Last night the Bruins lost a meaningless game to the Penguins.  They also may have lost a meaningful defenseman.  Johnny Boychuck had to be helped off the ice after what looks like a knee injury.  If we lose him it will be doubly terrible for the post season.  First because we’ll lose a good defenseman, and secondly because Joe Corvo will probably end up back in the line up.  Pain and suffering indeed!

The Red Sox have lost their all-star closer before he even threw a meaningful pitch.  Andrew Bailey will have surgery on his thumb (he may have already had it today) and the expectation is that he will be out at least three months, but possibly as many as five.  ESPN reported a few minutes ago that the friggin’ clown of a manager, Bobby Valentine has announced that Alfredo Aceves will be the interim closer.  A good choice, except that we’re now down an ace of a set up/long relief guy.  Each time a domino falls the hole seems to get bigger instead of smaller.

And what the hell is the deal with Josh Beckett?  Everyone, including him, keeps saying that there is no problem.  He’s not hurt.  He’s going to make his first start on Saturday.  If that’s the case, then why did he have to see two specialists in addition to the team’s staff doctor?  Did he really need three doctors to tell him that nothing was wrong?  Couldn’t he tell that by himself?  You go to the doctor when there IS a problem, not when there is not a problem.

The Red Sox start playing for real tomorrow.  The Bruins have two more games before the playoff start, probably one week from tomorrow.  Please please please let there be no further injuries to either team.

Sleepy people go out for dinner.

It’s been a busy day, but I’m on lunch break now.

It’s time to post something… but I don’t have anything to post.

Last night the Mrs and I were up late.  She was working her butt off and I was staying up in sympathy.  That means we’re both sleepy today.  I don’t see us hitting the movies tonight, but I do see us going out to dinner.  In fact, she has already asked if I was interested.  Yes I am!

The Bruins play the Penguins tonight.  It’s a meaningless game for Boston but not for Pittsburgh.  I don’t care.  Turco will play net and Thomas will be scratched.  The Red Sox play their final spring training game today and open the season in Detroit on Thursday.  I have not forgiven them for the collapse last season, but I am hopeful that things will be turned around… although I see no evidence of that happening.

This Sunday is Easter.  We are planning to go to Jen’s mother’s house.  While celebrating the Bunny, we will also spend some time planning out what we want to do on our upcoming trip to San Diego.  The date is getting closer and closer and I cannot wait.

I can’t wait!

So the Avengers movie is coming out soon. I’ve never read an Avengers comic. I’ve never read much of any comics, but I’ve watched my fair share of cartoons. Most of what I’ve seen are DC Comics, not Marvel, so I’m a touch clueless on the Avengers.

I need to get caught up on the existing movies featuring Avengers characters. I’ve seen Iron Man and Captain America, and I saw the first of the recent Hulk movies. I have not seen Iron Man 2, or the second version of The Hulk, or Thor. I did, however, pick up a copy of each of them the other night.

I haven’t watched them because my darling wife wants to watch them too and she’s been working a lot so I’ve been waiting for her to watch them with me. I have still tried getting in the spirit of things though. Yesterday I watched Captain America and tonight I watched Spiderman before straying back into my DC comfort zone by watching Batman Returns.

For someone who was never much on comic books, I’m sure in the mood for superhero movies right now.

Of course the next flick we catch in the theater will be The Hunger Games. I started the book on Thursday and finished it on Saturday. The plan was to see it on Sunday, but all of the afternoon and early evening showings at our local cinema were sold out.

Maybe Tuesday? Probably not. It’s almost 12:30am and I’m still awake. I’m probably going to be exhausted tomorrow night.

We will catch it one of these days.

Bailey’s out with a thumb injury that probably needs surgery. Beckett’s getting a thumb injury of his own looked at in Texas. The Boston sports media is getting injury reports from random other players.

Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that the team managed by that clown Bobby Valentine would turn out to be a complete joke. I was just hoping the season would have actually started before the inevitable came to pass.

My Bruins magic number math was correct.  Two points and the tie breaker against Ottawa were enough to give the Bruins the Northeast division.  Sure enough, last night the Bruins beat the Rangers in regulation, clinching the Northeast and the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.  And there was much rejoicing.

The Rangers needed one point to clinch the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.  A Bruins win in overtime would have given both teams something to celebrate.  Thankfully, we avoided that and forced New York to wait.  Any time a Boston team denies a New York team a reason to celebrate anything, it makes me happy.

So now what?  Our place in the playoffs is secure.  We can’t move up or down.  We’re the #2 seed no matter what.  There are three games left in the regular season and nothing left to play for.  I would suggest that for the next two games we use our regular line up, but give the top line forwards and defensemen as much rest as possible.  Tim Thomas should probably play tomorrow night, but after that it should be Anton Khudobin in net.  Marty Turco can’t be on the post season roster.  Tuukka Rask is close to returning from injury, but if he’s not ready Khudobin will be the back up goalie to start the playoffs.  Put him in for a couple of games and get him adjusted to the NHL.  If Rask is ready by the weekend then maybe I would think we should give him a game, but at the same time I would think it smart to give him the extra couple of days off.  Just in case. As for the last game of the year, the Bruins roster should look as much like the Providence Bruins as possible.  Give as many players the day off as you can.

That’s just my $0.02 of course.  The biggest upside of clinching your spot with about a week to go is that you can rest anyone who needs rest.  I think the Bruins should take advantage of that.

Bring on the post season!
Go Bruins!

You know it, you love it, you’ve been dying to see it again….

Patches in the laundry basket!!!!

Enjoy!

We took a nap this afternoon, the Mrs and I. Normally a nap is sublime. A nap is heavenly.

Not today.

Today a nap was a strategic error. Both of us were more exhausted after than before. I really hate when that happens.

Today is a great day for me, it’s a great day for my family, hell, it’s a great day for America!

I figured out how to fix our garage door opener!

>insert sound of brass band playing triumphantly here<

The other night the Bruins lost to Washington in a shoot out. That left them one point away from clinching a playoff spot. The next night Buffalo lost in regulation. That clinched the spot for Boston.

Big deal. The defending Stanley Cup Champions want to win the Northeast Division, and so do I.

Boston and Ottawa both have four games remaining. That’s eight points. The Bruins currently have a six point lead in the Northeast. Now I used to suck at math, but I think that means that one Bruins win, or one regulation loss for Ottawa will clinch at least a tie. I don’t remember what the first tie breaker is (head to head?) so let’s screw the tie. If my extensive calculations are correct, three point will do it. That’s three points for us, or three points lost for them.

Shall we start the hunt for these final points tonight against the Rangers in New York? We have yet to beat them this year. They are ahead of us, and a possible later round opponent (not that I’m looking that far ahead). Now would be a good time to figure them out, wouldn’t you say?

Go Bruins!