By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Good as new after an offseason of shoulder surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and equally tedious contract negotiations, Phil Kessel will reportedly take the ice when his miserable Leafs host the Lightning tonight. Needless to say, should the Bruins’ offense continue to flounder against the Wings, Kessel’s performance will be closely monitored by a growing number of concerned Black ‘N’ Gold enthusiasts.
Kessel’s scoring touch has eluded his former teammates thus far, as the Bruins rank just 22nd in the NHL with 31 goals in 13 games. Last season, the Bruins finished second overall in scoring behind a well-balanced, consistent attack. They certainly haven’t been helped by the absences of Marc Savard and Milan Lucic–injuries that appear to finally be catching up to a beleaguered offensive unit. That being said, the upcoming weeks could serve as a strong determinant of just how much Kessel’s services are missed.
Boston’s struggles have been highlighted in the past three games, a span in which the Bruins have gone 1-2 while managing just three goals. They returned to the .500 mark after being shut out 1-0 by the Rangers on Sunday afternoon, continuing their bizarre, frustrating trend of alternating wins and losses each [...]

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor
Thursday night, Bruins fans went to bed a little uneasy.
Saturday, the Bruins said to fans, “Just kidding. We had you worried for a second though didn’t we?”
Their 4-1 loss to Washington on Thursday has been quickly forgotten with their 7-2 pounding on Carolina Saturday night. The difference between the two was a matter of black and white; Red Sox pre-2004, and Red Sox two World Series later.
Maybe it was revenge. Facing the team that halted their road to the Cup last season, the B’s had some payback to dish out. Dish they did, making a statement that says, “Not this year.”
But hopefully, beyond revenge, Saturday night was a preview of who the Bruins really are this season, not the team on Thursday that looked to still be stuck in preseason mode.
The win is a big confidence boost to fans, especially for those wondering if the B’s can be the scoring powerhouse they were last season, now without Phil Kessel. But, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be a problem. The B’s proved that their ability to score can run deep: seven different players scored the seven goals.
Defensively, the B’s didn’t allow a goal until [...]

By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
Article idea courtesy of Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent.
Hockey Season starts tonight for the Bruins. Here are some key games to mark on your calendars, because they’re guaranteed to be good ones. Lets see if they can grab the Eastern Conference again, and then some.
1) Thu, Oct 1 vs Washington
Tonight’s season opener in Boston features two hungry, powerful Eastern Conference teams left unsatisfied by shortened playoff runs. Initially viewed as legitimate contenders, neither team made it out of the second round last spring; both lost in crushing Game 7’s at home. The Bruins and Capitals face heightened pressure and expectations heading into the new campaign, and the atmosphere in the Garden tonight will be booming. What better way to kick off the new season than a clash between Ovechkin, the league’s most potent sniper, and Chara, its most prominent shutdown defender?
2.) Sat, Oct 3 vs Carolina
While the Canadiens have cemented their role as the Bruins’ arch-rivals, the Hurricanes held the post of Public Enemy #1 in the wake of Boston’s second-round exit. The series created plenty of dislike between the teams, most notably as a result of Scott Walker’s sucker punch on Aaron Ward. Ironically, Ward [...]

By: Evan Anderholm, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
If how last year ended for the Boston Bruins was any indication, there is still some unfinished business for the black and gold. One year removed from Scott Walker’s heartbreaking overtime winner in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bruins only have one objective for this season: taking a sip out of Lord Stanley’s Cup. It will be a difficult journey for this young squad, especially now that last year’s top scorer, Phil Kessel, is turning a new leaf in Toronto. However, still expect Boston to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
So far this preseason the Bruins have looked sharp and determined to improve as a team. Boston is currently 3-1-1 this preseason, coming off a loss in a shootout against Columbus, Tuesday. In the first five games, one major standout for the Bruins has been goalie Tuukka Rask. He’s the likely candidate to backup last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas. In two starts, Rask faced 58 shots and allowed only two goals and has only improved from the few starts he had last season. Meanwhile, Tim Thomas hasn’t had a noteworthy preseason. Give the guy a break though; he’s only played [...]