Game 52: Seeing Stars

November 1st, 2008. A date that Bruins fans remember very fondly. That was the date when the Dallas Stars last visited the TD Garden. A game that produced a combined 146 penalty minutes between the two teams. Cheap antics by several Stars' players forced the B's to defend their home ice by finishing every fight the Stars' started. Well, they are back.

Although both rosters have been tweaked since that infamous game, both teams were first in their respective divisions. Tuukka Rask got the start for the home team as he tried to slow down Hart Memorial Trophy candidate, Brad Richards.

You knew something was up when Shawn Thornton was lined up as center to take the face-off. This set up Gregory Campbell to fight Steve Ott one second into the game. Campbell, Thornton, and Adam McQuaid all got into fights four seconds into the game. Campbell got severely cut by Ott (we all remember him). However, Thornton and McQuaid had their opponents seeing stars (pun intended).

How appropriate that the song "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC is on Shawn Thornton's playlist.
Andrew Ferrence must like that track as well because he dropped the gloves soon there after. Yes Jack Edwards, I was having fun.

After one period, it was 4-0 Bruins, highly reminiscent of their last meeting in Boston. Milan Lucic scored his 21st of the season and Patrice Bergeron adds two goals in the opening period.

Dallas grabbed a goal in the 2nd period to make it 4-1 after two. The story of this period was the "elbowing" match penalty called on Daniel Paille. As a prisoner of the moment, I thought the call was ridiculous. However, Paille was guilty. We might be seeing Jordan Caron again very soon. Bruins win 6-3.

Gold Star= Patrice Bergeron (2 goals, 1 assist, +3 rating)
Black Star= Dennis Seidenberg - Where were you tonight? We were down defence men most of the game and yet your name was hardly mentioned.

It a shame that a talented player like Brad Richards is on a team like Dallas. They are a disgusting group of guys who use these instigating tactics to annoy their opponents. They are a disgrace to the league. If we see them again this season, it will be in the Stanley Cup Finals.....and it's nice hearing "Dirty Water" at the end of every game.