bruins, but he looked great and the Red Wings simply dominated the neutral zone with their trademark puck possession. I honestly believe the Bruins would've snapped out of their slump against almost any other team tonight, but not against the Red Wings who can simply change the game on one play and get goaltending like they did from Osgood in his 50th career shutout.

Saw that Phil Kessel had a nice welcome back to the NHL from Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund tonight. Kessel had nine shots but didn't light the lamp in a 2-1 loss for Toronto to Tampa Bay. Kessel will get his goals but don't count on on 30-plus season without a center like Marc Savard setting him up.

Alright mates, off to bed on my last day before he I hit the halfway to 70 mark. I don't feel that old?

Sláinte!

Murph

Bruins-Red Wings Coverage; Dropkick (not puck!) Murphys Hit The Road Once Again

Have plenty of Bruins-Red Wings coverage up at NESN.com. Should be a great Original 6 match-up there and I'll be live blogging the game so do check-in.

According to Fluto Shinzawa at Boston.com, Wings blueliners Brian Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson are out with the flu for Detroit and former UMaine Black Bear Doug Janik will be in the lineup for Rafalski. On the Boston side, Byron Bitz misses his second straight game with a groin injury.

The long-awaited debut of Phil Kessel in Toronto is a go for tonight at the ACC Centre where the Leafs host the Lightning. Thanks to the Bruins scoring woes, everyone seems to be talking about how much Kessel is missed in the Boston lineup. While this may be true, it will only be a matter of time before Kessel hits one of his infamous invisible streaks and misses Boston.

The Toronto media and fans will eat that kid alive once he does have a scoring slump and he will realize how easy he had it in Boston as far as media and fan scrutiny goes. As I tweeted today too, he may be humming Dixie tunes soon to block out the media, wishing he took the proposed trade to Nashville instead of Toronto.

In non-hockey news, die-hard hockey fans and Irish punk-rockers, the Dropkick Murphys start their latest tour tomorrow in Anaheim. If you have the chance to check them out as they are always an energetic and exciting show! I am looking forward to meeting up with them in Montreal at Metropolis on November 20!

Here's a clip of probably the best intro I've seen at a concert. I think the Bruins should come into this with Cam Neely and Terry O'Reilly clips playing on that giant TD Garden HD screen!

Sláinte!

Murph

Breaking Down The Bruins Anemic Offense On NESN Sportsdesk

Had the pleasure of joining Cole Wright for NESN Sportsdesk tonight to talk about the Bruins offensive woes and yes we touched on the return of Phil Kessel as a Maple Leaf. But one thing I forgot to mention is what that 2010 first round pick acquired in the Kessel trade may bring

Sláinte!

Murph

Monday, November 2, 2009

On NESN Sportsdesk Talking Bruins Power Play Failure 10 p.m.

I will be on NESN Sportsdesk tonight talking about the Bruins' woeful power play. Sure to discuss the imminent return of Phil Kessel as well.

Sláinte!

Murph

Sunday, November 1, 2009

NHL Not Treating "The Great One" Great At All!

After all he has done for the league in terms of revenue and recognition, the NHL appears to be leaving Wayne Gretzky out to dry. As Larry Brooks reported in the NY Post today, the league does not intend on giving him any of the money owed to him from the Phoenix fiasco.

I don't know folks, this league never seems to get it right!

Sláinte!

Murph

Sunday Sunday Sunday! Thomas Remembers Plante; Live Blogging Bruins @Rangers and Bruins-Rangers preview

Happy Sunday and I hope you had great Halloween! Getting ready for some football but first I will be live-blogging the Bruins @ Rangers today over at NESN.com.

Also, today is the 50th anniversary of of Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante donning the first goalie mask at MSG when he took a shot from Ranger Andy Bathgate during the second period in a game on November 1, 1949. I interviewed Bruins goalie Tim Thomas on the subject and Thomas showed appreciation of Plante and those that came before him in another interesting interview with the Vezina Trophy Winner.

Finally checkout my Bruins-Rangers preview.

OK back to my Sunday hockey reading with my dog Nemo by my side. Nemo is really liking hockey. The other day when the Centre Ice package went black, he got up and paced around. When Comcast turned it back on, he barked and sat back in his spot watching peacefully. Love this puck dog!

Sláinte!

Murph