Wilde Horses
- Budaj and the coaching staff for putting him in. Budaj has good numbers against Boston. Waite knew he had his goalie technically back recovered after poor play. Budaj was excellent including perfect in the shootout. He made the saves in the shootout look easy too.
- Weaver was a horse. This was a game that if you are not committed then you would fail. Weaver time and time again took the Bruins dump in and knew he was going to get rocked but still went in first to make the play. He blocked shots all night. Bloody impressive player showing too that he will be ready for the playoffs. I like Tinordi. I think he is going to be a helluva pro but I hope he watched Weaver hold the blue line against the Bruins. It was textbook.
- Brian Gionta is still a useful player. He can kill penalties and his defensive skills are excellent. Bergevin is in a tough spot here though because this is the role-changing contract and a player never gets that he can't get the same money as when that player was relied on for goals.
- The penalty kill yet again. They work hard. They block shots. They have active sticks. They have Plekanec who is such a complete player. It took six power plays for Boston to finally break through.
- Vanek because at one point, he stood in front of the net and two Bruins did what they could but Vanek hung in there. Vanek got a quality shot away. That's what you're looking for there - the commitment to stay where he has to stay despite the pain of the inevitable cross checks.
- Emelin with his best game this season. He laid out an awesome hip check on Lucic and was a target all night for it. They could not back him down one bit. Took everything he got dealt at him and played with courage. He even took a cheap spear in the junk and kept hungry and his edge. He's a warrior. Imagine how good he could be if he ever got to be on his correct side. It would make such a difference to his instincts.
- Galchenyuk because someone had to score in the shootout. Superb move and understood that he had to finish high.
- Put pretty much everyone up here in the horse column.
Wilde Goats
- Rene Bourque. There was just too much violence and danger in this one for Bourque to feel comfortable to engage. He checked out pretty early. He can't not protect his brain. I get it.
- I don't have the heart to put anyone else in this column. They beat a team who had won 12 straight. 12. In their own barn. This column stays empty except Bourque.
Wilde Cards
- There is only one sport in the world where you have to answer to a clean hit. In the NFL, there are a ton of massive hits. Hits so powerful that all the players of both teams gather around the fallen player and hope he wakes up. They don't look at the guy who delivered the hit and try to kill him in the NFL. They understood no matter how brutal that it is a part of the game. However, in the NHL with this BS code you can't level a clean hit without having to accept some stupid behaviour. Emelin's hit frankly was awesome. A bloody joy to watch that hit, but there comes Chara with his retribution charge. No other sport does this revenge action happen even remotely. Hate it. Just can't stand it.
- It happened again only seconds later. Miller's hit on Weise was barely illegal. In fact, 99 times out of 100 nothing happens there but Weise lost an edge on a simple push from a glove. But there comes Moen to set himself back a long time again because he was clearly concussed - out on his feet after getting pummeled. This causes me sadness. So tired of players answering to these moments with their healthy lives, today AND tomorrow.
- Early in this season Moen took his helmet off in a fight and the linesmen stepped in. Moen told me that they would step in if a helmet was taken off. We talked about it later again and he said that they would try to step in if anyone lost their helmet. Well, look at the fights. The refs totally suck at stepping in. They also are supposed to step in when a player looks hurt. Well, Moen was hurt right at the first punch in that fight with Miller and he suffered a second concussion 30 seconds later. Hey fellows in stripes --WAKE UP!! Players are suffering two concussions in one fight. It has to stop.
- The winner was hockey in this one. What a thrilling game to watch and assess. If you brought it in this one then you can bring it every night. This one asked you to give your heart and your body. It asked you to be courageous. It asked you to concentrate every moment. A beauty. Wouldn't be surprised after this that the Habs are flat flat flat vs. Buffalo. They gave it their all and their bodies will be aching 20 hours later for sure.
