BRUINS SCOUTING REPORT;Bruins need to play better at home
LexisNexis Feed
Share This Story
When last we saw the Boston Bruins exactly two weeks ago, they were beating Toronto in a shootout to end the second-longest home winless streak (10 games, 0-7-3) in franchise history.
For all the interest this game has generated due to Matt Cooke's check that left Marc Savard with a Grade 2 concussion on March 7 at Pittsburgh, it's also significant to the Bruins because they now have more home games remaining (eight) than road games (five).
Normally that would be welcome news, but as Boston's home record ranks 27th in the NHL (they're 14-13-6 in Boston, including the Winter Classic victory at Fenway Park), the eighth-place Bruins have little time left to overcome their problems at TD Garden. They'll play five of the next six at home, including Sunday's immensely important matinee against the No. 9 Rangers, who trail the B's by three points entering their home game tonight against St. Louis.
As much pressure as they're under to take a pound of flesh from Cooke and the Penguins, it's no less important for the Bruins to take points out of the game, too.
BRUINS UPDATE
Tuesday's 5-2 victory at Carolina completed a 3-3-1 road trip that saw the B's go 2-2-1 after Savard got hurt. Surprisingly, Boston scored 17 goals in the five games he missed, but the power play is 1 for 12 in his absence, and without a goal in the last four games.
One key will be the status of C Patrice Bergeron, who left Tuesday's game after taking a shot off his right knee. X-rays were negative, but if Bergeron is too bruised to play, the B's must alter what has been a strong scoring line: Bergeron went 4-4-8 on the seven-game trip, while wingers Mark Recchi (3-3-6) and Marco Sturm (2-3-5) scored consistently, too. Joined by the finally revitalized trio of C David Krejci (3-5-8 on the trip, and currently riding a four-game points streak), LW Blake Wheeler (4-2-6) and RW Michael Ryder (1-3-4), Boston has managed to keep two lines scoring.
PENGUINS UPDATE
Like Boston, the Pens have questions about the availability of a key player (C Evgeni Malkin, foot), but they're coming off a loss: Pittsburgh lost its hold on first place in the Atlantic Division via Wednesday night's sloppy, 5-2 loss at New Jersey, and arrives in Boston for the final game of a 5-game road trip with a 1-2-1 record.
The Penguins' offense has been slightly inconsistent behind linemates Sidney Crosby (NHL-leading 45 goals) and Pascal Dupuis. Crosby, who played almost 24 minutes against the Devils, had a 9-game points streak (6-7-13) snapped, while Dupuis had been 3-3-6 over 5 straight games. They'd played most recently with trade-deadline acquisition Alex Ponikarovsky, but he's only 1-2-3 in six games a Penguin.
As for Cooke: Generally teamed with No. 3 C Jordan Staal in a shut-down role, or in an energy-line role with C Maxime Talbot, he's at 13-14-27 for the season, tied for the team lead with 88 penalty minutes, and second in plus-minus at plus-14.
SEASON SERIES
Although the series has been defined so far by the Cooke/Savard incident in Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory March 7, the Bruins went 1-0-1 in two previous meetings and scored eight goals, despite Savard being injured (foot) at the time. Tim Thomas posted a 27-save, 3-0 shutout on Nov. 10 at the Garden, but four days later at Pittsburgh, he and the Bruins failed to hold a 5-4 lead built on third-period goals by Krejci and Sturm. Ex- Bruin Bill Guerin scored with a second left in regulation to force overtime, and Pascal Dupuis beat Thomas (27 saves) for the winner.
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy |
Copyright
© 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Boy, 12, dies after hit by lacrosse ball
A 12-year-old boy has died in upstate New York after being hit in the chest with a la... -
Jacobs sorry for comments about Gisele
New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs apologized Wednesday for saying Gisele Bu... -
Report: Plaxico wants to join Eagles
New York Jets receiver Plaxico Burress is keen to fly the nest and join the Philadelp... -
LeBron: No regrets over dunk tweet
Miami Heat star LeBron James said Wednesday he will not apologize to Kendrick Perkins... -
'Oil Can' Boyd reveals cocaine use
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd says he pitched two-thirds of his games ...
NHL Videos
NHL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 124.95 | Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack |
| Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 | 11.95 | Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick |
| Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Jose_Sharks/browse/featuredproduct/700543/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_700000/ff_700543_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black |
| Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.