So Bob McKenzie tried to ruin my weekend

Bob tweeted that the Bruins are looking to dish Marc Savard to Toronto in order to free up salary. Savard's makes $4MM against the cap. Great value right? I realize that the Bruins have too many centers and no cap space but can it really be that bad? Shoot Michael Ryder in the foot and wipe out his $4MM cap hit.

And until the Bruins make a terrible mistake and deal Savard for nothing please don't fuck with my emotions, Bob McKenzie.

Congrats if you were drafted this weekend. If we are still doing this blog in 5 years(let's hope not) we'll revisit the picks and find out who really won. Until then we can all be proud how many Americans were picked.

Instead of letting Bob McKenzie drain my bucket let's be happy. While this video is about last week's soccer game it's really worth seeing.


There's nothing like twisting and turning an entire game and then in one moment being lifted off your feet. Landon Donovan with a very Parise like finish. Magic.

Soccer isn't my favorite sport in the world but anything that gets a crowd of people ripping into a USA chant is fine by me.

Hold onto your seats for July 1st.

- Nemmy

Today Sucks

As you may be aware the Bruins hosted the Penguins last night. The Bruins got shutout in the big revenge (and bigger playoff implication) game and Cooke walked out of the arena with only a scratch.

Sucks for Marc Savard who is still in such bad shape that he can't even watch TV. This poor guy has no idea that the White Collar season finale was terrible. In a month he'll be able to sit down and watch an hour show without headaches, load up the DVR and be totally disappointed like the rest of us. At least the writers let Bizarro Jerry shoot that crooked FBI agent. But mostly it sucked.

Sucks for the Bruins that not only is their #1 center and playmaker on the shelf for what could be a very long time but they had all this revenge attention on a game that they needed to get points to stay in the playoff conversation. Instead of getting fired up to face the defending champs at home they were answering questions about how they would handle Matt Cooke. Matt Cooke should should never be on anyone's mind, ever.

Sucks that Cooke answered the bell wearing a visor. Even when he tries to do the right thing he's a douche.

Sucks for James Wisniewski who got 8 games for a ridiculous hit the other night. He totally deserves to sit for running a defenseless Brent Seabrook but I think he got 5extra games that Cooke should have been handed.

Sucks that the NHL can't get their shit together as far as protecting its players.

Sucks that I don't understand how or when an attempt to injure infraction can be used.

Sucks that NHL refs don't either.

Sucks that guys like Mike Rupp or Billy Black have to answer for dirtbag teammates like Matt Cooke. I remember watching a teammate kick a guy with a skate when he was on the ground. A few of us on the bench looked at each other in disbelief. It would be us to had to answer for one lunatic teammate who got tossed from the game. Another time our captain went out a speared a kid after the final buzzer. He graduated and the next year it would be the remaining guys who had to get ready for the retaliation. I've never backed away from the physical aspect of our game but it sucks when you have to get involved for ridiculous reasons and it makes it seem like you cosign one idiot's actions. You really want the other squad to know 2 things: 1) the kid is a retard and it was a dirty play but 2) if you try to retaliate I will eat your face. That position sucks.

Sucks when you go out for a beer and some drunk Australian crowbars his way into your conversation and you can't get rid of the guy. And of course he is completely alone at the bar so it's not like you can tell him to go back to his buddies. And of course you are trying to be polite but he is getting belligerent and you might have to slap around some drunk guy just to get him to butt out of your conversation. And of course all you are talking about is the Frasier where Daphne goes to the fat farm or how you'll listen to any song covered by Sixpence None The Richer but this guy just wont leave you alone. Why is the guy drinking alone? Can't he go somewhere else?

Sucks for Marquette and ND.

Sucks ever worse for Georgetown.

Today sucks.

Tonight will be great. Have an awesome weekend.

- Nemmy

Attention:

This is a legal hit in the NHL for the remainder of the season.



Please adjust your game plans for the rest of the season accordingly.

- Nemmy

Life's Unfair

So Patty Berg came back from Vancouver with a nicked-up groin

and Marc Savard got decked by Matt Cooke

and now Chara is sitting with a "lower body injury"

and don't forget to check out the clown that Marisa Miller is banging.



waah waah.

Quit your crying and get back to work. We've got 19 games left to secure a playoff spot and we need all hands on deck.



Let's roll.



- Nemmy

As if playing goalie for the Panthers isn't bad enough

Poor Keith Ballard.

Mike Rupp had a hat trick as the Pens dance all over Lundquist's corpse.

Ovy is injured and could sit for a few games due to suspension.



He should have sat for this one.



Savvy - signed, sealed, delivered? TSN is reporting 7-years at $4.2MM per. Value!

Kiprusoff, Miller, and Anderson post shutouts.

- Nemmy

Crib Notes - Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins
Last season - Finished 1st in the Northeast, Lost in round 2 of the playoffs to Carolina
Lost physical D Steve Montador to Buffalo via free agency
Lost physical D Shane Hnidy to Dallas via free agency
Lost veteran C Stephane Yelle to Carolina via free agency
Traded D Aaron Ward to Carolina for Pat Eaves (who was subsequently dropped)
Singed D Derek Morris with the money from the Ward salary dump
Signed rugged Steve Begin via free agency
Signed Andy Wozniewski - bottom story of the year
Resigned Vezina winner Timmy Thomas, David Krejci, Byron Bitz, and Mark Recchi.

Questions going into 2009-2010:
What the hell is happening with Phil Kessel's contract situation?
Can Peter Chiarelli trade resign Kessel by making room on the roster?
Can Tim Thomas possibly keep this level of play up?
Will this be the Michael Ryder letdown season?
Will injuries to Phil Kessel (shoulder) and David Krejci (hip) have any effect on this season?
Will Savard go Kill Bill on the league because he's pissed about the Canadian Olympic camp snub?
Can't the Bruins only decline from last year's regular season success?
Can Marco Sturm stay healthy and pot some goals so Bruins fans can feel somewhat ok about losing Jumbo?
How the hell are we going to get tix for the Winter Classic this year?
Who gets to Scott Walker first?

Poised for a breakout season:
Because I think David Krejci had a breakout season last year I'm going with Blake Wheeler. He was good in spots last season but will put it together in 2009-10.

If you had to buy one Bruins sweater:
My girlfriend wants a Chara sweater. Does it make me gay if I do her while she's wearing it?

Player whose game you sneaky like:
Marc Savard is pretty much hated by the rest of the league but you have to admit he dishes the puck as good as Adam Oates or Craig Janney ever did.
I'm a Bruins fan so I'll give you a player whose game I sneaky don't like: Phil Kessel. He's got a nasty release but is too soft in the corners and reaches too much.

If you name your children this they can only grow up to become hockey players:
Johnny Boychuk and Andy Bodnarchuk

Old guys:
Recchi is 41
Thomas is 35
Chara and Savard are 32

Young guys:
Lucic and Kessel are 21
Krejci and Wheeler are 23
Patrice Bergeron is 24.

Tough guys:
Lucic is an animal. Shawn Thornton polices.

Worst part about losing Shane Hnidy:
Not hearing super homer announcer Jack Edwards say "SHERIFF Shane Hnidy" at the top of his lungs.

Goaltending coach:
Bob Essensa


Nostalgia:
Cam Neely is in his 2nd year as Bruins Vice President

Interesting?:
The Bruins will unveil their new Winter Classic jersey next week.

NHL 94 players:
Oates, Neely, Joe Juneau up front - 1,000
Ray Bourque and Glen Wesley on D with Andy Moog in net.
Loved it when slow-ass Vladimir "Rosy" Ruzicka came off the bench.

YouTube:
Unbelievable short video about the Canadien/Bruin rivalry. I watched this 45 times today and I'm ready to roll.



- Nemmy

What you missed last night because you were fundraising for a 3-day breast cancer walk

Red Wings beat the Ducks 4-3, (DET wins series, 4-3): Nik Lidstrom had a sneaky bad game. He didn't clear out the front of the net or make great break out passes. Datsyuk still didn't score. And you know what - the Red Wings still won. It took a sick goal with great hand-eye coordination from Dan Cleary, but they won. Chris Osgood played pretty darn well also.

Hurricanes beat the Bruins in OT, 3-2 (CAR wins series 4-3): Well, that sucked. First of all regulation was great. Joni Pitkanin's pass to Sergei Samsonov was superb, so was Sarvard banking it off the side of the net to Lucic, whose sneaky quick hands got the puck upstairs quickly. In OT, it didn't look like the Bruins had it, but I also didn't think that Scott Walker would knock in a rebound of mid air. Nice sprint out by Tim Thomas - guess he forgot about the handshake.


I'll have the updated standings and picks in a post later today

Back to Work

Yikes. Apparently the only hole in the Bruins lineup is Marc Savard's beard. Savvy is one of the most gifted passers in the league but has a playoff beard that looks like Bressler's lower back (minus the tribal tramp stamp). Should I give him shit for the Michael Jackson facial hair or do I appreciate the fact that he's giving it everything he has? I'm not sure.

Huge game tonight with the Bruins hosting the Whale. Hopefully the layoff made the Bruins hungrier and they'll have a first period like Vancouver had last night.

You know what I was thinking about? After the Flyers were eliminated last week I politely waited a day or so to text our buddy, and Flyer fan, Matty to give my condolences. He said something to the fact that he was upset that he felt as though he wanted it more than most of the guys on the roster.

My stomach hurt when I thought about that. I know the feeling of wanting to win more than the guys you cheer for and it's the fucking worst. It's the reason why the overpaid Mets always break my heart and why I've fallen out of love with the Knicks. I'm sure it's a big reason why some people prefer college athletics to their professional counterparts.

I don't ask for much as a fan. I know my teams can't win every loose puck or always make the postseason. All I want is to root for a team that wants to win as much as I do. I cheer and worry and yell and scream and I want to be rewarded by having my team compete every shift, every night.

That's why I love this Boston squad as much as any other season's roster. Yes they've been wildly successful in the regular season and recently bounced the Canadiens in 4 but it's the effort, intensity and compete level that really make me proud. Everyone blocks shots, everyone finishes checks and everyone wants it. Up and down the roster you have guys that scratch and claw and make their fans proud. Tim Thomas looks funny hurling himself at pucks but the man has never given up on a play. The way he jets off the ice after giving up a walk-off goal? Yeah, that's how I look after they lose too. I love that about him.

Anything short of the Cup would be a letdown for this Boston team. I'll will suck if they don't get there but I know they'll stay in the hunt. Because, fuck it, if they lose I know they'll go down swinging. That's been this team's calling card all year and we even saw it in the way they hung tough in last year's postseason. Win or lose they make me proud.

Game 1 is tonight at 7:30.

Not without a fight.

Thanks for stopping by this week. Feel free to join up with our Facebook group, the friends of the 2 Man Advantage. Join up and let us know what we're doing right, wrong or not enough of.

Have a great weekend and thanks to Cornelius and his fantastic site for letting me steal that picture of Savard's lesbian beard.

- Nemmy