Author Archive for CJ Shepard
NHL Blogger, a fan of the Boston Bruins for 40 years, mom to the famous/notorious Bruins dog blogger, The Pup. The Pup is a savvy hockey dog in search of cookies (the jar is on the top shelf).
Bruins reaping what they sow in the TD Garden
Another dismal effort in front of the hometown crowd, who has been tormented for the better part of two seasons with the great promise of watching the Bruins exceed expectations on the road, only to have them play flat and uninspired hockey at home. It is seemingly inexplicable how well this edition of the Bruins [...]
The Young and the Restless…Bruins’ Rookies In Need of Some Tutoring
A season ago Bruins’ defenseman Johnny Boychuk was a scratch for the first 20 games of the season, skating with the team, working out for additional 1v1 sessions with defensive guru, Craig Ramsey. When he made his league debut he was paired with veteran players for both support, as well as continued on the job [...]
Thank You Kessel, Thank you Burkie, Thank you Wideman…THANK YOU BRUINS!
The Bruins are 8 games into the season, and already the Bruins faithful are in mid-season form both via the social networks as well as in the TD Garden. It began with Nathan Horton’s red-hot start, and Bruins fans across Twitter made the hashtag: #ThankYouWideman a trending topic. Not to be outdone the resurgence of [...]
Take This Broken Wing…Bruins’ Depth To Be Tested
A swing of the stick is all it took, and the Rangers’ Brandon Dubinsky has set the Bruins’ blue line contingency plan in motion. Personally, since Ray Bourque left Boston I haven’t bought into the need for a “puck moving defenseman”, and would rather see 3 defense pairs with the likes of Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno [...]
“Questions will become Answers”: Will the Real Bruins Please Stand Up?
In game one of the season, the Bruins played the first 40 minutes as if they remained trapped in the nightmare of the Philly series which ended their ’10 run to the Cup. In the last 20 minutes the B’s showed signs of life, including two snipe jobs by new addition, Nathan Horton. In the [...]
Great Expectations 2010-11 Boston Bruins
Terry O’Reilly, Raymond Bourque, Gord Kluzak, Barry Pederson, Norm Leveille, Craig Janney, Glen Wesley, Bryan Smolinski, Glen Murray, Kyle McLaren, Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov, Nick Boynton, Mark Stuart, Matt Lashoff, Phil Kessel, Zach Hamill, Joe Colbourne, Jordan Caron, and now Tyler Seguin…all young players burdened with the expectations from the proud fan base of a [...]
Paging Dr. Frankenstein: Are the Bruins re-working team chemistry?
So every fan has been living through rumor hell since the playoffs concluded. It started before the draft and has continued right through the start of the free agent signing period. It has been one rumor after another and it has been painful. Maybe the WAY the Bruins bowed out of the playoffs in a [...]
Dear Bruins: One fan’s off-season open letter to the team, management, and coaches
My Dearest Bruins, I write you this Sunday in June after having watched with great interest the triumph and celebration of an Original Six team, its fans and its city. Just five short years ago the management, staff and players of the Chicago Blackhawks made a commitment to the fans of the organization to “become [...]
Bruins failed to learn the lesson…
It seems like I barely was able to supplant the bitter disappointment of puck ricocheting off of Scott Walker’s shin and slipping past Tim Thomas in OT of game 7, with the elation of the 2010 Bruins team using their current playoff run as the final answer to the lofty pre-season expectations because the inevitable [...]
Eastern Conference Round 2 Bruins v. Flyers: Observations From the Balcony
Now that I am living more than 4 hours outside of Boston I cherish the games I get to even more than I have in the past. This season I rode the roller coaster with the Bruins, and loved every moment of the historic Winter Classic at Fenway. I stood and cheered when the Bruins [...]
Bruins living up to expectations – Game 6 Must Win!
After a regular season which left many fans of the Black & Gold questioning if their team had the grit and heart necessary to avoid embarrassment in the playoffs, the Bruins have more than answered the call. With the series tied at one game apiece, the Bruins played with the tenacity they lacked much of [...]
Bruins give Miller a Bumpy Ryd (er) and Even the Series at 1-1
It didn’t look good…The Bruins were down 2-0 seemingly before they stepped on the ice. They were running around, entirely out of sync, and NBC analysts even dared to suggest that Tuukka Time had run out on the Bruins. Then something strange happened…the Bruins remembered they were in the playoffs!! In the first there seemed [...]
From the Penthouse to the Bruins’ Doghouse – Michael Ryder
One of three bruins to dress every game this season, Bruins’ winger Michael Ryder may have finally landed himself in the doghouse of the overly patient Bruins’ coach Claude Julien. Prior to his departure from the Montreal Canadiens Ryder was a healthy scratch from the playoff series against the Bruins which saw the upstart B’s [...]
A Tested Recipe for Success, the Bruins Cook Up a Devilish Dish
One team has been known for decades for their ability to stifle the offensive creativity of virtually any opponent, the NJ Devils. Their consistent commitment to a team game designed by Devils’ architect, Lou Lamoriello has also been the blueprint for success for the NHL measuring stick of success, the Detroit Red Wings. So when [...]
Are Bruins Fans Making TD Garden a Tough Place to Play, for the HOME Team?
Want an astonishing stat in a year of astonishing Bruins stats? The Bruins have mustered only 16 wins in 38 home games, 5th worst in the NHL. A season ago there were messages on the Jumbotron from the likes of Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, and Marc Savard quoted about how important the fans were to [...]
The Bruins’ 7th Player Award – An Award with history!
In the late 60’s, the midst of the era where the Big Bad Bruins and their fans terrorized teams visiting the band box known as the Boston Garden, an award emerged…the 7th Player Award. It was to be given to the player who performed above and beyond expectation – most would say it was given [...]
The Spoked Wheel of Blame – goes ‘round and ‘round…
So there I sat last night in great seats, with the fans chanting “Let’s Go Bruins” (clap clap clapclapclap) right from the opening face-off, and then WHAM! Second shift, not even a minute into the game, the Bruins are down a goal. Neutral zone turnover, poor defensive coverage on the back-side and the air was [...]
For the Bruins – the Playoffs start NOW!
Last season seems like it was a 100 years ago. The Garden was ringing with chants of “Carrrrreeeey, Caaarrrrrrreeeeeey” en route to a sweet sweep of a hapless Habs team. Late in the 3rd period and into OT of a gut wrenching game 7 against the ‘Canes the B’s faithful serenaded the Bruins with chorus [...]
Will the real Boston Bruins please stand up?!?
There they were, on the precipice of disaster, and the excuse was prepared. How do you go on with the struggle when you have lost your best player? The NHL gave the Bruins every reason to quit on the season, ripping the collective heart from the team’s chest by multiplying the miscarriage of justice by [...]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T…
Then and Now… I am so sickened by what I saw today, I am not sure if I should even write this… Last year the Bruins were known for their team toughness, mess with one of them and be prepared to put yourself in the crosshairs of everyone in Black and Gold. Need an example?? [...]
