OBSERVATIONS FROM BRUINS’ PRESEASON SHOOTOUT WIN OVER RANGERS

The Bruins enjoyed a 4-3 shootout win over the Rangers in Thursday night’s preseason contest at TD Garden. Here are some observations from what proved to be a more-entertaining-than-usual preseason game.

– There’€™s no word yet on what the upper-body injury Zdeno Chara suffered is, but there’€™s a good chance it occurred on the hit he took from Ryan Bourque on his third and final shift of the night. As previously noted, Chara appeared to be OK after the hit, so perhaps he was taken out for precautionary reasons. The Bruins had better hope that’€™s the case, as they’€™re already without Dennis Seidenberg.

If Chara is to be out for any stretch of time in the regular season, the Bruins would be without their four best defensemen from last season’€™s camp:€” Chara, Dougie Hamilton, Johnny Boychuk and Seidenberg.

There was another scare on Boston’€™s defense when Joe Morrow blocked a shot and limped off the ice late in regulation, but he would return to the game.

– Jeremy Smith played the entire game for the Bruins, and there’€™s no better test for someone trying to prove they can hack it in the NHL than going against a good lineup (the Rangers had Rick Nash, Kevin Hayes, Keith Yandle and Ryan McDonagh, among others, in the lineup Thursday) without Zdeno Chara in front of you.

Smith allowed three goals, two of which were power play tallies. The lone even-strength goal he allowed came on a Rangers rush during a Boston line change. Smith made the initial save on Brady Skjei’€™s shot but had it bounce off the post, then his back and in. He then allowed a Mats Zuccarello power play goal later in the period and saw a second-period Kevin Hayes shot go off him and in for New York’€™s second tally on the man advantage.

The 26-year-old netminder had some bright spots as well, stopping Kevin Hayes in the slot on a second-period Rangers power play and then robbing him with a glove save in the third.

– Smith stopped Hayes and Keith Yandle and John Gibbons in the shootout, though he allowed shootout goals to Mats Zuccarello and Dan Boyle. Ryan Bourque hit the post.

Boston got shootout goals from Ryan Spooner, Frank Vatrano and Brad Marchand.

– Zac Rinaldo swears he’€™s better than he gets credit for, and based on two preseason games, he may have a case. The numbers through two games: one assist, zero penalty minutes and a whopping four drawn penalties.

Rinaldo picked up an assist on Tyler Randell’€™s first-period goal, capping a strong shift by feeding the puck to Joe Morrow at the point, with Morrow’€™s shot being redirected by Randell past Henrik Lundqvist.

The former Flyer drew a period in the second period when he got Ryan McDonagh to break his stick on a slash. In the third period, Rinaldo threw a big (albeit clean) hit on Tommy Hughes in the neutral zone. He was then jumped by Tanner Glass, but Rinaldo kept his gloves on, with Glass being given a roughing minor for the exchange.

Perhaps most surprisingly (and most amusing): Rinaldo tried to show off his hands with a between-the-legs bid off the rush in the second period.

– Speaking of drawing penalties, Ryan Spooner’€™s line with Jimmy Hayes and Brett Connolly drew a pair on Thursday. Spooner drew a tripping penalty in the first period, while Connolly was slashed by Keith Yandle in the second.

It was a point apiece for the Hayes brothers, as Jimmy capped a very strong shift by picking up the secondary helper on a third-period Brandon Carlo goal.

– With the Bruins trailing in the final minute of regulation, Spooner scored as the extra attacker skating with Patrice Bergeron‘€™s line. Bergeron skated with Brad Marchand and Loui Eriksson Thursday night, an indication that Eriksson could at long last wind up being Bergeron’€™s right wing.

– Joonas Kemppainen continues to impress. He set up the rush on which Rinaldo got fancy by forcing a turnover at the Bruins’€™ blueline and taking it the other way.

– Matt Irwin took a penalty during the 3-on-3 overtime, meaning the Rangers got to add a player to the ice rather than the Bruins losing one. Bergeron, Morrow and Adam McQuaid made up Boston’s three-man penalty kill unit. Smith made a number of big saves before the power play was ended by a Rangers too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty.

– The Bruins had to mix and match on defense once Chara went down early, but Joe Morrow and Colin Miller skating together was an interesting sight. Such a pairing goes for broke offensively but would likely give Claude Julien anxiety in the defensive zone.

Marchand propels Bruins by Panthers

SUNRISE, Florida - Centre Brad Marchand scored two goals to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 victory over their rivals in the Atlantic Division, the Florida Panthers on Friday night.

Boston improved to 4-0-0 on the road this season.

The Bruins (5-3-1), who have the leading power play in the NHL this season, got a pair of goals with the man advantage - one by Marchand and the second by defender Zdeno Charra, who also had an assist in the game.

Florida (5-4-1), which went 3-for-3 on the power play in their previous game, a 4-1 win over Colorado, also marked its special teams - a goal by Center Nick Bjugstad who came on a five against three situation.

But Boston goalie Tuukka Rask (3-3-1), who struggled to start this season, but has allowed only one goal in their last two games, Boston helped kill the rest of the Florida power play.

The Panthers finished only 1-6 on their power play. The Bruins Winter Classic Jersey 2016, who was 2-for-3 on their power play, killed two penalties in the final five minutes, including a game-misconduct on Merchant for boarding Dmitry Kulikov defender.

Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo (3-4-1) took the loss in a battle between two elite guards. Rask's Vezina Award winner in 2014, and Luongo is the leader in wins among active guards.

Boston opened the scoring with 9:22 elapsed in the first period. Florida was down a man when Reilly Smith - who was acquired from Boston in the offseason in exchange for fellow right-winger Jimmy Hayes - was sent off for hooking.

The Bruins have enjoyed the screening Luongo on a point shot by Charra. Marchand, who created traffic, got the goal of the tip-in.

Bruins Kevan Miller, David Pastrnak, Joonas Kemppainen question marks for the road trip

With a couple of days before their next game Friday night at the Florida Panthers, the Bruins have a little time for their banged-up players to recover.

Fresh off their 6-0 victory over Arizona in the garden, the Bruins held an optional skate this morning. There was no word on whether Kevan Miller, David Pastrňák or Joonas Kemppainen would be available for the road trip with two short game that also includes a game at Tampa Bay on Halloween night.

"They are still under evaluation," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "It is too early to give a diagnosis in terms of how it is serious or not it is serious. We'll probably have a better idea tomorrow."

Miller was injured when Tobias Reider started / stopped, sending the champion of the B awkwardly into the boards in the second period. Miller went to the dressing room and returned to skate two shifts before calling it a night. He walked very gingerly through the locker room this morning.

If Miller is unavailable, this call for a return to action for Zach Trotman, who has been left out since the first game of the season.

Pastrnak Joe Morrow Jersey took a shot off the left foot. It is not known when Kemppainen was injured.

The breakfasts have practical Ristuccia Arena early tomorrow before flying to South Florida for their back to back-first set of games this year.

Coyotes-Bruins Preview

The Boston Bruins Winter Classic Jersey 2016 are unbeaten on the road, but they are about the worst start to a home for a season in the history of the franchise.

The Bruins attempt to achieve success on the road at TD Garden on Tuesday night when they try for a straight eighth win over the Arizona Coyotes.

Boston (3-3-1) lost its four home games, matching the team record set in 1965-66. The Bruins have gone nine games without a win in 1951-52, but five of them were links.

They hope that their mentality on the road can result in Boston.

"On the road, for some reason, we really played well - for 60 minutes - without trying to be too cute, just try outwork the other team, and it worked," said forward David Krejci on the site team official. "So at home, we must adopt the same approach - just work harder than the other team and try to play for 60 minutes."

It worked Friday in New York, the Bruins scored four goals in a row to rally for a 5-3 victory against the Islanders.

Bruins can’t hold off Flyers in OT

Puck sitting around with a small shelf in his locker room, alone. It has been marked by its new owner's name, block letters and darkness. When it has collected up out of Zach Bergeron, Wednesday night's game still continues Bears ways. First time father, Patrice Bergeron Jersey, one assist and one goal - the latter has acquired as a birthday gift - and the Bruins still played well.

They rose after two goals in the second period started, and two-goal lead heading into the third. Then it Saturday in Arizona, lead disappear. Then, because of them, when they come back for the win there on Saturday in Arizona, the Bruins in overtime of the Flyers, 5-4, succumbed to keep winless at TD Garden this season.


Overtime power-play goal Claude Giroux beat Tuukka Rask to two points to Philadelphia. This is the goal of 22D Lasker makes this season, let him in five games a 4.40 goals average and .854 save percentage against.

"I just think Tuukka has stopped the puck," coach Claude Julien said, but also against officials of the other players, especially his defense. "There is nothing that is different, and there may be mistakes, but that's why you have a goalie to stop those."

Will Boston Bruins break up their team now?

This week, a bit stupid rumor appeared that the Boston Bruins were shopping "quietly" some of their veterans more valuable, including former Norris winner Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand Jersey, among other veterans.

As discussed yesterday, it felt much more like a due diligence on the part of Bruins - if it even happened - than anything else, but the boy that everyone has not had in hockey media scrambling to make up the headlines to the effect of "Bruins seek to negotiate veterans," and so on.

It is a sexy idea, quite frankly, but it's one of those rumors that you have to take with about as much salt as you would get if you boil a drop of sea water. The author of the report in question has a long history to throw rumors against the wall, probably because of how many page views you can generate by saying, "CHARA on the block" in the largest capital letters, you can find, but even when there are real specificity in reports of this type, by literally anyone files, not only in Boston, the likelihood that these things happen remains fairly low.

But given how much play it through the league, taking the rumor at face value.

Who is going where?

Bruins notebook: Brad Marchand improves, Cross gets call

WILMINGTON - there in the first week of the season has been a lot of good news for bears, but yesterday: Brad Marchand has returned to the ice only three days after suffering a concussion.

For a change, it will be a Bruins player suffered a concussion, it's not too serious.

"I feel very good," Marchand skating and fair competition in the fast practice is difficult, but after wearing a green non-contact jersey said. "Now, it's just trying to get back as fast as I can. You never know. These things are day-to-day. You can feel the good days, then take a step back.

"But I'm glad I'm feeling. I wish I did not have any setbacks. No matter what the doctor told me to do, I'll do what they say."

Sequelae of concussion can last as little as several days or as long as years. It seems Marchand, in contrast, Patrice Bergeron Jersey, Mark · Savard and Nathan Horton, have one of the least severe kind. Under normal circumstances, injuries and other players held about one week or less, if they pass the NHL's concussion protocol testing.

Since XAC Bears tonight's game against the Denver Avalanche, Marchand went along. The guess is that he will miss the game, but in return Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, on the coyote.

Bruins’ early woes continue in loss to Canadiens

The Boston Bruins Jersey have inexperienced players playing bigger roles than before. They have fringe NHLers who would be better suited in Providence. Roster makeup and injuries have almost guaranteed disorder to start 2015-16.

“We’re definitely young. We know why,” coach Claude Julien said after Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Montreal. “There’s no doubt that played a part in our game tonight. We’ve got to get better in certain areas that we’re working on. Those young guys are going to get better if they keep playing and get some experience. We’re going through some growing pains.”

In their state, the Bruins are in no position to have goals taken away that they believe should have counted.

At 6:30 of the second period, Loui Eriksson swatted a fluttering puck past Carey Price, seemingly cutting the Canadiens’ lead to 2-1 game. But referee Dan O’Rourke waved off the goal, ruling that Patrice Bergeron had bumped into Price.

Julien issued his first coach’s challenge. Video review upheld O’Rourke’s decision.

NHL Notes: Several Bruins hoping NHL returns to Quebec City

One of the developments from Bruins Jersey Media Day last week was B’s owner Jeremy Jacobs pouring some frozen tundra-level cold water on the NHL expansion hopes in Quebec City.

The NHL only received expansions applications -- armed with a $10 million price tag with only $2 million of that non-refundable -- from Quebec and Las Vegas, and both made full presentations to the NHL Board of Governors over the last month. Quebec City has built a state of the art rink in an effort to bring home the wayward Nordiques' franchise that left for Colorado after the 1994-95 season, and there’s little question the region would enjoy the same rabid NHL fan reaction renaissance as the Jets received in similarly small market Winnipeg.

But Jacobs, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, certainly sounded like he was leaning toward Las Vegas as the lead expansion choice and that the geography, economics and even the value of the Canadian dollar were actively working against the Quebecois right now.

“What is the best thing for the league as a whole, and what’s the best thing for Boston? Right now the thirty teams are pretty good for all of us, I think. I feel good about where we are today. But as you framed the question there, we’re imbalanced here in that we’ve got 16 teams in the East, 14 in the West,” said Jacobs, who didn’t mention franchise relocation as another potential option for the NHL to help change the geography. “I would probably have to indicate that another team in the west would make more sense for us. Now looking at the two locations, you have to say that Quebec looks like they are…there’s more history there for hockey.

Bruins notebook: Tuukka Rask looks sharp in final tuneup

WASHINGTON — After his first preseason appearance, a loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Tuukka Rask Jersey was asked how many exhibition games he’d need to be ready for the regular season.

“Well,” said Rask, getting a laugh, “hopefully not more than two.”

Rask knew that two was all he’d be getting in this camp, given management’s need to give playing time to four candidates vying for the job as his backup.

It turns out two was enough, as Rask made his second start last night in the team’s final tune-up against the Capitals and was in midseason form, stopping all 15 shots he faced in 40 minutes of work.

Alex Ovechkin’s in-close goal on Jeremy Smith tied the game at 1 with 2:34 left. After a scoreless overtime, which saw chances at both ends and a B’s power play, the Caps scored on the first two shots of the shootout (T.J. Oshie, Evgeni Kuznetsov), while Ryan Spooner and David Krejci were stopped, giving the home team the 2-1 win.

The Bruins’ lone goal was by Loui Eriksson, set up at the goalmouth by Patrice Bergeron in the first period.

Bruins cut roster to 27 players, get one step closer to final roster

After the latest preseason game where the Bruins may or may not have violated the veteran minimum skaters (no word if anything came of that) the Bruins have sent down the call ups that played. From Bruins.com:

Boston Bruins Jersey General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, October 1, that the club has assigned Anton Blidh, Chris Breen, Brandon DeFazio, Brian Ferlin, Alex Khokhlachev and Ben Sexton to the Providence Bruins.

Sweeney also announced the team has placed Tommy Cross on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the Providence Bruins

This leaves the Bruins with 27 players on their NHL roster, counting Jonas Gustavsson who is still without a contract, and on a PTO, as well as injured Seth Griffith and Dennis Seidenberg. There are 15 forwards, 9 defensemen, and 3 goaltenders remaining at camp, one extra at each position usually, although Sweeney and Julien have hinted at keeping eight defensemen.

A list of the 15 Bruins forwards still at camp: Matt Beleskey, Patrice Bergeron, Brett Connolly, Loui Eriksson, Seth Griffith, Jimmy Hayes, Chris Kelly, Joonas Kemppainen, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Tyler Randell, Zac Rinaldo, Ryan Spooner, and Max Talbot.

Bruins notebook: Gustavsson stakes claim to be B's backup goalie

NEW YORK — There’s not much Jonas Gustavsson can do now but hope.

With Tuukka Rask Jersey slated to start tomorrow night’s preseason finale, Gustavsson most likely had his final tryout for the Bruins’ backup goalie job last night in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers in which he stopped 24-of-27 shots.

Now it’s up to the Bruins’ brass to decide whether to sign the veteran netminder to back up Rask or to go with 26-year-old Jeremy Smith, who has not played in the NHL but was very good last year in Providence an has had a good camp.

“He was good tonight,” coach Claude Julien said of Gustavsson. “When I look at the first (goal), he had two Rangers right in front of him and it goes through when he can’t see much. . . . I thought he played pretty well. We dominated in the shot department, but he had to make some big saves. He was good. Same thing I said about Smitty. He battled back, he got better during the game. So we’ve got some tough decisions to make here.”