Tyler Seguin

The Edmonton Oilers Are Like a Box of Chocolate

When it comes to the Edmonton Oilers this season, you never know what you’re gonna get. Before being shut-out by the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, the Oil had won five straight and found themselves in the eighth and final playoff spot. It’s been an uphill battle all season long for Edmonton, who have had to dig in deep to earn points and claw their way up the jam packed Western Conference standings.

Analyzing Jaromir Jagr’s First Game as a Boston Bruin

It’s been awhile since the Boston Bruins acquired an all-star of this caliber.

You know, the type of player that people take notice of from the minute they step on for a change. The type of player who gets an ovation whenever he touches the puck. The type of player who has to be the last player to hit the ice, even after the back-up goaltender (yes, this happened).

That’s the type of player Jaromir Jagr is and that’s kind of what it was like in his first game as a Bruin on Thursday night.

Boston Bruins: Marching On As Lions or Lambs?

With a record of 20-7-3, the Boston Bruins are currently sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, two points back of the division leading Montreal Canadiens (with a game in hand), and second only to the Pittsburgh Penguins in terms of goal differential (+22.)

With only a scant 18 games left to play in a shortened season, one would think that the Bruins would be a confident bunch heading down the stretch. Below the surface, however, there is cause for concern, and the Bruins have some work to do in the last week of March to avoid going into April looking more like lambs than lions.

Boston Bruins: 2013 Midseason Grades

We’re a judgmental bunch.

That’s not to say that we think we’re better than anyone or that our opinion matters more, but as a society, we judge. It’s the nature of the beast and a big part of being a sports fan. From the comfort of our couches, seats and press box viewing areas, we have this unfair advantage to tell someone that they’re doing something wrong and be perfectly okay with saying it.

It’s a little much at times, but it’s expected. The players and the coaches get it and put up with it every day when they open up their favorite sports blog or read their favorite column on their iPad or Kindle. God forbid they see what’s being said on Twitter.

So here’s our contribution of guilt-free, good ol’ fashioned judging. The Boston Bruins started out the truncated 2013 NHL season with full marks. They’ve been very good but still have plenty more to show. What follows is a player-by-player midseason report card of the players and coaches, 24 games in.

Tuukka Rask: Blown 3-Goal Leads Now A Distant Memory

There are ghosts in the TD Garden at times.

It’s unspoken, to say the least, but we’re all well aware of them. They come up when we least expect them, sometimes years after their first appearances. They may sift into the heads of the players and the fans, almost subconsciously and without warning. Then sometimes, all at once, we see them and they take over. The only way to get rid of them is to beat them, the way that they once beat you.

Save your narratives about blown leads of three for another time. Tuukka Rask finally got rid of those ghosts.

Bruins Continuing To Find Ways To Win

In the course of their 18 games played, the fewest of any team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins have found numerous ways to win. Saturday afternoon’s matinee against the Tampa Bay Lightning was just another example.

Down 2-0 early in the first period after the Lightning potted two quick power play goals, a rarity against Boston, the Bruins looked like they lacked energy. A quick turnaround in the next 40-minutes bounced the Bruins back with three unanswered goals that included a late Brad Marchand goal on the power play to clinch the B’s sixth straight win and the 3-2 victory.