You could kind have guessed that this game was going to turn out the way it was. This was the second game of a back-to-back. Boston was coming back from New Jersey. They have never played well in the second game of back-to-back games. They were now missing two key components to the forward lineup. Dougie Hamilton was scratched. 

I'm not really jammed up over it, to be honest with you. The Islanders are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and surging up the standings. When you have a rested team in the city the night before and hanging out at Fenway Park while their opponent is playing a hockey game on the road, things aren't going to go the way you'd expect it. Or maybe they did. 

I'm starting to wonder if Claude is suffering from some sort of mental disease. Is his brain rotting away or is there some sort of virus in there just eating his brain tissue like sushi? Who the fuck would put Jaromir Jagr and Milan Lucic together and center them with Greg Campbell? In what world would this ever make sense? None of these guys have speed on their side, NONE OF THEM. 

I'll get more in depth as we look through the positives and negatives of the game, but there was nothing really redeeming from last night that's not named Tuukka Rask. 

A little good news/bad news for the Bruins. Brad Marchand got a concussion from the Anton Volchenkov elbow. That's the bad news. The good news it's listed as a "mild consussion." Here's the Bruins update:

"Brad has been diagnosed with a mild concussion. We will provide an update on his status when appropriate."

Volchenkov got Shanabanned for fouir games for it.

Some better news for Boston is that Patrice Bergeron was at the optional skate this morning. Still no time table for him but he's getting closer.

Devil's Anton Volchenkov got suspended four games for his Macho Man elbow on Brad Marchand. Here's the Shanaban video:

Volchenkov got three games in 2011. But it's not recent enough for the "repeat" offender title.

No word from the Bruins on how bad Marchand is. He's getting evaluated by doctors today. That's all Julien had this morning.

After tonight's tilt there will be 8 games left in the regular season. Fucking crazy isn't it? It felt like yesterday that the NHL regular season was kicking off. And man, now we get to look forward to some playoff hockey in about two weeks. 

Or if we look at the past few games, the displeasure of looking forward to some playoff hockey. 

However it's not all gloom and doom in Boston. Look at the standings: 

So despite how this team has been playing, they're still one of the best (statistically) in the Eastern Conference. Do we have stuff to complain about? Absolutely. The defense is still a mess, the offense is hit or miss, the power play is hockey's version of a dumpster baby and injuries are starting to fester like we are a black and vegas gold team. 

Yet here we are, sitting in second place with a potential playoff preview tonight versus the Islanders. Yeah, the mother fucking Islanders. I love it that they are in the playoffs after such a miserable run this decade or twelve. 

So Boston comes home are nearly pooping their pants against New Jersey. Get ready for the excuses now if they lose. Injuires. Fatique. Etc, etc. With the Canadiens breathing down Boston's neck for the top spot in the division and second place in the East (and no more games between them), Boston needs to win hockey games. 

You think that this would be an understanding, but lately Boston has made a habit out of not showing up for big games. Look, the next 9 games are going to be considered big games. In the next nine games the Bruins: 

• Play a playoff team four times (Islanders, Senators, Penguins and Capitals)
• Play two teams they have bad history with (Philly, Buffalo)

It's going to be a hard run to the end of the playoffs and the injuries aren't helping, but there's some good news: 

Adam McQuaid is ready to return. Good chance we'll see him in the Bruins lineup tonight, per Julien.

— Naoko Funayama (@NaokoFunayama) April 11, 2013

But that's not the only gem Naoko tweeted today:

Patrice Bergeron is taking part in the optional morning skate today. #Bruins

— Naoko Funayama (@NaokoFunayama) April 11, 2013

This makes me so happy. Good to see Bergeron skating because it's the next step to making a full recovery. There is, however, no news on Brad Marchand. Apparently he's being checked out by doctors today and will more than likely not play tonight. 

After the jump the rest of the preview...

Another ugly win for the Bruins last night. Sure a win is a win is a win, two points is two points and all those sports cliches, but how many times have we seen the Bruins truly dominate a team this year? Once? Twice? They're on top of the Northeast Division and second in the Eastern Conference and they've done it by playing some pretty crappy and ugly hockey for most of the season. That's probably the most annoying and frustrating part we all know this team can do better. They're four points from the top seed and we're all bitching 'cause we know this team can be better. It's unreal.

The game started off awful with all the penatlies called against Boston but then they scored two shorties and Boychuk forced a short-handed penalty shot, so it looked great. And then the second period came and Bruins went back to turning the puck over and playing silly hockey. And when it became 4-3 we all thought Here we go again! and then Seguin scored and we felt slightly better and then Marty got pulled, Devils scored again and we thought Fuuuuuck, it's coming! Luckily it didn't.

Haven't heard anyone complain about Khudobin for letting in four goals but we hear complaints all the time when Tuukka lets in two. Not saying Khudobin is a bad goalie or the goals were all his fault. Not at all. Just amusing to see people have their targets on Tuukka for no real apparent reason. The "He hasn't proven himself" is the silliest complaint thrown at good goalies. Such an empty phrase.

But I digress...

Jagr looked fantastic. He has five points in his first four games with the Bruins. Paille has had one of his best season of his career (Thanks, Buffalo!) and even Andrew Ference is heating up int he point department. All good signs. Even Campbell's scoring now since he teamed up with Jagr. Who knew Double J was the missing piece to Soups career?

Bad sign is the taking the foot off the gas. The Bruins keep saying they gotta stop doing that but they never learn. We're 38 games into the 48 game season -- how many more fuck ups do they need?

Bruins also lost Brad Marchand to a wicked elbow to the head. He was battered and bruised all game and then Volchenkov gave him the coup de grace. Volchenkov has a phone hearing this morning with Brendan Shanahan. Should be a suspension (3-4 games our guess), but who knows anymore. He made no attempt to play the puck.

After the jump... the good, the bad and the lingering questions -- and a lot of Supernatural references....

In late March, we randoly received an e-mail from a woman who does marketing for a company that works with professional astrologists. This woman asked if we were interested in getting a professional astrologists reading on some Bruins players and their rivals. We thought it would interesting so we decided to go for it. We gave her this list:

Bruins:

Here is what she e-mailed back to us: 

Lately, it seems the Boston Bruins have been on the fickle end of fate’s hockey stick, having undergone some crucial lineup changes as the playoffs close in. Yet, that does not necessarily mean that the Bruins are down and out for the count. Looking to the stars, there is hope for the team to mount a comeback in the race for the Stanley Cup.

Astrology, the ancient study of using the stars and constellations present in the sky at the time of one’s birth, often serves as an accurate indicator of how those born under specific “signs” interact with one another, for better or worse. The way these signs mesh -- or clash -- with one another can help predict how the cards will fall or point to areas where teams and individuals should look to help elicit a positive outcome.

That said, let’s take a look at what’s in the stars for the Bruins and some of their rivals, shall we?

After the jump, the Bruins, Pens and Habs...

The Bruins went down to Jersey, they were looking for a win to seal.
They were in a bind 'cos they were way behind and was lookin' to make 1st real.
When they came across a Finn between the pipes and makin' it hot.
And the Marty hit the ice and said "Rask, lemme tell you what:
"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a Hall of Famer, dude.
And if you'd care to lose right here, I'll be in debt to you.
Now you play a pretty good goalie boy, but give the old man his due:
I got a mask of gold against your soul that says I'm better than you."

The boy said "My name's Tuukka and it might be a sin,
"But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been"

Tuukka warm up your pads and turn that puck away
'Cos hell's broke loose in Jersey and the Devils are here to stay
And if you win you get two points and no one will ever scold
Plus you'll prove that Marty's just to old. 

Marty skated on the ice and said "I'll start this show."
And he turned those pucks away 'cos he is a pro.
Boston threw the pucks at him and Marty became pissed.
So the rest of the devils jumped in and looked something like this:

And when the dust settled, Tuukka said "You're pretty good old son.
"Sit down in that crease, right there, let me show you how it's done"

Fire on the scoreboard, run boys, run.
Bruins in the house, now it's time for fun.
Marty's inside his net, pickin' out pucks.
Lucic gonna run him cause he doesn't give a fuck.

Marty bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
And laid his golden mask on the ground at Tuukka's feet.
Tuukka said "Devils just come on back if you ever want to lose again.
"'cause I told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best there's ever been."

And there was fire on the scoreboard, run boys, run.
Bruins in the house, now it's time for fun.
Marty's inside his net picking out pucks.
Jagr to Marchand like they give a fuck. 

After the jump, the rest of the preview...

4/11/13 UPDATE: Holy shit, so apparently Carl Söderberg isn't coming to Boston after all. After everything was said and done, Sweden did not release Söderberg to play in the NHL. Stick tap to Erik for being awesome as usual. 

Carl Söderberg will not be released to the NHL, the Swedish Federation just announced. #twittpuck

— Marie Lehmann (@svtlehmann) April 11, 2013

We're pretty sure this is how everything went down today with the Swedish Federation: 

UPDATE: Apparently the Bruins have signed Söderberg to a 3 year contract. Per Darren Dreger: 

Pending final approval, Carl Soderberg could be in Boston by wknd. Soderberg and Bruins have agreed to a deal for this season, plus 2 more..

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 10, 2013

Bruins will pay Soderberg $600k this season (including signing bonus) and $1m per for next two seasons. #TSN

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 10, 2013

Now we just need to federation to sign off on this and it's a done deal. 

It seems that Carl Soderberg to Boston is a done deal. Our buddy Kirk Luedeke just tweeted this out. 

Done deal- Soderberg to Bruins happening & expect him in next 7 days (give or take) Appreciate all the new follows...

— Kirk Luedeke (@kluedeke29) April 9, 2013

For those who aren't in the know, the Bruins acquired Soderberg's rights in a trade with the St. Louis Blues, but he's never played an NHL game. Here's a quick breakdown of the type of player Boston will be getting from Eliteprospects.com: 

A rather complete and well-rounded player. Söderberg is a very talented and highly skilled center with good two-way ability. He has excellent hockey sense, decent nose for the net and fine playmaking ability. Release is good and so are his technical skills and creativity. Not the fastest of skaters, but feet are still pretty good. Controls the puck very comfortably with his reach. Valuable in short-handed situations.

This season Soderberg scored 31 goals in 54 games in the SEL, had 29 assists (60 points) and was a +8. Because he will be in Boston before the end of the regular season Soderberg will be eligible for the playoffs. 

When a team wins 6-2, you think that we'd be basking in a puddle of our own semen and happy tears, but when that team is the Carolina Hurricanes, I can't really pop a huge black and gold woody over it. Look, the Bruins are good at beating bad teams, that's what 4th place teams are supposed to do. You're supposed to beat shitty teams and Carolina is a shitty team. 

Look at their roster, it consists of Eric Staal, his brother, Semin stealing money, Cam Ward and a bunch of guys from Hockey Town. Seriously, with Semin and Ward injured, there's no way Boston should have lost to this team. And they didn't. After Tuukka Rask bailed these guys out for 10 minutes in the first period (again), the Bruins picked it up and took off. 

I mean we can make a big deal of Claude's new lines and say that they worked, but can we get a real goalie test before we go anointing Claude the master of the line combinations? I mean, I'm not sure Justin Peters and Dan Ellis are the NHL "quality" I want to compare my lines to. 

I know I'm overly negative, but lets be real. It's the fucking Carolina Hurricanes. Yes 2 points is 2 points, but when you beat down the Hurricanes and Devils and poop your pants in Montreal, it really speaks to the type of team you are. 

After the jump, the real meat of the recap...

There weren't many highlights in the Bruins-Habs game, but Alexei Emelin taking a run at Milan Lucic was one of them.

Pro Tip: If you see Milan Lucic barreling his way down the ice at top speed the worst thing you can do is throw your body in front of it.

Emelin earned himself a sweet torn knee ligament and is out for the year. Emelin was the dude who broke his stick cross-checking Tyler Seguin's ribs and then Chara went bezerker on. Good times.

No word if Habs fans will Call 911 and ask the Montreal police to arrest Milan Lucic for attempted murder.