Johnny Boychuk, you're money and you don't even know it!

Four rookie defencemen have scored at least 2 goals for the Boston Bruins over the course of the franchise's history:

• Mike Milbury
• Ray Bourque
• Glen Wesley

The fourth one? This guy:

Johnny Boychuk, you sir, are awesome. Enjoy it.

R2 G1 in photos

Photos © Reuter's.

Onto Round 2

Those aren't spirit fingers!

THESE are SPIRIT FINGERS!

Playoffs note!

Dear readers, please don't be fooled by my lack of updates. I'm following the team. Rather religiously, one would say. I am worshiping at the altar of the Spoked B. I am just painfully superstitious, and not posting a damned thing until the series ends, one way or the other. Because as we know, it's all about me, and I do not want the weight of Bruins Nation on my shoulders. Nor the fury. That said, let's go Bruins!

Also, I'm a lot more active on Twitter if you're interested enough. http://twitter.com/roundthewaygrrl

Venom Energy; Game 7

First up, interesting marketing psychology:

Venom has rounded up stars from a variety of sports as spokespeople to be featured in marketing campaigns and in-store promotions in their teams' respective geographic regions. Dr Pepper/Snapple Group's Venom Energy line is leveraging consumers' devotion to their local sports teams and heroes to the max with a marketing approach that uses 14 different sports stars regionally rather than one star throughout the country.
The sports stars signed include Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles), Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins), Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears), DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys), Kenyon Martin (Denver Nuggets), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), Lance Berkman (Houston Astros), Jordan Farmar (Los Angeles Lakers), Joey Porter (Miami Dolphins), Max Talbot (Pittsburgh Penguins), Roger Mason (San Antonio Spurs), Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers) and Lofa Tatupu (Seattle Seahawks).

Frankly I'm a little surprised at the three selections. Not for their respective cities; Looch is a god in Boston, Datsyuk is revered, and Talbot's adored for his wacky sense of humour and sick sick game. Although I will say I'm surprised that of all the professional athletes in Boston right now, Looch is the one they went with - one of the young anchors of a team eliminated in the 2nd round.  Dude don't the Sox have anyone? Maybe not with more influence over the city. But anyway, interesting inside view at sports marketing. Moving on.

So who do you think's going to win tomorrow night? Everyone automtically says, Detroit hasn't lost at home. And someone told me recently that you don't have a series for real til someone loses at home. Which hasn't happened this series. So the foregone conclusion is that Detroit'll take it all again.


Lord in Heaven, Let Sid Win It in Seven
But that's wherein lies the intrigue of the game. Everyone assuming Detroit will just win because of their home/road record is underestimating the Pens, and in the last game of the season regardless, you can't underestimate anyone. The Pens didn't get this far just to fall flat on their faces in Detroit. Frankly, I'm sick and fucking tired of Detroit winning. I'll make no predictions other than tomorrow should be the greatest game we've seen all year. I hope you're planning on watching.

Yada yada yada

Craig has an interesting article about Kari and the gasket he blew over on Thrashers Blog. The comments are also kind of interesting. You know, excluding Darren Eliot, I've heard or read anyone saying anything negative. If anything, on the whole people are kind of surprised he hasn't blown his top before this. And really, in the grand scheme of things, he didn't do all that much. It's just his usual stoicism has us conditioned. I mean, hello, two words for you: Ed. Belfour. Ooh, two more! Patrick. Roy. Oh oh, and Dominik! Hasek! It just that it's so unKarilike in context. If that makes sense.

Also? Here's how my hockey season is going: the one team I wanted to make playoffs doesn't have a chance in Hell, the other one I wanted after that is like, on the bubble and just lost Marc Savard to a midback/torso injury. Dude, seriously, when have you heard anything so specific in playoff hockey - which it may as well be here on out for a lot of teams. Did you SEE the Montreal game last night? Holy shit. I'm digressing, but I'll come back to this. Anyway, Marc Savard (do you think the team spokesman is related to Mark Chmura?)! Sigh. B's are in 8th right now. And hello, Caps hot on their heels. Plus Sabres, if they can ever get their shit together. Which also ties in nicely with "I'll come back to this," because look! I love this column! I love Bucci!

The best time of year
By John Buccigross
Special to ESPN.com

It's the best time of year, because all that matters is the winning. All day long you will think about your team's game tonight. You will wake up and wonder and imagine and act out, all the possibilities that will get your team to the finals. On the way to work, you think about the opponent. By lunch, you wonder if your goaltending will be good enough. On the way home, you wonder how your team is feeling. Are they confident? When the clock hits 6 p.m., your stomach is in a frenzy. The game is drawing near. With each passing minute the feeling in your stomach is growing more and more intense. Excitement. Anticipation. Nervousness. A bad batch of chicken quesadilla. Whatever it is, it makes you feel alive. This is the best time of the year. Spring has sprung. The weather is warm. The air is fresh. And the best sport in the world is about to embark on two months of mayhem to claim the coolest prize in sports. Welcome to the jungle.