Quite honestly, this to me is utterly false. If Tom Poti cheapshots Sergei Samsonov, how in the hell does Orr and Purinton pounding on each other stop it from happening? Orr wouldn't go fight Poti, he'd fight the other team's goon.

Today, goons don't fight regular players, they most often fight other goons. They're not being used for enforcement, they're being used to entertain fans who like fighting. It's asinine.

But what if Purinton, or someone of his ilk, wasn't on the team to take on Orr? Then who does Orr go after? My guess is he goes after Poti. But because Poti doesn't need to be brawling with a guy that can barely skate, a guy like Purinton is there to take the heat for him.

But, yes, the goons are also there to entertain the fans. But then again, so is the shootout format.

In a perfect world, neither Purinton nor Orr would be on ANY team, because neither can play worth a damn.

At least you admit the goons are there for entertainment, and not for any other important hockey-related purpose.

Kovalchuk will sign.

The competition for ROY will be the toughest it's ever been (with 2 years worth of rookies), but Lehtonen (Let None In) will win it.

The Thrashers will win the cup.

Hasn't Lehtonen been sent to the minors?

And I've heard nothing about Kovalchuk being close to signing.

Lehtonen is in the nets for the Thrash as I speak. He's their #1 goalie, and he's awesome.

There's tons of rumors that Kovy is close, but it remains to be seen how it plays out.

Fucking frustrating loss tonight - heartbreaking, almost. The Bruins had so many chances to go up 2 or 3 to 1, but they could never capitalize. What happens? Tom Fitzgerald takes a very, very marginal penalty and the Bruins fall in the last 11 seconds. Just terrible.

not to mention thornton was shit on all night, and he was hardly ever doubled.

this game really pissed me off.

Tough seasons all around/

Today was not a good day for Boston sports.

Isbister looked especially shitty to me, and Alberts did not look good at all - like he panicked a bit in the defensive zone.

The only positive at the Garden tonight was that the hottie quotion was absolutely off the charts, especially the three sitting right against the glass in Section 14, who were putting on a huge show for the audience

Isbister looked like trash, I'm really not sure what they see in this guy. Tough break, typical Montreal game, seems like we dominate, get a ton of shots, they block a ton of shots, they take dives, and then score a goal late.

The flow was pretty good for the game though, pretty entertaining

Haaahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

I am convinced. Joe Thornton is the new Drew Bledsoe.

No Power Play....it's called Bruins.

I don't think I've ever seen a person look older in such a short period of time as Bergeron. Looks like he gained 20 pounds and 6 years.

I like Middletons assertion that maybe the refs are looking at who is getting hooked and not the infraction itself when calling penalties. "Checking" lines might be in for a short term problem, at least until they stop calling it.

Got the Garden Box Office last night to get my tickets, which I already paid for by C.C.

They didn't have them and couldn't find them. After spending 45 minutes in a shady back room with a couple managers and my anger level increasing by the minute, I was finally able to get a voucher that would get me through the turnstiles.

I asked for a refund of my ticket since their incompetence caused me to miss the entire first period. They refused outright and told me it wasn't their fault. Zero accountability at that joint. Pissed me off.

At least I got to see 1 good period. Why not 2 you ask? Oh, because the lines for concessions were so long and slow moving that I spent a whole period in line to get beer and something to eat.

Kudos TD Banknorth Garden...you truly suck.

Perhaps you should not give up so easily...

http://www.tdbanknorthgarden.com/arena_contact.asp

You read my mind Eddie. I really have nothing better to do than to than to pursue this as far as I can go.

There was a guy next to me who was having a similar problem. Once he got a slip that allowed him in, he said, "Ok great....now where are my beer vouchers?" I like how he said it in a way that almost made it seem like this was a common practice. The guy behind the window gave a confused look and said, "We don't do that". To which the dude replied, "Great! I'll be talking to your boss tomorrow" and closed by using the guy's full name on his name tag. Pretty amusing.

Good approach. My advice: decide on compensation you think is fair. Then, don't be an asshole to anyone, but pursue it as high as you need to go even if it means writing a letter to the President of the Fleet Center himself. There's no excuse for not having your tickets at the will call.

About 15 minutes after submitting my email to the Garden yesterday, I got a phone call at work from a manager. She was very nice and apologized profusely.

She was asking me who the representative was that worked with me when I was making the purchase. While I knew her name, I said I didn't know and said I don't want to get anyone in trouble. She basically inferred that whoever sold me the tickets was going to be in trouble and that I'll be getting a call back by Monday to resolve this.

Hey NESN,

I was about to shell out for Center Ice until I tuned into the freeview. Jack whatever his name is has got to be one of the worst announcers ever. He was pulled from soccer games for sucking fer chrissakes.

I think the "sideline" guy is even worse, if that were possible.

Even at 1-0, they are not in this game. Just a lethargic effort so far.

I love how eliminating the red line off-side has put the offense back in the game. [/sarcasm]

2-0 might as well be 10-0 right now.

I get the sense they'll next score around Thanksgiving.

our defense is letting the sabers setup shop (or get behind us) downlow without evening getting close to covering them. this happened last game too and it's really bothersome.

edit: about 10 minutes later it happens again for a goal.

Didn't take long for the Bruins defense to seriously fuck up again tonight. Hannu Toivonen beat for a goal right after we kill a power play. Milan Jurcina playing over Andrew Alberts tonight and he was the one in the box.

edit: This game is laughable. 3-2 already and another 5 on 3 PP upcoming. Our defense is a joke, I'd love for Hannu to be mic'd up.

Piss away 2 2-man advantages, fall behind 4-2, give up bad penalties - Bruins Hockey like it's never been away. Long winter coming up.

Crosby with his first goal. What the announcers haven't realized yet is that the assist should go to Travis Green. Passed it right to him, goddamnit.

6-6, Bruins PP in OT. Great game.

edit: And Glen Murray snipes one as the PP expires, Bruins win 7-6. Leetch is an absolute stud with the amount of time he logs and just how solid he is overall. Great bargain, imo.

wow. 7-6 win. wow.

Win!

Boy, do I feel silly now. The Bruins are Hockey Gods!

Second road game and I'm already really annoyed with Jack Edwards. "Stick a fork in it," Jack.

those with digital and maybe dish, check to see if you have the free NHL package for the first week

Me too! And I've never heard Thornton's name pronounced quite that way before.

Glad I stuck with the game, the Broons showed a lot by coming back, even though it was against a team that is very, very weak defensively.

Not many better than Muzz on the one-timer.

Nice way to come back for the win, but our defense was hideous tonight.

What is it that the Bruins' FO sees in Hal Gill that none of the rest of us see? No one I know think shte guy is any good, and he stunk out the joint again last night, but the Bruins tripped all over themselves to get him signed up for this year, and that money would have ben far more wisely spent on getting Boynton back. In a league that's calling the rules strictly, a guy like Gill who's slow-footed and can only impede forwards by interfering with them is a real liability.

Last night's game was the 1st of the 3 games that the B's offense looked like it had some life to it.

Although, if the game vs. the Pens taught me anything it's that we need Boynton signed immediately. Our defense is porous and won't get us through the playoffs.

I also heard Edwards keep putting praise on Isbister vs. Pitt and Buffalo. Am I missing something? I haven't noticed anything special from him yet.

As a fan it is taking me some time getting used to watching this new version of the game that is so fast with so much offensive creativity. I can imagine how long it is going to take some of the players who have relied so often on hooking and grabbing to get used to it. You are right some of the players perhaps many because of their skating ability or lack there of are never going to make the adjustment. With so little clutching, grabbing and pushing after the whistle fighting will decrease dramatically as well. It is a new NHL and I hope they will stick to calling the rules because this is the fastest game on earth the way it should be played and the emphasis from now on will be on players who can skate, stickhandle, pass and score. The lockout has given birth to a good result here!!

What's that guy's name they have intervieweing players and giving updates, Simpson? How did this clown get the job?

Didn't Jack Edwards used to be on ESPN? I know I've seen him before

I'd like to stick a fork in Jack Edwards.

I think Edwards is going to grow on me as the play-by-play guy. Sure, he overuses some phrases but I think he has a pretty decent voice and knowledge of the game. I think as the season progresses, we'll hear him mix it up a bit and NOT use "stick a fork in it" 100 times a game.

If I recall correctly, didn't Edwards start working for Channel 7 here in Boston as the sports guy and then make his way over to ESPN?

I hope so, but he should be using "stick a fork in it" zero times a game.

It is not descriptive or funny the way he uses it.

Was at the game in Pittsburgh and the thing I came away with is just how good Pat Leahy looks. He better stick.

Agreed, Leahy is impressing the hell out me so far. That goal was pretty and showed some really soft hands by the rookie. I have a feeling he still may go when our wounded return but he's going to make it tough to demote him.

Plus, it's evident he's giving 100% at all times while he's out there. He's been fun to watch on the PK and seems to have the same sort of instinct on the PK that PJ has.

Sullivan loves his ilk though and I have a feeling he sees a lot of himself in the PK specialist, Leahy. Although after the move and the sweet feed he made Saturday night, I have to think Mike is seeing less and less of himself in the kid.

Good point Sully. Didn't really consider the Sullivan angle there.

You're right, maybe Sullivan will start harboring resentment towards Leahy as he becomes more and more like the player he wished he was. If Leahy gets released unconditionally in the next week, I think a conspiracy may be afoot.

I tend to think that even Leahy shocked the hell out of himself after that goal against the Pens.

Think there's any chance Leahy could replace McEachern on the roster? I always pull for local guys but I tend to think McEachern's time has come and gone.

Isn't Leahy local, too?

Yup, Leahy's a local guy also. Sorry if I inferred that only McEachern was. Leahy was born in Brighton and went to BC High.

I walked the same hallowed halls of Matignon just like McEachern and Steve Leach. I recall something of a shrine in the school for Leach. McEachern didn't get the same rockstar treatment.