Boston Bruins Begin The Western Battle Against Vancouver

Dec 14, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman

(44) boards Vancouver Canucks forward

(17) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight the Boston Bruins gear up for one of their toughest road trips of the season, taking on the Vancouver Canucks for the first meeting of the 2014-2015 season.  These two teams aren’t strangers after their lengthy bout in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals and know how to get under each other’s skin. Perhaps the most notable events being Brad Marchand and his trolling abilities.  Last season, during the first period of the game, Brad Marchand taunted the Canucks as he went to the penalty box, pretending to kiss his Stanley Cup Ring and raise the Cup over his head. While it was in the heat of the moment, much like Andrew Ference flipping the bird to the Montreal Canadiens crowd, he regrets the motions and says that he has moved on from them;

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“At the time, I felt I wanted to do it and, looking back, I probably shouldn’t have,” said Marchand. “That was just an immature situation that I put myself in and the biggest thing is they want me to be more responsible with my actions. The only thing that might be different is I know I can’t be doing stuff like that.

“I understand why they weren’t happy with what happened last year but it’s an event that we can easily put behind us,” he continued. “They talked to me about it and bygones are bygones. I don’t think it changed my game by any means, or changed how I play.”

Along with Brad Marchand, the rest of the Bruins team is looking to do much of the same thing, leave the past in the past.  The Boston Bruins are coming off of back-to-back losses at home and know that they need to put out a better effort than they have been if they stand a chance at holding a playoff spot much longer. Following Tuesday’s discouraging 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, Dougie Hamilton told reporters;

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“You’re feeling so good (after the January surge) and everything is positive, and then it all kind of goes the other way again this last weekend. There’s a lot of negativity in this room. That’s what happens when you’re losing. We have to find a way to change that this next road trip.”

This is only the second time the Boston Bruins have been to Vancouver since hoisting the Cup.  Both teams sit in the same spots in their respective Conferences with the same amount of points.  Fitting, right?  While they may be hot off of loses, their away record currently stands 4-1-2 in their last 8, so it is possible that the Bruins can make some changes and add some cushion to their playoff position lead over the Panthers.

Tuukka Rask is expected between the pipes tonight for the Bruins opposite former Buffalo Sabre Ryan Miller.  If the Bruins are able to get to Miller early on, they stand a solid chance at skating away victorious. Miller is coming off of a disappointing last start and has always had shaky confidence.  We all now that he and Lucic have some bad blood between them, add in the ‘fued’ with Vancouver and you’ve got yourself a game. Vancouver has allowed the opening goal in eight of their last nine games, something the Bruins should take notice of and use to their advantage.