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
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
