Seven goals and two fights. Who could ask for anything more?
You might as well get it into your head. The Bruins are serious. They are where they are in the NHL standings because they're good.
And they're more than just good. They're fun. Ask any of the 17,565 in the sellout matinee crowd at TD Banknorth Garden yesterday if he or she felt cheated in any way. It's not possible. The Bruins' 7-2 dispatch of the New York Islanders was a very good show.
The crowd had hardly settled into its seats following the anthem when Nate Thompson was allowed to come walking in on a guiltless Manny Fernandez to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at 1:46 of the first period. Five straight Boston goals later we had ventured into hockey's version of garbage time, except that hockey doesn't really ever have garbage time. The seventh goal basically makes the crowd as happy as the first.
I realize it's an alien concept, but these guys can score. A year ago, the Bruins were the only playoff team with a negative goal differential, but that business is so early '08. It's a whole different scenario now.
With yesterday's five-goal surplus the Bruins have solidified their position as the league's second-most-dominant team. We have played 28 percent of the 2008-09 NHL season and the Bruins have scored 24 more goals than their foes. Only San Jose (plus-30) is better.
The Bruins!
This has been an offensively challenged team for a long, long time. But the Bruins have now scored seven goals twice in their last five games. They have scored five or more goals five times in the last 12, and six times overall.
The Bruins!
What in the name of Phil Esposito is going on?
"We have four lines we can roll," says Michael Ryder, "and each line can produce."
OK, 24 hours ago you might have said, "Michael Ryder, you will speak when spoken to, and not before."
The team's most expensive offseason acquisition (three years at $4 million per) has been a very disappointing player. He entered yesterday's game with a meager three goals, the last of which found its way into the net Nov. 17. But he put the biscuit in the basket twice yesterday in his first opportunity to play with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler. Hey, whatever it takes, if he's going to play like this.
"We've been saying for numerous weeks now that he's had some great chances," said coach Claude Julien, who knows Ryder well from their mutual time in Montreal.
"It's not for lack of trying, or lack of work. I think he was snakebitten, for a while."