Bruins Vs. Canucks Preview: TV/Radio Info, Time, Location And More
Event: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks
Date/Time: Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 1 p.m. EDT.
Location: TD Garden (Capacity: 17,565), Boston, MA.
Broadcast Info: Saturday's game between the Bruins and the Canucks will be broadcast live on NESN and NHLN-US. The game can also be heard on 98.5 the Sports Hub Radio Network, with Dave Goucher providing play-by-play, and Bob Beers providing analysis.
Last Time Out: The Bruins had one day of rest yesterday after playing in back-to-back games, where they took two wins and outscored their opponents 15-1 in that span, including a 9-0 victory on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Patrice Bergeron and Nathan Horton each picked up two goals a piece, while Tuukka Rask picked up his third shutout in four starts. He currently is riding a 276:08 streak where he has only given up one goal.
Dennis Seidenberg and David Krejci extended their point streaks, and the Bruins still remain undefeated in 2012.
Roberto Luongo celebrated his 700th NHL game on Wednesday after ousting the Minnesota Wild in a 3-0 shutout victory. Daniel Sedin and Alexandre Burrows each netted goals to give them the 2-0 lead, and Manny Malhotra put in the empty netter for security.
The Canucks currently sit first in the Western Conference, just above the Chicago Blackhawks, by one point, with a 25-13-3 record to this point.
Storyline: I think we all know the story line at this point.
The last time these two teams met was back on a day of infamy for the Bruins. June 15, 2011, the Bruins won a game 3-1--the most fulfilling game that anyone on the team had experienced.
The one that clinched them the Stanley Cup.
After the Canucks had taken a 2-0 lead in the Cup final, the series headed back to Boston where Luongo had a terrible future ahead of him. After allowing only two goals in two games in Vancouver, Luongo went into Boston and gave up eight goals in that first game, and four goals in the second, picking up both losses along the way. He was never able to recover, and the Bruins took full advantage of it. And, well, the rest is history.
Now, as both teams look to play one another again, some of the key players will not be on the ice. Aaron Rome, the man who knocked Nathan Horton to the ice in a scary moment for all Bruins fans, is out with a broken thumb and will not be on the ice. And Luongo, a fan favorite in Boston, will also not be playing, per Alain Vigneault. Instead, Massachusetts native Cody Schneider will get his first start in Boston.
Players To Watch: After the final last year, everyone should know to watch everyone on the ice. There were so many personal battles and team battles, that today’s game has the capacity to get out of hand fast, be an absolute blow out and have a lot of energy from everyone.
Definitely keep an eye on Horton. Though he’s not known for his agitation or fighting, he’s starting to feel better about his season and after not playing in the last five games of the final, he could have some extra aggression saved up.
Tim Thomas will most likely be in net this afternoon, and, though he has nothing to prove, will have to be at his best, because Vancouver wants this game more than they say.
Prediction: The Bruins have shown so far this season that they are just as good this year as they were last year. If they can keep their emotions in check and don’t get over confident, the Bruins should have no problem taking another victory at home, especially after the show of offense they have had the past few games. Final Score: Bruins 5, Canucks 2.