By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The Bruins return home to the Garden tonight with high expectations following their Game 5 setback in Buffalo on Friday night. The Sabres cut Boston’s series lead to 3-2 with a convincing 4-1 victory, but the Bruins still have two more cracks at upsetting the Northeast Division champions and moving on to a matchup with either Pittsburgh or
Philadelphia, depending on the outcome of the Capitals-Canadiens series.
Here’s 5 things to consider as we gear up for Game 6:
1. Is Thomas Vanek set to return?
While possibilities of Marc Savard’s return by the end of the series are the hottest rumors around town these days–some are speculating that he’ll swing down from the Jumbotron James Bond-style in time for the opening faceoff, while others swear they’ve already seen Boston’s best offensive player using the alias “Ryder” a few games back–he likely won’t be available until next round, should the Bruins advance. On the other hand, Vanek’s return is much more imminent; coach Lindy Ruff even stated that his Austrian sniper can return “whenever he feels ready.” Which could mean trouble for the Bruins.
But in regards to Ruff’s comment, how the hell could a player nearing health not be ready for an NHL playoff game if given clearance to make the decision himself? [...]

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies Editor
What headlines are buzzing via morse code today?
Bruins make a deal with the devil. Not really. The Bruins signed 35-year old Miroslav Satan, who has been inactive since winning a Stanley Cup with the Penguins last year. Pros of the deal: It is only costing $350,000 and Satan is known to score. Over 13 seasons he has scored 354 goals and added 367 assists over 1,012 games. Ten of his seasons have over 20 goals. Cons of the deal: He’s old, and rusty, not having played yet this season. Satan should be on the ice in about two weeks and we’ll see what he’s got. Either way, this deal can’t really hurt, and could possibly help.
Brady sees the glass half full. Brady addressed Wes Welker’s injury on WEEI and found a positive spin on his absence for this coming week. “It’s one less player they have to worry about, obviously,” Brady said. “But there’s going to be other things. We’re going to evolve a little bit as an offense now. It was a very Wes Welker-oriented offense. And now, maybe part of the advantage is Baltimore really doesn’t know what they’re going to see from us [...]