Boston Bruins: Game 47

Record: 31-16-7 (first place in division, third place in conference)
   
     The rivalry is back!  Last night's game brought back the days of Chris Nilan swinging at the Bruin's bench on his way off the ice causing a brawl down into the locker rooms that enticed coach Terry O'Reilly to join in.  It was up tempo hard nose hockey right from the opening face off.  The score was a little out of hand, the defense and goaltending a little sloppy, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment.  If the last two weeks have proven anything its that this team has heart.  Gone is last year's team that couldn't find it in themselves to defend their teammates and put a little hurting on the cheap shoting Penguins.  The Bruins lead the league in fighting majors, ahead of, surprise, surprise, the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The message has to be out, don't mess with this team, don't take liberties with them, or you will pay the price.  It's awesome to see old time hockey being played in Boston again.
     It's been a while since I've written about this team and a lot has happened.  Jordan Caron has been sent down to the minors and then brought back up.  Marc Savard has come back from concussion problems and then had his season ended with concussion problems.  Nathan Horton has disappeared.  Brad Marchand has emerged.  With all the change, somethings have stayed the same.  Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler need to go and Tim Thomas is the team MVP.  I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong and my early opinions of Horton and Marchand were wrong.  After a quick start Horton has proven to put out more lack luster performances then not.  Hopefully his five point game last night will signify a reemergence of the player we saw early on, but it is going to take more then one game to make this the case.  If this team is going to make a run at the cup they need the Horton we saw last night and not the one we've been watching the last few months.  Marchand has gone in the other direction.  His move from the "Merlot Line" to the second line between Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi has jump started his offensive production.  I wasn't sure that he had the skills to be an offensive force in the NHL but boy was I wrong.  It is looking like Marchand could turn out to be a better skilled Randy Burridge, a solid scorer who plays physical on both sides of the ice, the type of guy every hockey team needs.