Game Night: Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
Dec 31st, 2011
8 p.m. est
For the Pre-game report continue reading…
Bruins Rolling
The Boston Bruins, who are coming off an overtime win against the Phoenix Coyotes, take on the Dallas Stars tonight. The hottest team in the NHL didn’t look great in Phoenix, but given the teams depth, talent and goaltending, they were able to overcome sloppy 2nd and 3rd periods to win in OT. The Bruins extended their ridiculous streak to 21-2-1 in their last 24 games, remaining the team to beat in the league right now. Even with their torrid streak the Boston finds itself in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference 1 point behind the New York Rangers. Overall the Bruins are 4th in the league behind the Chicago Blackhawks (52 pts), the Vancouver Canucks (50 pts) and the aforementioned Rangers (50 pts). That being said the Bruins do have 2 games in hand over the Rangers and 4 games in hand over both Chicago and Vancouver.
Dallas
Dallas comes into tonight’s match-up 1 point out of a playoff spot with 41 points and a 20-15-1 record. Over their last 10 they’re 5-5 but are 11-6-1 at home. Tonight marks the first time Michael Ryder skates against the team he won the cup with last June. The games in Dallas so we won’t be able to judge the Boston fans reaction, but my guess is he would be cheered. Ryder didn’t leave under bad terms, in fact it couldn’t have worked out better for both sides. Ryder got a lucrative deal and the Bruins didn’t have to even get into a negotiation with a player they probably didn’t want back anyway. Although inconsistent at times during his three years in Boston, he’ll be remembered as a player who stepped up his game in the playoffs. Especially, the Stanley Cup run when he scored a crucial overtime goal in game 4 of the Montreal Canadiens series, and made a critical glove save in game 5 of that series after Tim Thomas was caught out of his net.
Tonight’s Line-up
Lucic Krejci Horton
Marchand Bergeron Seguin
Pouliot Kelly Peverley
Paille Campbell Thornton