Boston Bruins moving.... Take on the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.

No fight in the hand shanke line @pucknut9 RT @bruinsdaily: Best tradition in sports twitter.com/BruinsDaily/st…
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) May 26, 2013

There is a new drinking game; every time the Boston Bruins fourth line/Merlot Line is mentioned drink a beer, or take a shot or you can take a drink. You would never make it through the game sober, unless you're drinking water or pop.

That being said, the Pittsburgh Penguins probably aren't going to be as impressed with the Boston Bruins fourth line, because they're a really talented hockey team, but the fact remains you can't discount what they accomplished during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here's the stats for the Merlot line Shawn Thornton (0g-3a—3pts), Gregory Campbell (3g-2a—5pts), Daniel Paille (1g-3a—4pts).

Jagr back in Pitt. Iginla saying no to Boston and yes to Pitt..Matt Cooke's hit on Savard..Two great hockey cities. 4 lines vs 4 lines. Yes.
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) May 26, 2013

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• (video) The legend of Torey Krug keeps growing; four goals five games. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

(Video) Brooks Orpik hit on Chris Neil

This is the hit that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik put on Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil. There was no penalty called on the play, in my opinion, this was a dangerous hit, but not necessarily dirty, but dangerous.

If you're a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins you probably think this is a good hockey play. If you're a fan of the Senators, you probably wanted a penalty on the play. The head coach of the Ottawa Sentors Paul MacLean didn't like the play and was unhappy about on the players bench. I suppose in the regular season, there might have been a penalty called on the hit, it's a what we call a push check, a form of checking from behind. What do others think of the hit?

#TribHKY >> Neil lost footing, Orpik give him good shove during his fall. #pens #sens
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) May 20, 2013

Chris Neil.....hi...you're injured!
— Injury Ninja (@InjuryNinja) May 20, 2013

Like Lucic's hit on Gunnarson, that's a penalty a month ago.
— Joe Meloni (@JoeMeloni) May 20, 2013

(Video) Brooks Orpik check on Eric Gryba

It's better to be the hammer than the nail. This is like a collision of two freight trains. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik lights up Senators defenseman Eric Gryba with this heavy check. So would we call this an (B.C.) Eagle on (B.U.) Terrier violence?

Odds to win the Stanley Cup (Boston 8/1)

Here are the odds for the Stanley Cup from Bovada. I guess the odds makers have Chicago and the Penguins as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. I would bet even money that both teams are gone by the final round.

Did Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick call out Sidney Crosby for taking a dive?

I might have to admit, that I agree with Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick on this one here. I thought it was a bad call. I also thought that Sidney Crosby went down really easy. The word embellishment was on the tip of my tongue as well, after I saw the play live.

If I am not mistaken, they're kind of accusing Sidney Crosby of taking a bit of a dive there... Is that what others are hearing too? I am hearing buzz words here. Pittsburgh was the beneficiaries of a somewhat sketchy call at the end. Crosby also goes down a little bit too easy there. Hum!

Love reading all the tweets about today's games. Even all the bitching and whining those certain classless penguin fans r doing. Comical
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) May 5, 2013

Marty Reasoner leg check on Jussi Jokinen and shenanigans

You could see this play coming, that's why I included the play leading up to this hit by the New York Islanders forward Marty Reasoner on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jussi Jokinen. Both teams were taking runs at each other at the end of a 5-0 game.

If you watch the video, you will see Jokinen looked up to see if the ref was going to call a penalty. Reasoner was assessed a five minute major for kneeing and given a game misconduct.

(Video) Chris Neil steamrolls Simon Despres

Senators forward Chris Neil absolutely steamsrolls Penguins defenseman Simon Despres. Neil was given a charging minor on the play. So in watching this hit, did Neil catch Despres in the head with his forearm and should this have been more than a 2-minute minor penalty?

Penguins Thug Matt Cooke Returns to Ottawa

Tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Ottawa to play the Senators and this will be the first matchup between the Senators and Penguins since the defenseman Erik Karlsson was injured on a check by Matt Cooke. From reading some of the news articles around the web, it would appear that this is going to be one of those must watch games.

During tonight’s game, one almost has to suspect there will be some extracurricular activities as well, when the two teams meet on the ice. If Matt Cooke was smart – he’s not – he would accept the challenge to a fight. Some are going to ask, why should Cooke accept a challenge to a fight? Because the hockey code demands it and if he doesn’t, this game has the prospects of turning into a blood bath.

Matt Cooke isn’t known for being a pugilist and the last time he fought an actual middle-heavy weight fighter, was against the Bruins Shawn Thornton on March 18, 2010. Since then, Cooke has chosen to fight star players and other players not known for their fighting prowess.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was asked if thought there was going to be any shenanigans during tonight’s game, the coach replied, “I’m not aware they’re dressing Shenanigans … I don’t know what number he would be or what kind of player he would be.”

Penguins-Bruins game postponed to Saturday

Per release, final decision on rescheduled day/time of game will be made by NHL, Bruins & Pens by 8:30 am ET tomorrow, Saturday, April 20^CS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2013

Another good move by the National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins. The Boston Police and Federal Law Enforcement officials can track down the terrorist without having to worry about 1000's of people in harms way.

NEW YORK/TORONTO -- The game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins scheduled for tonight at TD Garden has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced today.
The game has been tentatively rescheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at TD Garden beginning at 12:30 p.m., Eastern time. The game's status will be formalized no later than 8:30 a.m.
The game between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, scheduled for Saturday night in Pittsburgh, has been moved to Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

Pens and Bruins cancel morning skate, playoff ticket sales

Boston Bruins playoff ticket onsale postponed. bbru.in/11KcnAt ^BB
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2013

My thoughts go out to the people in Boston, Massachusetts. It's been a crazy week.

According to Bruins spokesman Matt Chmur the team has made no announcement on whether it will proceed with Friday night’s NHL game at TD Garden.

Bruins and @penguins have cancelled their morning skates today. Will provide further updates on the day's schedule when appropriate ^BB
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2013

Jarome Iginla humor

twitter.com/CondescendTort…
— Condescending Torts (@CondescendTorts) March 29, 2013

I went to bed last night thinking that my favorite team had received Jarome Iginla in a trade with the Calgary Flames, I woke up this morning to find out that this was not the case. I guess somewhere, there is some humor in this.

NHL Realignment Solves A Lot Of Logistic Issues

After much speculation, the NHL has finalized a plan for realignment that will go into effect next season. While nothing can be absolutely perfect, the new setup of the league will benefit a lot of teams when it comes to travel and developing natural rivals.

Two of the biggest winners will be the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets, who will move into the Eastern Conference. For teams in the state of Michigan and Ohio, it made very little logistical sense to spend so much time on the other side of the country.

The Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars will also benefit from being able to stay closer to home in their new division. Those three teams will now be competing against teams in St. Louis, Nashville, Denver and Chicago.

Perhaps the only two teams that really seem to lose out on the realignment are the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. They will be in a division with three Canadian teams along with Buffalo, Boston and Detroit. It is hard to make everyone happy, and no matter who the Florida teams play, they would have to travel to make things work.

Besides saving on travel, the benefits of realignment will help not only strengthen current rivalries, but build new ones as well. Detroit is back in the Eastern Conference, and they will square off against old rivals such as Toronto, Boston and Montreal throughout the year. New teams such as Columbus will also get to build rivalries with teams close by, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With negativity still surrounding the NHL after the lockout, the realignment plan is welcomed good news. Fans, players, fantasy hockey players and owners all are mostly satisfied with the results. If the NHL does in fact expand to 32 teams in the future, the two conferences can be evened out again as well.

Joffrey Lupul's dirty hit to the head on Victor Hedman

This is an illegal hit to the head and a violation of rule 48. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffery Lupul is going to get a call from the Department of Player Safety and if he isn't suspended, I will be very surprised. Apparently, this isn't the first time that Victory Hedman has been hit with a questionable and dirty hit this week. Zac Rinaldo also caught Hedman with a very questionable hit earlier this week, but he was able to go tonight.

s/t  cjzero for the cool gif.

(Video): Senators owner Eugene Melnyk goes off on Matt Cooke

Apparently, the owner of the Senators Eugene Melnyk feels the same way I do about Penguins forward Matt Cooke. It looks like the Penguins are putting Cooke on notice. The last game between the Penguins and the Senators is going to be a dandy. It might be a blood bath.

"To have him [Karlsson] taken out by a goon [Cooke] it’s just unconscionable," Melnky said. "Whether it was accidental, or whether it was reckless, or whether it was intentional. To me it doesn't matter, it's something that should've never happen. These players should never be playing in this league, these guys are a dime a dozen. That’s exactly what they’re worth per game.”

(Video) Matt Cooke hit on Erik Karlsson

I am going to preface this with, I hold Matt Cooke in a very low regard especially after what he did to former Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard and a few other players around the league. Make no mistake about it, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke is known for his dirty hits, this hit, however is not a dirty or a malicious hit. What do you think? Chime in... Hockey is a physical sport and injuries happen from time-to-time. Tough loss for the Senators.

Worst possible news for Senators. Karlsson suffered lacerated Achilles tendon. Surgery required.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 14, 2013

another wow RT @seangentille: Wow: The Karlsson-Cooke thing happened right in front of an @ap photographer. Wow. Wow. twitter.com/seangentille/s…
— Producer Tim (@TSNProducerTim) February 14, 2013

Martin Brodeur falls getting his goalie stick

s/t to the Score. I got a chuckle out of this while I was watching this game yesterday. For a guy that's 40 years old Martin Brodeur can still move really good, and with all that equipment on. If the puck had actually gone in, it wouldn't have counted because the Pittsburgh Penguins were off-sides on the play.