Statement Game

Milan Lucic played the hero Saturday night, scoring the game-winning goal in the Bruins' 3-1 victory over the mighty Vancouver Canucks.

Continuing their character-building West Coast swing in epic fashion, the Boston Bruins picked up one of their biggest and most complete victories of the season Saturday night, coming from behind to defeat the best team the in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1.

Milan Lucic, playing in front of his home-town crowd less than a day after having his number retired by his junior team, buried a rebound off a great individual effort from David Krejci to pick up the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third period. Once again, Tim Thomas (26 saves) was stellar between the pipes, holding the league's top scoring team to just one goal and silencing the sell-out crowd of 18,860 at Rogers Arena.

With the pivotal confidence building victory over the mighty Canucks, the Bruins are now 4-0-0 on their current six game Western Conference road trip and beginning to peak at the right time. 

"They're a very talented team, very dangerous," said Thomas after the game. "To come in an grind out a win on their ice is a big victory for us." 

After Manny Malholtra gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead late in the first period, the Bruins tied the game midway through the second period when Nathan Horton hammered home a second chance rebound past Roberto Luongo for his 16th goal of the season. 

After the 1-1 stalemate held up deep into the third period, it seemed the game was destined for overtime or a shootout. Then, with less than five minutes left in regulation, Lucic played the hero when he found himself in the right place at the right time. After making a spectacular individual effort in which he stickhandled through multiple defenders, Krejci kicked the puck back to the point where Dennis Seidenberg fired a shot on goal. Luongo stopped the initial shot but Lucic pounced on the rebound for his 27th goal of the season. 

Patrice Bergeron picked up an empty-net goal to make it 3-1. 

"You remember playing hockey in your backyard and scoring big goals," said Lucic after the game. "To play a big game and get the game-winner in front of my friends and family and all the Bruins fans that came out, it's a great feeling." 

Lucic's former team, the Vancouver Giants, honored him before a game Friday, handing out Lucic bobbleheads and placing his number in the Ring of Honor while also having Lucic drop the ceremonial first puck. Lucic helped the Giants win the junior hockey championship in 2007, known as the Memorial Cup. 

"It's almost the perfect ending to a perfect couple of days here," Lucic added. 

With the victory, the Bruins (35-19-7) become just the second team all season to defeat the Canucks after trailing the game 1-0. 

The Need for 'Sheed

In addition to waving Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson goodbye, GM Danny Ainge also said farewell to Semih Erden, Luke Harangody and Marquis Daniels during Thursday's Trade Deadline, opening up several roster spots, one of which old friend Rasheed Wallace could eventually fill. 

While Celtics fans undoubtedly find themselves struggling to adjust to the harsh reality that Kendrick Perkins has played his final game in green and white, one aspect to Thursday's trade deadline that seemingly got lost in the shuffle is that GM Danny Ainge made two separate transactions as well.

First, Ainge traded rookies Semih Erden and Luke Harangody to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2013 second round pick, formerly owned by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Erden, a seven-foot center from Turkey drafted 60th overall in 2008, appeared in 37 games for the Celts this season, averaging 4.1 points. Harangody, the former Notre Dame star chosen 52nd overall by the Celtics in the 2010 draft, played in 28 games this season, averaging 2.3 points mostly in mop-up duty late in games. Harangody's career highlight came in a 122-102 victory over Toronto in January 7 when he scored 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. 

In another move, Ainge sent injured swingman Marquis Daniels to the Sacramento Kings for cash considerations and a 2017 second-round pick. The trade represents a sad ending to Daniels' stay in Boston. After battling injuries for most of his two years in Beantown, Daniels was finally hitting his stride and becoming a key contributor off the bench when he injured his spinal cord in a game against the Magic on Feb 6. He has not played since and there is no timetable for his return. The injury could require surgery, putting his career in jeopardy. 

At first glance, both trades appear somewhat meaningless, simply due to the fact that Erden, Harangody and Daniels made minimal impact this season and the Celtics only got two second rounders and cash in return. However, the trades represent something much greater. By trading away Erden, Harangody and Daniels, the Celtics now have three open roster spots.  

As a result, Ainge now has the ability to scour the waiver wire and pounce on a veteran player of value bought out of their contract.

Insert: Troy Murphy.

The former Notre Dame star, recently acquired by Golden State, is all but certain to be bought out by the Warriors and has said on several occasions that he's always wanted to play for the Celtics. Murphy would be a great fit as well. At 6'11'', 245 lbs the nine-year pro is a reliable veteran who can stretch the floor with his outside shot as well as add depth to the Celtics depleted center position. Add Murphy to Krstic and a pair of healthy O'Neal's and suddenly the void left by Perkins' departure doesn't seem so glaring. 

In addition to bringing in Murphy, the Celtics could very well bring back old friend Rasheed Wallace.

Reports indicate that Wallace has been cranking up his workouts recently in preparation for making a late-season return to Boston, a la P.J. Brown during the 2008 championship run. And while Wallace would instantly solidify the Celtics' group of once-thinning big men, his return would give the Celtics something they desperately need after trading away Perkins: toughness.

Wallace, who still lives in the Boston area, would assume Perkins' role as the intimidating force down low, getting under the skin of opponents while also adding a much-needed mean streak. If the Celtics hope to keep their reputation as one of the league's toughest teams, bringing back Wallace would be Ainge's easiest decision. 

The End of an Era

The Celtics shocked the world Thursday afternoon, trading away fan favorite Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green, center Nenad Krstic and a 2012 first round pick.

In the final seconds leading up to Thursday's 3 P.M. NBA Trade Deadline, the Boston Celtics shocked the basketball world by trading away the anchor of their defense, Kendrick Perkins, along with back-up point guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for forward Jeff Green, center Nenad Krstic and a 2012 first round pick previously owned by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Just like that, one of the most reliable contributors and overall cornerstones of the Celtics recent renaissance is gone.

As a fan of the Green, it's hard not to let our emotions get the best of us after being blown away but such an unexpected move. Perk wasn't just some bench player who gave us a few quality minutes off the pine each night. He was a Celtic to his core. After being acquired from Memphis in a Draft Day deal way back in 2003, the former 27th overall pick made the leap from Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas straight to one of the NBA's most storied franchises.

Over the course of eight long years, we've seen Perk grow right before our eyes through the good times and the bad, like a beloved child or sacred relationship. He has been in Boston ever since the beginning, way back when the Celtics were the laughingstock of the league, busy losing 19 games in a row. Light years before the pride was even close to being restored.

Along the way, we were overcome with an unparalleled sense of pride and accomplishment after watching Perk develop from a raw big man with undisciplined talent into one of basketball's most feared and physical forces down low. Then, with the Earth-rattling acquisitions of Garnett and Allen in 2007, Perkins quickly became the glue that held everything together, acting as an intimidating presence in the paint and the team's overall defensive anchor. Perkins was a battle-tested warrior whose influence went far beyond statistics and could not be valued in a box score. Of course, Boston's Big Three was most responsible for raising Banner 17 in 2008, but we must never forget how critical a role Perk played in dethroning the Lakers and restoring pride to basketball's most storied franchise.

Still, we must set aside our emotions and dissect the trade without bias. Entering the final year of his contract, Perkins was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season and made several inclinations to testing the free agent market. By acquiring Green and Krstic, the Celtics assure themselves of receiving more than adequate compensation for Perkins instead of letting him walk for nothing after the season ends. The move falls in line with a new perspective around the NBA of getting compensation for stars before they walk away and sign elsewhere as free agents, just as the Nuggets and Jazz did by who trading away stars like Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams,

If you remember correctly, the Celtics have always liked Green. In fact, they liked him so much that they drafted him 5th overall in 2007 out of Georgetown and then proceeded to trade him to Seattle along with Delonte West in exchange for Ray Allen and the 35th overall pick (Glen Davis).

In Green, the Celtics become younger and more versatile. At 6'9'', 235 lbs, Green has the size, strength and talent to play both forward positions, making him an extremely valuable asset to coach Doc Rivers. With a plethora of low post moves, Green has the ability to bang under the boards as a power forward. However, he also has the skills to shoot the three and spell Paul Pierce at the small forward position. In addition, Green is just 24-years-old while Perkins is 26. And, although Green becomes a restricted free agent after the season, the Celtics have the ability to match any offer he receives, ensuring Green sticks around for the long term.

In essence, the Celtics get two big men for the price of one. Nate Robinson, once a fan favorite, had fallen out of favor in Boston this season after losing his once-reliable outside shot. In Green and Krstic, the Celtics solidify their growingly thin front court. Krstic, after all, is just 27-years-old and a true seven footer. If Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O' Neal are able to return in the near future, the Celtics have more than enough big men to compete come playoff time.

So, while the Celtics lose one of their most familiar and reliable faces, GM Danny Ainge has found a way to solidify both the present and the future with Thursday's blockbuster move. In Green and Krstic the Celtics acquire enough talent to still win the title this season, but they also ease themselves into rebuilding mode, acquiring a young talent like Green as well as a 2012 first round pick that they can play beside Rondo for years to come, even after KG, Paul and Ray retire.

At the end of the day, the trade of Perkins is just another reminder of how much sports mean to us. Sure, basketball is just a game, but after pouring your heart and soul into rooting for a player who you had the unique pleasure of watching grow, develop and eventually help restore pride to your favorite team, you can't help but feel like a part of you has been ripped out of your chest. Having to say goodbye to one of your favorite players is one of the most challenging aspects of being a fan. I'm still optimistic, but right now I feel like I've been eaten alive.

Taming the Wild West

Brad Marchand celebrates after scoring his 19th goal of the season in the Bruins 3-1 victory over the red-hot Flames Tuesday night in Calgary.

If the new-look Boston Bruins continue to play like they did Tuesday night in Calgary, GM Peter Chiarelli will get more than his fair share of votes for NHL Executive of the Year.

Unveiling all three of their newest acquisitions for the first time, the Bruins waltzed into one of the toughest buildings in hockey and took down one of the NHL's hottest teams, playing a spirited and complete sixty minutes on the road to defeat the red-hot Flames 3-1. Coming into the game, Calgary had gone 11-1-2 in their previous 14 contests and a staggering 7-0-2 in their last nine home games. In addition, they were fresh off the emotional high of beating Montreal 4-0 in the Heritage Classic Sunday afternoon in their own backyard.

Pacing the victory, Milan Lucic scored the first and last goals of the game, including an empty-netter to seal the victory for Boston with just 47 seconds left in the third period. Brad Marchand added his 19th goal of the season while David Krejci pitched in with two assists. In net, Tim Thomas finished with 28 saves and made some timely stops when he needed to most, especially in the final minutes of regulation when Calgary was desperate and pouring on the pressure.

With the victory, the Bruins are now 3-0-0 on their pivotal six game road trip and head into Saturday night's heavyweight tussle against the NHL-best Vancouver Canucks with a full head of steam and a reinvigorated starting goaltender.

"My legs definitely felt fresher than they had in a little while," admitted Thomas, who started in net for the first time in over a week after being overworked for much of the season. "I think that decision paid off for both of us."

With the win, Thomas improves his overall record to an absurd 27-8-6 while also lowering his league leading goals against average to a microscopic 1.99.

"That's why he's on top of all categories for goalies in the NHL," Lucic remarked after the game. "He's a gamer. He comes to play every night."

Setting the tone early, the Bruins grabbed the momentum and quickly raced out to a 1-0 lead just 59 seconds into the game. Taking full advantage of a poor line change by Calgary, Krejci attacked the Flames' zone with speed and then dished a beautiful cross-ice pass right onto the tape of a streaking Lucic who proceeded to bury the puck past Mikka Kiprusoff for his 25th goal of the season.

"I think we gave them a little too much respect off the hop," admitted Calgary's Curtis Glencross.

Then, after a scoreless second period, the Bruins extended the lead to 2-0 with just under six minutes gone in the final stanza. Capitalizing on the relentless forecheck of Patrice Bergeron down low, the Bruins were able to cycle the puck back to Andrew Ference at the point. And although Ference's low slapped didn't make its way to the net, it deflected off of Bergeron's right skate directly to Marchard in the slot who fired the rebound past the helpless Kiprusoff.

The Bruins continued to dictate the play until Bergeron was called for an ill-advised slashing penalty on Anton Babchuk with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Almost on cue, the Flames cut the deficit to 2-1 on the power play when superstar Jarome Iginla executed a give-and-go in close to perfection, setting up Glencross for his 20th goal of the season.

After being silenced all night, the sell-out crowd of 19,289 at the Scotiabank Saddledome instantly rose to their feet and began cheering "Go Flames Go" in deafening unison.

With time winding down, the Flames pulled Kiprusoff with just over a minute to go. However, the Bruins made sure Calgary's comeback fell short as Krejci lofted a beautiful outlet feed to Lucic who tapped home the puck into the empty net for his 26th goal of the season.

The goal was a fitting way to end the game as it was the first line of Krejci centering Lucic and Nathan Horton that gave Calgary fits all night.

"Our game kind of fell off in January because we weren't making smart plays," explained Lucic. "We were coughing up pucks, weren't moving like we usually do. These last couple of games we're skating again, we're strong on the puck and we're winning battles. If we want to be an effective line, that's what we need to do."

Recent acquisition Rich Peverley made his debut for Boston as well, playing the wing on the third line with fellow newcomer Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder. Peverley didn't look a bit out of place and managed to win some key faceoffs late in the game. Boston's biggest acquisition, Tomas Kaberle, saw extended minutes on the power play and led all Bruins in time on ice with 22:51, some three seconds more than captain Zdeno Chara.

Interestingly, the Bruins last road win against the Flames came way back on October 18, 1997. Since then they had gone 0-4-1 in Calgary before finally breaking through for the victory Tuesday night out West. 

With the win, the Bruins improve to 34-19-7 on the season. In addition, not only do they pad their lead atop the Northeast Division, but Boston also moves into a tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the number two overall spot in the Eastern Conference.

Even though it's early, all signs point to the new-look Bruins as a serious force to be reckoned with.

Mr. Chiarelli deserves a round of applause.

Big Apple Shockwaves

Carmelo Anthony was finally traded to the Knicks Monday night, ending months of speculation and uncertainty as to where the star small forward would end up. 

For several months now, the Carmelo Anthony saga has hung over the NBA like a perpetual black cloud.

The entire charade began before the season even started. Over the summer, reports surfaced that Anthony wanted out of Denver after rejecting a three-year contract extension from the Nuggets worth a maximum $65 million. Soon, rumors began swirling that the former Oak Hill Academy phenom was destined for New York or New Jersey, either in a blockbuster trade during the season or after the NBA Finals via free agency.

Both cities held widespread appeal for Anthony: New York because of its large market, the opportunity to join forces with fellow superstar Amare Stoudemire and the fact that Anthony went to Syracuse, and New Jersey because the Nets are partially owned by Anthony's good friend Jay-Z and will be relocating to Brooklyn in 2012, the city in which Anthony was born.

However, as the season went on, the Melo-Drama grew so intense and unrelenting that it became intolerable. The games ceased to matter and wins and losses took a back seat to updated trade rumors. Every interview with Anthony revolved around the question of where he was going to land. Less than a month ago, the Lakers reportedly threw their hat in the ring, offering a package to the Nuggets with Andrew Bynum as the centerpiece in exchange for bringing Anthony to Hollywood.

The ordeal finally seemed to reach its tipping point during the All-Star festivities this past weekend in LA. Instead of taking a step back to appreciate watching the best basketball players in the world grace us with their unmatched skills, it was all about Melo as the media fixated on his every move. Anthony the player had become bigger than the game. It was like watching the whole LeBron James fiasco all over again.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, the whole Anthony saga came to a screeching halt late Monday night as word surfaced that the former #3 overall pick in the 2003 draft had finally been traded to the Knicks as part of a three team deal. While New York lands Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman from Denver, they had to send three of their best players to the Nuggets: Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler (along with Russian big man Timofey Mozgov and future draft picks).

Finally, the Melo-drama is over.

Thank god.

However, while we no longer have to deal with the unrelenting media attention on Melo anymore, now Celtics fans must accept the harsh reality that the Eastern Conference just got a lot tougher. With a core of Stoudemire, Anthony, Billups and Landry Fields, the Knicks have enough star power to make a legitimate playoff run this season.

However, the silver lining for Celtics fans is that it could take a while for the new-look Knicks to mesh. In addition, as a result of the trade the Knicks gutted most of their roster and now have very few complimentary pieces to surround their superstars, similar to the position in which Miami finds itself. So while the Knicks remain beatable today, even with Anthony, the real danger for Celtics fans exists in the years to come as Boston continue to age and the Knicks begin to hit their stride.

But honestly, who really cares about next season?

For Celtics fans, it's all about 18 and it's all about right now. And even though the Knicks just got a lot scarier with the addition of Carmelo, they still don't have what it takes to derail Boston's championship or bust train this season.

Sorry, Spike Lee.

Gotham City may be entering a basketball renaissance but, as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Wheeling and Dealing

The Bruins finally got their man on Friday, acquiring defenseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto in exchange for Joe Colborne, a first round pick in 2011 and a conditional second rounder in 2012. 

After making two big trades on Friday, GM Peter Chiarelli made one thing loud and clear to Bruins fans during his press conference: "We want to win and we want to be successful."

Infusing the fan base with hope and excitement, Chiarelli was finally able to land the one defenseman that he has so desperately coveted for years: Tomas Kaberle. However, the price was steep for the four time All-Star. In exchange for the 32-year-old, smooth skating Maple Leaf defenseman, the Bruins sacrificed a large chunk of the future, giving up 21-year-old Joe Colborne (chosen by Boston 16th overall in the 2008 Draft), as well as a first round pick in 2011 and a conditional second round pick in 2012. 

"We felt we needed a player like Tomas," Chiarelli explained after the trade. "He has good vision. He's a good skater. He can quarterback the power play...It's a strong message to our team." 

In Kaberle, the Bruins finally fill the void left by the departure of Dennis Wideman: a puck-moving defenseman with a gifted offensive game that can do some serious damage on the power play. At the time of the trade, Kaberle, a native of Rakovnik, Czechoslovakia, had scored 520 points (83 goals, 437 assists) over twelve seasons in Toronto, making him the second-highest scoring defenseman in team history behind only Borje Salming. He also represented the Czech Republic in three different Olympic Games. 

In 58 games for Toronto this season, Kaberle has 3 goals and 35 assists (22 of which have come on the power play) while also averaging a robust 22:28 of ice time. His best season came in 2005-06 when he scored 67 points (9 goals, 58 assists). Kaberle is expected to replace Mark Recchi on the Bruins' number one power-play unit and set up Zdeno Chara for blistering one-timers like he used to with Bryan McCabe in Toronto for so many years. 

However, in order to acquire Kaberle and absorb the remainder of his $4.25 million cap hit, the Bruins had to shed some payroll. As a result, they shipped Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart to Atlanta for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. While the 25-year-old Valabik was chosen 10th overall by the Thrashers in 2004 and stands at a towering 6'7'', weighing 255 lbs, he has yet to put his game together and consistently contribute at the NHL level. As a result, he was immediately assigned to Providence. 

However, Peverley could really help the Bruins. He's a 28-year-old center with some above average offensive skills. Up until the trade, Peverley was one of the Thrashers leading scorers, posting 14 goals and 20 assists in 59 games. Last year, Peverley scored a career-high 22 goals and added 33 assists. He's also more than just a rental. Peverley is under contract for next season as well for a cap-friendly $1.325 million. He projects to fill Wheeler's spot on the third line for Boston. 

"We get back a player in Rich Peverley who is a terrific offensive player," explained Chiarelli. "He's a shooter. He plays center and wing... He has a really good wrist shot and a good one-timer. He's got a bit of an edge when he plays."

Sounds a lot like a Bruin. 

The one question mark remaining with Kaberle is whether the Bruins will re-sign him at season's end or let him walk like Sergei Gonchar did a few years back. Kaberle is in the final year of a five-year, $22.15 million deal. However, it's a good sign for Bruins fans that Kaberle waived his no trade clause to come to Boston in the first place. 

"He's a guy that we want to re-sign," Chiarelli said. "Of course there is a chance that we won't re-sign him, but I want to re-sign him...it's an important part of this deal because we are giving up significant assets." 

However, the last thing on the minds of Bruins fans right now is whether or not Kaberle re-signs at season's end. For now, we are too busy jumping for joy about the Black and Gold's postseason chances. They may not be Stanley Cup favorites, but after acquiring Kaberle, Peverley, and Chris Kelly just a few days ago, the Bruins are a whole lot better today than they were a week ago. 

They may have sacrificed a great deal of the future for a shot at the present. 

But if you're a Bruins fan, you've got to be excited. 

Odd Man Out?

Notice anyone missing from this picture? You guessed it, Dice-K.

Way back in November of 2006, the Red Sox shocked the baseball world by shelling out a record $51.1 million to the Seibu Lions (a figure some two-to-three times the amount of their entire payroll) just for the rights to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Less than a month later, negotiations between the Sox and Dice-K's agent, none other than Scott Boras, ended with Matsuzaka agreeing to a six-year, $52 million deal to come to Boston. Between the negotiating fee and Matsuzaka's mega-deal, John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner had invested over $100 million to land the Japanese legend.

At the time, Sox fans were ecstatic. Everything we heard about Dice-K had us applauding the move. We were wowed by legendary stories like how a then 18-year-old Matsuzaka went 17 innings in a high school playoff game, throwing 250 pitches just a day after throwing 148 in a complete game shutout. We heard about all the All-Star appearances, ERA titles and strikeout records he set in the Japanese League, and how he could throw four different pitchers for strikes at any point in the game, on any count. We salivated as he singlehandedly won Japan the 2006 World Baseball Classic, while also earning MVP honors. We even heard rumors about a one of a kind pitch named the "gyroball" which supposedly was unhittable.

For all these reasons, Sox fans were thanking their lucky stars that Theo and Co. outbid the Yankees, Mets and Rangers to land us what were led to believe was the greatest pitcher on the planet, maybe even of all time. When he arrived, the media attention was unlike anything we'd ever seen before. Everywhere Dice-K went he had throngs of reporters following his every move like a traveling circus. Each start he made was an event. Fans in Japan stayed up until 3 AM just to watch him pitch for the Sox.

In his rookie season, Dice-K went 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA and helped the Sox win their second World Series title in three years. Then, in 2008 Matsuzaka was magical, going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. All the while, his style of pitching was agonizing. He nibbled on the corners, threw tons of pitches and walked countless batters. He never seemed to go over five innings. However, he didn't give up many hits or runs and always seemed to get out of jams so we couldn't argue with the results.

However, despite showing flashes of brilliance here and there, Dice-K has never been the same since 2008. In 2009, Matsuzaka blew his arm out in the WBC before the season even started and only managed to make 12 starts, going 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in just 59.1 innings. Questions arose about his commitment to the Sox and his work ethic. Soon his penchant for walking batters drove us to the point of insanity.

Then, after finally caving into Boston's demand for him to abandon his familiar Japanese training methods, Dice-K reluctantly agreed to join the Red Sox strength and conditioning program. As a result, Matsuzaka rebounded to have a somewhat respectable 2010, going 9-6 with a 4.69 ERA over 153.2 innings.

Now, Dice-K enters Spring Training as a fifth starter in the second to last year of his deal. Suddenly, he has become an afterthought. No longer do countless Japanese scribes hang on his every word. In fact, they seem to have disappeared all together. While the rest of the Sox' starting rotation (Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and John Lackey) looks like the Beatles during Spring Training- four best friends joined at the hip- Dice-K can't seem to get any love.

But that's fine with me. Maybe the fact that the spotlight no longer shines brightest on Dice-K will allow him to take a deep breath and a step back so he can finally focus on baseball and not all the other distractions and pressures that came with him making the monumental leap from Japanese League legend to the highest paid American baseball import in history. If everything goes according to plan, Matsuzaka will hit his stride in 2011 and fly under the radar as the best fifth starter in baseball.

That's my guess.

Just don't expect for him to throw fewer pitches or give up fewer free passes.

After all, some things never change.

Help is on the Way

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli made his first move leading up to the Feb. 28 trade deadline, acquiring center Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2011. 

Just minutes after the Bruins dropped an agonizing 4-3 decision at home to the cellar-dwelling Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night, GM Peter Chiarelli held a press conference to announce that the team had acquired veteran center Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a second-round draft pick. And, while the acquisition of Kelly isn't going to have Black and Gold fans take to the streets in bliss, it is a welcome addition for a team in serious need of a jumpstart.

After being embarrassed in a home and home series with the mighty Red Wings last week, the Bruins hit rock bottom Tuesday night at the Garden before a sell-out crowd of 17,565. But it wasn't just the fact that they lost their third game in a row. It was how they lost.

Midway through the third period, Patrice Bergeron hammered home a rebound past Leafs netminder James Reimer to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. However, with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, old friend Phil Kessel tied the game 3-3 with a beautiful move in close on Tim Thomas. For Kessel, it was his first goal against his former team.

Then, with just 61 seconds remaining, Mikhail Grabovski split three different Bruins defenders and then side-stepped Dennis Seidenberg before burying a top shelf wrister past Thomas to give the Leafs a 4-3 lead and the eventual come-from-behind win.

"Unacceptable," said coach Claude Julien after the game. "It's one of those situations where if you have any sense of pride, you're embarrassed about tonight. Not because the other team played well. But because we did not play to the level we should be playing."

You can say that again.

In fact, the loss was so troubling that it seemed as if Chiarelli's hand was forced into making a move just to prove to the fanbase that subpar efforts such as Tuesday night's will not be tolerated. In addition, the trade can also be viewed as a wake up call to the players, sending the harsh message that heads will role if the Bruins uninspired play continues.

In Kelly, the Bruins fill the void up the middle left by the loss of Marc Savard, whose season officially ended after being placed on the long-term injury reserve just over a week ago. Kelly's arrival should also shift Tyler Seguin back to the wing, where he can focus more on scoring goals and less on playing defense.

"He has a lot of playoff experience," said Chiarelli of Kelly, whom he knows very well after spending seven years in Ottawa as the Director of Legal Relations and Assistant GM. "He's good on faceoffs. He's a high-character person. He plays both ways. We needed a centerman that's going to give us some depth. Chris gives us that."

At 6'0'', 210 lbs, the 30-year-old Kelly also gives the Bruins some size and strength. A former 94th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft, Kelly had notched 33 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 57 games for Ottawa this season. His best season came in 2006-07, when he scored 15 goals and added 23 assists for an Ottawa team that reached the Stanley Cup finals. Kelly is also under contract for next season and relatively cheap (around $2 million), which means he's not just a half-year rental.

Kelly may not be Brad Richards or Keith Yandle, two game-changing forwards that Bruins fans are still holding out hope of acquiring in a trade, but the former Ottawa centerman should help shore up the third line and hopefully add some grit to a club in serious need of some.

Now, Chiarelli seems to be shifting his attention to acquiring a defenseman to help on the power play.

Tomas Kaberle, anyone?

Tag, You're It

All-Pro lineman Logan Mankins became the first player in the NFL to receive the franchise tag on Monday. Now, it's up to the Patriots to either lock him up long term or trade him away. 

And so the saga of Logan Mankins continues.

Making their first major transaction of the offseason, the New England Patriots officially placed the franchise tag on the 28-year-old Mankins, a move widely regarded as imminent once the Super Bowl ended. As a result, Mankins will indeed return to Foxboro next season, but this time as one of the highest paid players at his position. He will receive a one-year deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $10.1 million (franchise tags are calculated by finding the average salary of the five highest players at the position). Not bad for a guy who held out all of training camp and the first half of the 2010 regular season.

Leading up to Monday's tag of Mankins, the lineman's story has been full of twists and turns in recent years. After the 2009 season, Mankins' rookie contract ended and he became a restricted free agent, making his salary for 2010 a more than adequate $3.26 million. However, since Mankins was seeking a long-term deal, he was infuriated with the offer and felt disrespected. He lashed out at the team and owner Robert Kraft (a major no-no in Patriots land) and decided to hold out until his demands for a long-term deal or a trade out of Foxboro were met.

However, by not signing his $3.26 million tender prior to the June 15, 2010 deadline, Mankins saw his salary slashed from $3.26 million to $1.54 million. Reluctantly, Mankins signed his tender on November 2, 2010 and reported to the team just prior to the Week 9 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, solely due to the fact that by doing so, Mankins was able to accrue a sixth full season under his belt and therefore earn unrestricted free agent status in 2011.

Now comes the franchise tag.

The most mind boggling aspect of the whole Mankins ordeal is the fact that the Patriots refuse to pay one of their best players, even though they held the third-lowest payroll in the NFL last season. Since being chosen in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft, the former Fresno State standout has been a cornerstone of the Pats offensive line. He embodies everything you look for in a lineman: big (6'4'', 310 lbs), tough, reliable and nasty. He's also a three time Pro Bowler and two time All Pro. He even made the Pro Bowl this past season (as a starter, nonetheless) even though he played in just nine games, symbolizing just how great he is and how well received he is around the league.

"Logan Mankins is one of the best players on the team," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in an interview during the Super Bowl in Dallas. "I just personally want to say, I hope he's with us for a long term, and we're going to try to do whatever we have to do to make sure that happens."

If the last two Patriots to be tagged are any indication of how the Mankins saga plays out, it could be anyone's guess as to how long the heavyweight guard sticks around Foxboro. Prior to last season, the Pats placed the tag on nose tackle Vince Wilfork, but quickly came to terms on a five-year, $40 million deal just weeks later. Before Wilfork, it was Matt Cassel. As you remember, Cassel stepped in admirably for the injured Brady in 2008, then was slapped with the tag after the season. However, Cassel was then traded to Kansas City along with fan favorite Mike Vrabel in exchange for the 34th overall pick in the 2009 draft, who ended up being Patrick Chung.

While the uncertainly of the CBA has placed a black cloud over the NFL and a work stoppage remains very possible, Patriots fans must wait and see whether Belichick and Co. trade away Mankins or decide to sign him to a long term deal.

I say pay the guy. Lock him up for the long term and then, instead of spending one of their first round picks on an offensive lineman, the Patriots can use it to upgrade a position of serious need: like defensive line, outside linebacker, wide receiver or running back.

It's not like the Patriots don't have the money. It's just that, for some reason, they don't want to spend it.

With the 17th Overall Pick, the New England Patriots select...

Could Mark Ingram make an immediate impact for The Patriots?

First off, I would like to thank the Oakland Raiders for their generous first round draft pick in exchange for Richard Seymour, you guys can't be thanked enough! Now on to the good stuff. There are a few voids that The Patriots need to fill during this years draft, and it's up in the air with what head coach Bill Belichick decides to do. So while we patiently wait for Red Sox opening day and the NFL Draft, I'll be playing the role of Bill Belichick.

With the 17th pick of the 2011 draft, The New England Patriots select: Mark Ingram, RB from Alabama.

Ingram has slipped down ten or more spots in this year's draft because of a mediocre 2010 season. He rushed for 903 yards, caught 21 balls for 282 and racked up 14 total touchdowns (13 rushing), but let's not forget about his Heisman Trophy campaign the year before that. In 2009 he racked up a massive 1,678 yards on the ground, caught 32 balls for 334 and had a total of 20 touchdowns (17 rushing). Ingram's numbers declined this year because of a minor knee surgery he had a week before the first game of the season. He missed the first two games while giving way to sophomore running back Trent Richardson. Richardson rushed for a combined 210 yards and 3 TD's, filling in nicely for Ingram. For the rest of the season, Head Coach Nick Saban had to go with the two-headed monster of Ingram and Richardson, therefore reducing Ingram's numbers.

Emmitt Smith comes to mind when I watch Mark Ingram play. Let's compare. Smith stands at 5'9'' and weighs in at 216; Ingram stands at 5'10'', weighing 215. Smith was drafted 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990 draft. The rest is history for Smith, who became the league's all time leading rusher while getting fitted for three championship rings on his fingers and after he retired, the Hall of Fame called a few years later. Twenty one years later The Patriots sit with the same 17th overall pick with the chance to take Ingram. Could Ingram break that all time rushing record? Probably not, but I think with his talent and a solid team around him, he can definitely win some championships.

Don't get me wrong, I love BenJarvus Green-Ellis and the things he was able to accomplish last year (becoming the team's first 1,000 rusher since Corey Dillon in 2003) but I don't think he will cut it for our future. Green-Ellis will still be our starting back while we groom Ingram for that spot in a few years. Think of it in terms of this: If we have one of the best rushing offenses over the next couple years, that only makes MVP Tom Brady more dangerous. If teams respect our run game, guess what opens up? The passing game or one of my favorite plays...... play-action. Our play-action would be deadly if our running game was on point and if we get a deep threat *cough Larry Fitzgerald cough*, watch out.

Spring Fever

Cy Young hopeful Jon Lester was one of several early arrivals at the Sox spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida.  

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring" -Rogers Hornsby

After a long, harsh and blizzard filled winter in which New Englanders began to doubt if the sun would ever shine again, the light at the end of the tunnel has finally arrived. Today marks the first official day of Spring Training, with Red Sox pitchers and catchers reporting for duty at the City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. While the first official workout doesn't begin until Tuesday, pitchers and catchers had their physicals today and also began their conditioning tests. 

Here's some interesting tidbits from Camp as we patiently await for position players to report on Friday... 

-John Lackey, entering the second year of his gargantuan five-year, $82.5 million contract, looks to be in much better physical condition, with reports stating that he has lost at least ten pounds from increased offseason conditioning. It's about time. After going 14-11 with a bloated 4.40 ERA in his first year in Beantown, something had to change. Hopefully his improved physique advances his game this season. Either way, at least it appears Lackey is taking Year Two in Boston more seriously than Year One. 

-Newcomer Bobby Jenks, fresh off signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Sox in the offseason, made sure to smooth things over with Jonathan Papelbon, the incumbent closer. Instead of causing drama and demanding a shot at the closer role, Jenks appears to be all business thus far, entirely comfortable with his new role. 

"I didn't come here to step on [Papelbon's] toes, that's for sure," Jenks told the Boston Globe. "If those questions do come up, it's going to come down to the decision of the manager and whatever they think is best for the team." Amen, Bobby. 

-Clay Buccholz appears to be much more comfortable entering his second full season as a starter. After going 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA and narrowly missing out on the Cy Young award last season, Buccholz looks to build upon his stellar 2010 campaign. The 26-year-old Buccholz is entering his prime and said recently that the confidence he built from last season should carry him a long way in 2011. 

"It definitely feels different," said Buccholz recently. "It feels good to have a full season under my belt, feeling that I belong in this position and feeling like the team has a little bit of confidence in me going into spring training." 

Thank god Theo didn't trade Buccholz for Johan Santana a few years ago. 

-Entering his third full season in the Big Leagues, flamethrower Daniel Bard is transitioning from a youngster to a veteran right before our eyes. And, while the golden armed 25-year-old will no doubt assume the closer's role someday, Bard isn't counting down the days. He said he is comfortable with his role and relishes the fact that Theo Epstein went out and picked up bullpen help in Jenks and Dan Wheeler.  

"We'll have more help down there than we had last year," Bard said. "That's kind of what I felt we needed down there, some guys who you kind of know what you're getting out of them." 

Interestingly, Bard also noted in an interview with NESN's Tom Caron and Peter Gammons that he wouldn't be against becoming a starter someday in the future, should the team need him. He also predicted a bounce back year from lefty Andrew Miller, his former teammate at UNC. 

-After rehabbing his broken foot for the past seven months, Dustin Pedroia, an early arrival at the team's facility, said he's "done everything," feels "great" and is "ready to go." However, he did scare the daylights out of Sox fans by comparing his injury to Grant Hill's and Yao Ming's, both of whom had their careers either end or put on a hiatus for years because of it. But, not to fear, Sox fans. Unlike Hill and Yao, Pedroia is much smaller and lighter, which means less weight adding pressure on his foot. He will also wear a custom made pad over the injured foot likely for the rest of his career, making sure another foul ball doesn't send him back on the DL. 

-Other early arrivals include Josh Beckett, Dice-K, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Varitek and Adrian Gonzalez. While the prize-free agent first baseman did take grounders the past few days, Gonzalez has abstained from swinging a bat as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. 

-One player who didn't arrive early was speedster Carl Crawford. But don't make anything of it, Sox fans. Crawford is working out as hard as ever in Houston with personal trainer Lee Fiocchi and set to arrive Friday. Crawford noted that working out alone with just Fiocchi allows him to eliminate distractions, focus more on specific drills and get his body in the best possible shape to start the season.

The Sox are back. 

And for the first time in months, everything is right in the universe again. 

Let's Make a Deal

After losing Marc Savard for the season, what are the chances Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli steps up to the plate and acquires a star like Dallas' Brad Richards before the February 28 trade deadline?

The Boston Bruins need a shot in the arm.

Less than a week ago everything was going great. The Black and Gold had just pummeled the Canadiens 8-6 in an epic heavyweight bout at the Garden. At the time, it was their fourth victory in the last five games. And, most important of all, it stretched the Bruins lead in the Northeast Division to four points over the second place Habs. 

Oh how quickly things change. 

Since defeating Montreal last Wednesday night, the Bruins have hit the skids, exposed as frauds in a home and home series with the mighty Detroit Red Wings. As if being blown out at home 6-1 by Detroit Friday night wasn't humiliating enough, the Bruins traveled to Joe Louis Arena Sunday afternoon looking for redemption only to be humbled once again by a much faster, hungrier and more skilled Red Wing club, 4-2. 

And what have the Canadiens done in the meantime? Try picking up three of a possible four points, including a commanding 3-0 shutout over Toronto on Saturday. As a result of the Bruins' collapse and the Habs' resurgence, Boston's once comfortable division lead over Montreal has shrunk to a single point. 

So how do the Bruins respond? 

By making a blockbuster trade. 

When the Bruins were rolling just a few weeks ago, the reason they incited fear into their opponents was because coach Claude Julien had three dynamic scoring lines and a gritty checking line to employ at his discretion. But, with Marc Savard's season officially over after he was placed on the long-term injured reserve as a result of his most recent concussion, Boston has become predictable offensively: they lack a third playmaking center. 

As a result, opposing teams can hone in on the first line line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Horton as well as the second line of Bergeron, Marchand and Recchi. After that, the Bruins' offensive output ends there. Sure, Tyler Seguin will most likely be a great player someday, but the Bruins aren't going to hoist the Cup in the Spring if they expect a wide eyed 18-year-old to fill Savard's shoes in his rookie year. 

It's time for General Manager Peter Chiarelli and Cam Neely to step up to the plate before the February 28 trade deadline.

It's been 39 years since the Bruins have won the Cup and, despite the resurgence of hockey excitement in the Hub in recent years, die-hard fans are still restless. They also realize that the only way the Bruins' agonizing championship drought will end this year is if management deals for a top-flight centerman to replace Savard, a la Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars, as Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe suggested recently. Even the Panthers' Stephen Weiss, who scored a career-high 28 goals last season, would be a welcome addition. Same for old-friend Brad Boyes of the Blues. Or maybe the lowly Senators would be willing to part with Jason Spezza. 

Last year, Boston defied expectations and thrilled us all with a epic playoff push before eventually breaking our hearts against Philadelphia. But, after watching the Red Wings pick apart the Bruins this past weekend, even the casual Boston fan can concede the fact that, as they stand now, the Savard-less B's just don't have enough firepower to make a deep run at the Cup. But, with Savard gone so too goes his $4 million cap hit, giving the front office some serious financial flexibility to help absorb a hefty contract like that of Richards. 

That's where you come in, Chiarelli. Give up that top-five pick in next year's draft, the one still hanging around from Toronto as a result of the Phil Kessel trade. Trade Mark Stuart, who has been a mystery scratch recently. Or a prospect like Zach Hammill, Jordan Caron or Joe Colborne. Or, even though I'd hate to see them go, package Blake Wheeler or Michael Ryder in a deal if it means landing Richards. 

Just get us a stud, Peter. At least if it doesn't pan out no one can say you didn't try. 

You Play to Win the Game

Ray Allen became the NBA's all-time three point leader Thursday night, but the Celtics lost to the Lakers 92-86.

Some records in sports are just so untouchable that they may never be broken.

Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hit streak. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played streak. Cy Young's 511 career wins. Wayne Gretzky's 2,857 career points. Tom Brady's 50 touchdown passes in a single season.

And now we can add Ray Allen's 2,561 (and counting) career three point field goals to the list.

For weeks now, the hype surrounding Allen's historic pursuit of greatness has grown exponentially. Comcast Sports New England quickly coined the phrase "Ray for the Record," and reminded us all exactly where Allen stood each day. We patiently watched each and every game this season, counting down together in collective unison as Mike and Tommy called every three pointer Allen sank with updated emphasis. We wanted it so badly for Ray than it began to consume us.

So, with Ray just two treys shy of breaking Reggie Miller's long standing all-time mark of 2,560, Thursday night's showdown with the Lakers was all about Ray. And for good reason. He was on the verge of setting one of the NBA's greatest all-time records.

"When I ran out on the floor, and saw all the signs, and all the people....this record, I just didn't really understand until that moment just how big it was," Allen admitted in his postgame press conference

Before tip-off, the Garden was electric. It felt like a playoff-type atmosphere. Everytime Ray touched the ball the 18,624 strong held their collective breath, awaiting history. And then, with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Ray hit his second three of the game, becoming the NBA's all-time three point champion.

"That second 3, almost, it seemed like it was slow motion for me, 'cause I've seen the whole thing develop," said Allen. "Where the ball kind of comes so slow, like somebody is almost slow motioning it on TV. That's exactly how it felt, becuase the minute we got the stop and Rondo got the ball...In my mind it just started, and I just said to myself, 'this is it.'"

In a show of respect to the man who held the crown before him, Allen quickly sprinted to the scorers' table and embraced Miller, who was working the game for TNT.

The Celtics were cruising, up by as much as 15 points. We were on a thrilling high. We had just witnessed history.

Then a funny thing happened. Once Ray broke the record, it was like the air was let out of the building. The Lakers took it to our banged-up Celts and ended up spoiling Ray's night, defeating Boston 92-86.

Suddenly, it dawned on us that leading up to the game, there was no mention about the epic Celtics/Lakers rivalry. There was no focus on how important the game was for both teams in terms of securing home-court advantage come playoff time. And certainly no mention of the fact that it was a pivotal NBA Finals rematch. Beating the Lakers became an afterthought.

We were so caught up in rooting for an individual to cement his immortality in the record books that we lost sight of the bigger picture.

In the end, it's not about stats. Yeah, numbers are great. But the purpose of sports isn't to achieve individual accolades. It's all about winning. Just ask Dan Marino. He put up some of the gaudiest numbers of all time but would gladly trade all those yards and touchdowns in a heartbeat just for one Super Bowl ring. Same for John Stockton. And, most recently, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Yes, they were awarded the MVP and Coach of the Year in 2010 but because the Pats lost to the Jets in the first round of the playoffs, the awards mean nothing. Ask them both and they'll tell you the same thing.

During the 2008 championship run, the Celtics rallying cry was "ubuntu." It symbolized togetherness, unselfishness and sacrifice. Everytime they broke the huddle, they screamed it in unison. It united everyone in one common goal: to raise Banner 17.

Congratulations, Ray. No one works harder perfecting their craft than you. And no one is more deserving of such a historic record than you.

But, Celtics fans, let's keep in mind that no one player is bigger than the game. Sure, three point records are nice. But they won't help us raise Banner 18 in June.

Only wins will. And a little more ubuntu.

Respect

Ray Allen paying respect to Reggie Miller, the previous 3 Point King.

If this doesn't give you chills, then I don't know what does.

The Beautiful Art that is Ray Allen

One word. Amazing.

Old Time Knockout

Not only did the Bruins beat the Canadiens 8-6 Wednesday night, they
 beat them up as well. Even Tim Thomas and Carey Price got in on the fun. 

The last time the Bruins and Canadiens faced each other was a little over a month ago. It was early January and Boston melted down in Montreal, blowing a once commanding two goal lead late in the third period before eventually losing 3-2 in overtime. After scoring the game-winning goal and sending the sold-out Bell Centre into a spirited frenzy, Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty shoved Zdeno Chara in front of the Bruins goal, insulting the Bruins captain amidst the Montreal celebration. After the game, Chara refused to speak with the media, a striking indication of just how furious and upset the always accountable and upstanding veteran defenseman was following Pacioretty's unsportsmanlike low-blow.

As a result, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the Bruins were looking forward to Wednesday night's rematch with Montreal at the TD Garden. In addition to the glaring revenge factor for Chara and his mates, the game meant so much because Boston led Montreal by just two points in the Northeast Division standings entering the game.

To raise the stakes even more, the Canadiens have had the Bruins number this season. Entering Wednesday night's heavyweight bout, Boston had yet to defeat Montreal, going 0-2-1 in three games this season. Offensively, the Bruins have been unable to solve Habs goaltender Carey Price. In their last six meetings, Price has dominated, going 6-0-0 with a microscopic 1.47 goals against average and robust .956 save percentage.

Oh how sweet revenge is.

Pushing aside all the compelling storylines, once the puck dropped Wednesday night the Bruins reminded us all exactly why their rivalry with Montreal is considered one of the greatest in all of sports, right up there with Red Sox/Yanks and Celtics/Lakers. After all, the two Original Six teams have played each other more times in both the regular season and playoffs than any other two teams in NHL history.

In the 1950s, Montreal beat the Bruins in the Stanley Cup three separate times. Same goes for 1977 and 1978. It wasn't until 1988 that the Bruins were able to defeat the Canadiens in a playoff series, breaking a 45 year drought. Most recently, Montreal defeated Boston in a deciding Game 7 in the first round of the 2007-08 playoffs, a series that to this day remains vividly clear in the eyes of Bruins fans mostly because of an unbelievably intense and thrilling Game 6 win by the Bruins to force Game 7.

Still, even with such rich history and unabashed hatred between the two teams, the Bruins won a game for the ages Wednesday night, pummeling the Canadiens 8-6 in a wildly entertaining game featuring a flurry of goals and six different fights. The two teams combined for an astonishing 182 penalty minutes. Even the goalies joined the fun. Midway through the second period Tim Thomas and Carey Price dropped the gloves, although their bout looked more like a sumo-wrestling match as no punches were landed squarely.

"It looked like back in the day in the '70s and '80s when there were those rivals, " Milan Lucic said after the game. "We're just happy that we were able to get that win. They've been a tough opponent for us lately. We'd lost eight out of our last nine before tonight. Most of all, we're just happy to get those two points and keep getting up in the standings."

Jumping out to a quick start, the Bruins took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission after Brad Marchand and Dennis Seidenberg scored just 12 seconds apart with less than six minutes left in the first period.

Then, the real fun began. In arguably the greatest single period of any two teams in this NHL season, the Bruins and Canadiens combined to score eight goals and commit an astounding 15 different penalties. At one point, both teams had so many players in the penalty box that they began to run out of room.

"Half of us couldn't even sit down, we had so many guys in there," Marchard said after the game. "Especially when guys stick up for each other like we did, everyone's getting in there and it's good. It's a good feeling when you're sitting in the box."

All in all, Montreal kept scoring but each time the Bruins responded, taking a 6-4 lead into the third period. Then, with just 40 seconds left in the game and the Bruins leading 8-5, the rivalry reached its tipping point. Committing a hockey cardinal sin, Marchand checked Roman Hamrlik into the boards after the defenseman touched the puck and the whistle blew to signal icing, igniting an all out melee in which five different fights took place, with Bruins bad boys Andrew Ference, Shawn Thornton, Johnny Boychuck and Gregory Campbell laying down the hurt. The Bruins now lead the NHL in fighting majors with 55.

Out of the fracas, Montreal ended up on the power play and scored a meaningless goal with just 13.9 seconds left to make it 8-6.

While David Krejci had three assists, Lucic two goals and an assist and Michael Ryder two goals, it was the once snakebitten Nathan Horton who paced the offense, scoring five points on one goal and four assists. It marked the first time a Bruin had five points in a game since Marc Savard accomplished the feat on October 12, 2007.

Regardless of the offensive onslaught, it was the Bruins passionate and spirited play that fans will remember most about Wednesday night's epic win. Goals are great. But it's the fights that Bruins fans love to see most, a timeless and pure testament to the golden age of the sport when players pummeled each other and didn't even wear helmets. Boston and Montreal have been going at it for nearly a century now. Last night, the Bruins made their forefathers proud.

"As players, we all had fun in tonight's game," Lucic said. "i think the fans definitely had a lot of fun watching tonight's game. We were able to play with a lot of emotion. We were able to keep our heads on straight to get that win. That's the most important thing."

Not so Fast

Maybe Big Ben can drink like a champion but he sure as heck didn't play like one in Super Bowl XLV. 

Now that the red, white and blue confetti has fallen from the retractable roof heavens in Cowboy Stadium and gently settled upon the astroturf of Jerry Jones' 1.2 billion-dollar football playhouse, Patriot fans can rejoice in the fact that Aaron Rodgers is the MVP of Super Bowl XLV, not Ben Roethlisberger. Forget all the intolerable hype force fed to us for the past two weeks about how Big Ben, should he lead the AFC Champion Steelers to their third Lombardi Trophy in six seasons Sunday night against Green Bay, would have to be considered just as good as our very own Tom Brady.

The media had to choose a story to focus on and who better to shine the spotlight on than a player desperately trying to repair his shattered image? Less than a year ago, Big Ben went from a two-time Super Bowl champion to the laughingstock of the league, mired in sexual assault allegations stemming from a rowdy bathroom encounter with a college co-ed at a seedy Georgia bar (not a first for Roethlisberger). Luckily for Ben, some of the heat was deflected upon another super-star athlete whose racy infidelities were being uncovered at the very same time, shattering every ounce of respect he had earned throughout his prolific career: Tiger Woods.

Still, if there's one thing America loves it's catharsis. In fact, we're addicted to it so much because we all have the ability to relate to pop-culture figures like movie stars, politicians and professional athletes who fall from grace right before our eyes. Everyone has screwed up once or twice in their lifetime and the idea of purging one's sins through courageous or great acts gives us all hope for achieving the ultimate prize: redemption.

The idea of catharsis is as old as the Bible and just as much a part of the human condition as love, hate, fear and happiness. This is exactly why the Michael Vick story has become so popular recently. Yes, he committed disgusting and reprehensible acts. But he served his time, paid his dues and now he's on top of the world again. This type of transformation is exactly the kind of story we can rally around. For Big Ben, leading the Steelers to victory on Sunday night in Dallas would be the final chapter in his search for redemption.

Still, New England sports fans are a different breed. We could care less about the catharsis and redemption of Roethlisberger. To us, just the mention of his name in the company of Brady's greatness had us fuming from the ears. And even though the Packers broke our football hearts nearly 14 years ago when Mike Holmgren and the old gunslinger Brett Favre lit up Bill Parcells and Drew Bledsoe in Super Bowl XXXI, fans across New England found themselves rooting for Green Bay solely because of the fact that we couldn't stand to watch Roethlisberger catapult himself into Brady's category.

In the end, we got what we asked for. Big Ben cracked under the insurmountable pressure of America's biggest stage, just like Christina Aguilera during the National Anthem. A record TV audience of 111 million watched as he threw two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown) and was unable to lead his team down the field when they needed a score to stay alive in the final minutes. Final score: 31-25 Packers.

So rest assured, New England fans. Big Ben is not as good as Brady and the Steelers are not a dynasty like the Patriots were and continue to be. Still, as good as that last sentence sounds, I still can't help but think this year's Patriots would have wiped the floor with either of those teams, just like they did in the regular season.

Time Warp

Tough guy Shawn Thornton wasn't the only Bruin to drop the gloves during Thursday night's 6-3 victory over Dallas. 

The Big Bad Bruins are back.

If, by the outlandishly far-fetched chance that you are a Bruins fan and have been in a coma or a cave for the past thirty plus years, it's my bet that if you watched the Black and Gold beat up and batter the Dallas Stars Thursday night you would have felt as if nothing had changed. And, if you are south of 25 like me and only know of the Big Bad Bruins from fuzzy black and white television clips and folklore stories about Terry O' Reilly passed down from your father, I can't help but think that a performance like that is exactly how the Bruins earned the nickname "Big and Bad" in the first place.

Last night, the Bruins fought first and scored later. Suddenly the new Garden looked a lot like the old Garden, circa the 1970s when a young phenom named Bobby Orr was surrounded by tough, intimidating playmakers like Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Wayne Cashman and, of course, O'Reilly. Within three seconds of the puck dropping against Dallas Thursday night, the Bruins had already dropped the gloves an astounding four separate times. First, it Gregory Campbell squaring off with Steve Ott. One second later Shawn Thornton took on Krys Barch. Then, two seconds after that Adam McQuaid pummeled Brian Sutherby.

"He just came out on the ice and we made eye contact," explained McQuaid of his bout with Sutherby. "We didn't even say anything. We just kind of nodded and went from there."

Before the sell-out crowd of 17,565 even had time to assess the mayhem that had just transpired, Andrew Ference fought with Adam Burish less than four minutes later. At this point, I was half expecting a Dallas fan to taunt Milan Lucic from the stands, to which Looch would leap the boards and give him what for, a la O'Reilly in the infamous Madison Square Garden fracas in 1979.

Three minutes and 51 seconds. Four fights.

"That's what happens in hockey," explained Campbell, who was seeking revenge on Ott for blindsiding him in a game nearly two years ago. "Words were said. Things happen. There was really no forewarning or anything like that. It just happened."

And, oh yeah, two goals in that time span as well, all by the Bruins. First Milan Lucic and then Patrice Bergeron, all within the first eighty seconds of the game. Entering the first intermission the Bruins held a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 lead.

Despite a spirited third-period comeback attempt by the Stars, the Bruins hung on to pin a 6-3 victory over Dallas, a team that entered the game as the best team in the Western Conference. After surrendering three unanswered goals and watching all the momentum they built early in the game evaporate, the Bruins reclaimed control when rookie Tyler Seguin ripped a wrister past Keri Lehtonen late in the third period to make it 5-3. Bergeron, who finished with two goals and an assist, nearly tallied another hat trick in the final minute but his shot at the empty net sailed wide. Brad Marchand added the final empty net goal.

Tuukka Rask, who earned a rare start between the pipes, finished with 30 saves, including an absolutely absurd left pad save on a cross-ice feed early in the first period. With the victory the Bruins improve their record to 30-15-7. And, with 67 points, Boston leads the Northeast Division by four points over Montreal and trail the Conference leading Flyers by just six points.

"I'm pretty sure the Bruins fans didn't mind it, " coach Claude Julien said of the excessive ficticuffs. "We can leave it at that."

Well put, Claude.

After all, if there's one thing that unites all Bruins fans, young and old, it's our passion for watching the warriors behind the treasured Spoked B kick ass and takes names. That's how it always was. And that's how it always should be. It's in our DNA. It's what makes the Bruins the Bruins.

Let's just hope that after Thursday night's heavyweight bout and subsequent knockout of Dallas, the new Big Bad Bruins are here to stay.

It's About Time...

Nathan Horton finally did what Bruins fans
were waiting for: he scored a goal. 

For the first time in eleven games, Nathan Horton scored a goal Tuesday night. Nearly four minutes into the third period, Horton lifted a beautiful behind the net feed from center David Krejci past Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead. While the Black and Gold held on to defeat Carolina 3-2 and improve their overall record to a division best 29-15-7, the real story of the game was Horton finally finding his scoring touch.

Acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Florida Panthers, Horton was touted as the long-awaited answer to the Bruins less than stellar offensive game. A former third overall pick in the 2003 Draft, Horton came to the Bruins having scored at least 20 goals in the past five consecutive seasons. At the time of his departure, Horton even ranked third all-time in the Florida record books for scoring with 295 points. As a result, Peter Chiarelli and Cam Neely gladly gave up Dennis Wideman and a first round draft pick to land him last summer.  

At 6'2'', 229 lbs, Horton was exactly what the Bruins were looking for: a big, bruising winger with a rocket shot in his prime, a la Glen Murray. Plug him in on the first or second line next to a playmaking center like Marc Savard, David Krejci or Patrice Bergeron and Horton would flourish in Boston just like Murray riding alongside the slick passing Joe Thornton, or so the Bruins thought. 

Not so fast. 

After starting the season on fire (Horton tallied 18 points in his first 22 games), the 25-year-old winger has recorded just 11 points over the past 27 games. Tuesday's goal snapped a five game pointless streak for Horton. In fact, watching painful witness to his offensive struggles the past two months was beginning to make Big Papi's recent early season slumps look like a walk in the park. Then, Horton finally did what all of us were hoping he would: he scored a goal.