Love him or hate him, Mike Milbury is stirring up controversy -- again. On Saturday's HotStove segment (video), Mad Mike talked about the violence of collisions in the game and wanting to get rid of the "designated fighter" role.

Here's our attempt at a transcript:

Milbury: It's time to have a good, hard look at this. There are so many violent collissions now. Since the rules were changed in 2004, there's been sweeping changes where speed is of the essence, here, and we know we have bigger, stronger guys, so the collisions are crazy. The defensemen in particular are totally unprotected.

Watch Kistopolas here. He can't hold up the forechecker anymore; these guys are vulnerable. What is a cross-check to the head like that [referring to Lucic's hit on Moore]? Well, in that case, it wasn't anything. I'm not sure what's what. This [Stuart hit] we all argued about, whether how long the suspension should be. The Bruins wanted Randy Jones banned from hockey for life, but on this one they thought four games on Paille was too many. Stephen didn't get anything other than a little bit of a reprimand. Lagenbrunner, no problem, right? And right here Brown with an elbow to Keith, so the question is: What's what in terms of violent collissions? How far does the league want it to go?

And this also has got to go one step further. We're gonna have to include a discussion on fighting and the role of fighting. Earlier we talked about Taylor Hall today. Guys are now 6'8"; they're huge.

Francis (off screen): What's your point about fighting?

Milbury: My point on fighting is we have 25% of our concussions now setting a record-level of concussions. Some guys, like the best player in the game, potentially are not coming back for the rest of the year not from fighting but from concussions -- 25% caused from this stuff.

Burish buried that guys face. You think Kochi's gonna remember this with fondness -- 6'8" 235lbs (Chara) -- and we have guys with over 20 fighting majors in the league. For what purpose are they there on the end of the bench? If you have people -- and this is what got me about Gilles and I don't want to get into an assessment of his abilities -- but when you have the designated fighter on the end of the bench, and we still have them, I think it's wrong and it's time to take a look at how to get rid of that and what role there is in fighting.

Francis: Wait a second. This is a prime example of what concussions can do to people. Are you saying you want fighting out of the game, Mike?

Milbury: I'm saying I think we need to take a look at it in terms of how much you want it to be a part of games, if you want it to be a part of the game at all. The only reason we have fighting in the game is because we like it. Don't tell me we police it, Ron. Please don't give me that illogical hogwash because it's hogwash.

Ron: I like the threat of the fight, simply to keep Sidney Crosby safe. Simple as that. I agree with you, the tough guy can't sit at the end of the bench all night and be liked a trained dog and sent out to do the fight. He's gotta play.

Francis: Wouldn't you rather him fight than say Taylor Hall fight?

Milbury: We have fighting because we like it. Don't tell me it's to police the league. Here's an obscenity I'll put in the short form -- BS. 

Our take:
We think this is hilarious coming from Milbury. He complains about the pansification of the league one minute and then wants to pansify it the next.
Not sure how he's making a corrolation between concussions and fighting. There are way waaaaaay more concussions coming from blindsite hits and hits into the boards than fighting. The only concussion from fighting that comes to mind is Horton's bout with Peckham. And why did that fight start? Because Peckham threw a high elbow at Krejci. Mind you, Horton isn't a figther. He can just throw some mean punches when proded. 

If anything, these violent hits causing concussions is evidence that the NHL needs fighters in the league to stand up for teammates being bitched around. Otherwise, you have stars like Hall fighting, getting injured and being out for the season. Either way you cut it, a star has gone down for the season. We'd rather see justice be given then and there on the ice since there's a 75% chance the league will screw up any suspension ruling.

Concussions will always be part of the NHL as long as you allow checking. If guys are allowed to slam into each other at high speeds, injuries are going to happen -- concussions among them. It's simple as that. If you want to see no concussions in the NHL you need to turn the NHL into women's Olympic hockey -- no checking, no fighting. And we doubt anyone wants to see that.

The league is better off on sending strong messages with their suspensions and softening the "protective" equipment.   Add a comment

Disappoiting loss. Especially when Krejci tied it late. Quite frankly though, the Bruins were lucky to get a point tonight. The battered Penguins played all sixty minutes like this was a playoff game and the Bruins had no answer for most of the night. What it really came down to tonight is that the Penguins were a team that wanted it more. 


Thomas and Fleury were both sharp. Say what you want about Fleury. He made some huge stops tonight. Thomas faced almost thirty shots himself. Most of the game had a playoff atmosphere. Great to see playoff games in March. A Bruins-Penguins playoff series would be insane.
Putting the Bruins loss aside, the game was mostly entertaining. Both teams were physical, there were some good battles. Unfortunately our boys came out on the short end. But hey, 7-2-1 in their last ten ain't too shabby. At least they got a point. Every point matters. Just two behind Philly now, though Philly has a game in hand. F Philly. 

After the jump.... some big hits, late game drama and some Pens rookies coming through........

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This game has trap game written all over it. 

Pittsburgh is far from a bad team. They're just battered. They're missing Crosby, Malkin and Orpik. If you're the Bruins, maybe mentally you're looking past this game. Huge mistake.

Someone sent in this picture but it doesn't make much sense:


Missed 24 games and is still only 13 points out of first in the points race. #JustSaying

If you're a Bruins fan, it is great that Crosby and Malkin are out. B's don't have to worry about the best player in the game or another top ten player. As a hockey fan, it is a bit of a let down because Crosby and Malkin are exciting to watch.

Penguins are injured but gritty. They played last night against the Devils too. Could be tired. Lots of reasons for the B's to think this will be easy. B's overlook them for one second and it could be a long night. Our dear Bruins have been playing some great hockey. A win against the Penguins would be huge. Habs are playing good and still in the rear view mirror. 

This game is going to be really, really, REALLY annoying if you're watching it on TV. All you're going to hear from the annoucers is shit about Savard and Cooke or how Bartkowski is from Pittsburgh. We get it. We all saw the hit. Thousands and thousands of times. Don't need to keep replaying it every thirty seconds.

And announcers.... we get it.... all Barkowski's starts this season have been against the Penguins. Hahahahaha how amusing. There. Shut up.

After the jump... projected roster, game day links and game day video...
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So the Bruins take on the Habs next Tuesday. Our Viewing Party is still a go at The Place in downtown Boston. We know it's a bit trendier of a venue than what we're all used to, but they offered us their VIP room and some appetizers for free. How could we say no to that? Also, this is our first attempt at throwing an event, so you gotta take what you can. Our good friend, Joe Gill, over at Boston Sports Then & Now has been awesome at coordinating this.

The Place is at 2 Broad St. in Boston. Game is 7:30 start, but we're going to try to get there at like 6:30. Show up whenever you want.

Here's the official Facebook invite. So far we have 50+ RSVPing yes, which is awesome. We'd love to see that number as high as possible. So if you're in Boston (or don't mind schlepping from other parts of the state) and are 21+, swing by. It's a free event to watch the Bruins on the road with other Bruins fans and you don't have to do it at some cruddy Red Sox bar.


Plus, we're raffling off some prizes.

Here are the details:Venue: The Place
Time: 6:30 doors; 7:30 game
Cover: None
Bar: Cash 
Food: Apps
Raffles: Tix are $1
* Seguin T-shirt from Bottom Line Apparel 
* "Rancourt Fistpumps" tshirt from Days of Y'Orr
* Super Boychuk tshirt from Colleen Keenan
* Hockey gear from Supah Fans
* $100 gift card to The Place (lots of drinking)
Age: 21 +

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The Boston Bruins are reporting that Steven Kampfer has suffered a "mild concussion" for the hit he took last night against Tampa. He could be ready in about a week, says Julien via theBruinsBlog.net.
  No idea what language this is in. Russian?
The hit is definitely high but not sure if you can call it dirty. Kampfer was ducking down a little and Ritola might've hit his shoulder first and followed through. Ritola definitely played the body instead of the puck, but that's hockey. Lots of big hits went down.


A concussion would also explain this late night tweet from Kampfer.


Not even sure what this means. Clearly he's delussional from the hit if he thinks the Detroit Lions are going to win anything, ever. Add a comment

The self-proclaimed superior main stream media (MSM) struck again today, getting duped by yet another fake twitter account. You'd think that after the trade deadline practical jokes, the revered memebers of MSM would learn a lesson and not report fake twitter accounts. 

You would think is as far as it goes.

My journalism teachers would've killed me if I ever did what some of these guys have done recently such as:

1) Use Twitter as a source
2) Not fact check the rumor/report myself
3) Report on the fake rumor and not cite the source

All of this has happened over at TSN recently. And it happened again today thanks to the fake handle @NHL_OiIers (that L is actually an i that looks like an l -- font trick!) which said that Taylor Hall is out for the rest of the year with a tendon tear in his ankle. Darren Dreger got hit by the fake account:



So did Bob McKenzie.

A simple Journalism 101 class would've taught these pros where they went horribly wrong. This all stems with reporters wanting to be first instead of right. We saw this go down when Pat Burns allegedly died last year but was still alive and kicking. It's lazyness that the likes of McKenzie and Dreger are getting duped by what are obviously fake twitter accounts. 100% Grade-A lazyness.

But perhaps it's a generational thing and their journalistic skills haven't translated over into the new world of the Internet (it's a series of tubes) and social media.

Have no fear! The Days of Y'Orr staff has created a Using Social Media for Sports Journalists 101 course for the ignorant. Today's first lesson -- how to properly follow the team's official twitter handles. Think you're ready? More after the jump. Add a comment

What a game. Lightning gave the Bruins everything they had. Boston showed Tampa Bay they ain't quite ready for the big time yet. Bruins now in sole posession of second place in the conference and more importantly finish the season series against the Lightning 3-1, winning a key tie breaker should they end up with the same amount of points at the end of the season. 

This game had a little bit of everything. Good action. Good goaltending. Tampa Bay cheapshots. Lucic making Eric Brewer pay for Tampa Bay's cheapshots. Lucic being a beast everywhere on the ice. Bergeron sending Stamkos flying. Boychuk being wanted for murder.


This game had let down written all over it before it started. Bruins aren't great at home this season. They were coming off a six game road trip and facing a good Lightning team. But the Bruins stepped up. They refused to leave the ice without a victory. They hit 30 posts. They didn't stop coming. They scratched and clawed their way to victory. Exactly the type of win you need to learn how to get once the playoffs roll around. 

Win streak hit seven.


We're going streaking.


After the jump.... Lucic is awesome, Thomas is awesome, Boychuk is awesome and Tampa Bay sucks.....

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We got this random email from Mike Mason, the Guardian Project's version of Charlie.

We're not even sure what the point of this email was. There's no links. No additional information. It's now March 3rd and still no further updating from Mason. 

Should we be worried that Deven Dark has caught him? Why is his mask a cross between a knight's helm and a goalie mask? Was this character even part of the NHL All-Star game minishow?

Why are we talking about this still?  Add a comment

First off, BGG has Part 2 of  "The NHL's Most Punchable Faces" post. Be sure to read Part I by us.

Bruins and Lightning are tied for second place in the East. Winner takes it tonight. Tampa's 5-3-2 in last 10; Boston's 7-3-0. Not bad.

Tampa's goal differential is pretty horrid for a second-placed team. Maybe it's because things like this happen:


Bruins also scored eight goals that game. That's the type of shenanigans you get when Mike Smith is in net. It's also when Savard made his comeback debut in Boston.

Marc Savard returned and the Bruins celebrated in grand style. They forgot they played hockey and scored a touchdown. Then gave Tampa Bay the finger and went for the two point conversion. They drove one Lightning goalie from the net and embarrassed the other. They held Stamkos pointless. They held St. Louis pointless.

Sadface. We miss Savvy.

Kalman's going to be hosting a live chat event during the game. We'll probably log in. We're going to try to not ruin this happy even for him. We fear the Kal-Man Clutch.



After the jump... projected roster, game day links and game day video...
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In case you missed it this afternoon, Patrice Bergeron was on Gresh & Zoe. Among a variety of hockey related question -- like the Bruins six road game sweep -- they asked him if he's been following the whole Charlie Sheen saga.

What resulted might be one of the funniest and best Bruins audio clips this season -- Bergeron impersonating Charlie Sheen.

For Download/Stream:
Long version -- Q/A
Short version -- just the impersonation

Fucking brilliant.

Feel free to download the files for your phones and such.

We had to record the clip on our iPhone, email it to ourselves, convert it to an MP3 and then edit it down, so sorry if the quality isn't crystal clear. It was a process. But we do it for you because we love you all. And 'cause we're nuts.  Add a comment