MIDSEASON ROUNDUP

I know I know. Another hockey post? Well I promise, we'll switch it up soon! But for now, with the NHL's All-Star festivities coming up, and the season already past the midway point (41 games), let's look at where we are in the various award races. Keep in mind, these are only our predictions, feel free to disagree.

Hart Trophy (MVP): Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The former first overall pick is quickly becoming the face of the league, and has the Caps battling it out for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Other Candidates: Evgeni Malkin, Joe Thornton

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Mason has come out of nowhere to emerge as a serious candidate for the Vezina Trophy as the League's top goalie. As a rookie, his stellar play is all the more impressive. Other Candidates: Blake Wheeler, Kris Versteeg

Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman): Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
The Captain of the best team in the Eastern Conference (and for now the NHL), Chara is the heart and soul of the League's top rated defense. Other Candidates: Mike Green, Nicklas Lidstrom

Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie): Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
18-4-3 with a 2.04 goals against average, Thomas has (literally) stood on his head for this team. His play is one of the main reasons why they are in such good position. Other Candidates: Steve Mason, Nicklas Backstrom

Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
Richards is near the top of the league in blocked shots and takeaways. His play on the penalty kill has been tremendous for Philly as well. Other Candidates: Pavel Datsyuk

Adams Award (Coach of the Year): Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
That's right, another Boston award. Deal with it! Nobody expected this from the B's this season, after finishing eighth in the Conference a year ago. Boston is 32-7-4 through 43 games this year. Other Candidates: Todd McLellan

TOUGH BREAK FOR BRUINS

Just as everything was coming together for the Bruins, their top scorer gets shelved. Phil Kessel, Boston's 21-year-old superstar was placed on IR today with mono, and will miss anywhere from two weeks to a month. Kessel, who was one of the biggest All-Star snubs of the season, has had a breakout campaign so far this year, netting 24 goals and 17 assists for the East leading Bruins.

The timing of the sickness is the main issue for Claude Julien's club. The B's five games leading into the All-Star break include a showdown with arch rival Montreal, and a trip to the Nation's Capital to see Alexander Ovechkin and the red hot Washington Capitals. The Caps had won 12 of their last 13 games, including a 3-1 victory over Boston, before losing two straight. The Habs have won seven of their last eight, and four in a row overall.

It's fairly amazing that Boston has been able to sustain it's early season pace, given the absence of some big time players. Patrice Bergeron, who missed 72 games (plus seven playoff games) a year ago, has been out since December 20 after suffering another concussion. And Marco Sturm, a 27 goal scorer last season, has barely played this year, and will almost certainly miss the rest of this season.

So far, the Bruins have been able to plug in pieces and still get the job done. But with an extended absence from Kessel, who knows what will happen? B's fans shouldn't worry too much though. As long as Savard, Krejci, and especially Ryder continue to light the lamp (the B's are 14-0 in games when Ryder scores a goal), they will remain the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

CHIARELLI DESERVES CREDIT FOR MUCH OF B'S SUCCESS

Peter Chiarelli has a plan. That was all we heard when the Bruins hired Ottawa's Assistant GM to become their new General Manager in May, 2006. After a tough 2007 season, the B's improved drastically under new head coach Claude Julien a year ago. And now, less than two years since the hiring of Chiarelli, Boston has one of the best teams in all of hockey. After the club's 5-1 thrashing of Carolina earlier today at TD Banknorth Garden, the Bruins improved to 31-7-4, good for 66 points and a 12 point lead over the rival Canadiens in the Northeast Division. Much of the credit for the leaps and bounds this franchise has made in the past couple of years should go to their third year GM.

Since taking over for Mike O'Connell, Chiarelli has built a team ripe with young talent. Phil Kessel, the team's leading scorer, is only 21 and already one of the top forwards in all of hockey. Matt Hunwick, 22, Milan Lucic, 21, and David Krejci, 22, are all young talents coming into their own this season as well. Throw in free agent singing Blake Wheeler, the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, and the Bruins are stocked with cheap young players that bring fun and energy to the rink every night.

Additionally, Chiarelli has signed some big name free agents to bolster the roster and provide veteran leadership. 6'9 defenseman Zdeno Chara signed a five year, $37.5 million contract in July, 2006, and has been an All-Star selection each of the past two seasons. The heart and soul of Boston's league leading defensive unit, Chara has averaged well over 20 minutes per game in each season with the club. Chiarelli signed Marc Savard that same offseason, and "Savvy" has been a whiz in the offensive end during his stint in Black and Gold. Savard, who makes $5.5 million annually, has 38 assists so far this season, good for second in the entire NHL in that category.

Chiarelli has also made some key trades to improve the team as well. The GM was harshly criticized for trading fan favorite Brad Boyes to St. Louis for puck moving defenseman Dennis Wideman, but that trade has largely worked out for Boston. The offensive minded Wideman has been tremendous for the Bruins with 27 points (third most among Eastern Conference defenseman), and is a plus-24, trailing only teammates Savard (plus-28) and Wheeler (plus-25) on the season.

Other Chiarelli pickups include Aaron Ward, Andrew Ference, Chuck Kobasew, and Stephane Yelle, with each playing key supporting roles in the Bruins' current run to the top of the standings. Only time will tell how far this team can go, but they certainly have the depth to make a run. Call-ups Byron Bitz, Martins Karsums, Martin St. Pierre, and Vladimir Sobotka have all made appearances with the big club in 2008-09, and all have held their own while wearing the Spoked-B. Regular season wins may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but Chiarelli's boys appear to be in it for the long haul. A master plan indeed.

HOW IS PHIL KESSEL NOT AN ALL-STAR?

Really? There are actually 12 better forwards in the Eastern Conference right now than Phil Kessel? I can understand Boston's 21-year-old forward not starting for the East squad, but missing the team entirely? Come on.

Kessel currently ranks fourth in the conference with 24 goals, only three behind the triumvirate of Ovechkin, Carter, and Vanek, all All-Stars themselves. He had a stretch of 18 consecutive games with at least one point earlier this season, and is currently a plus-17, good for seventh best in the league, despite playing only 16:46 per night, ranking him 68th among Eastern Conference forwards.

Compare Kessel's numbers to those of Carolina centerman Eric Staal (who did make the team), for example:

Kessel: 24 goals, 17 assists, 41 points, 143 shots, 16:46 average time on ice
Staal: 18 goals, 14 assists, 32 points, 176 shots, 21:20 average time on ice

Of course, the B's leading goal scorer was left off because the fans voted Alexei Kovalev into the game as a starter for the East. Nevermind the fact that his 11 goals have him tied for 48th in the conference, or that his 31 points put him in 32nd. The voting for All-Star starters is a lot like the race for class president in middle school. It's all about who is more popular, and unfortunately for Kessel, Kovalev won that battle.

There are plenty of other snubs and ridiculous selections for this year's game, but Kessel, along with Caps defenseman Mike Green, appear to be the biggest mistakes. Oh well, there will be plenty of other Bruins to root for on All-Star weekend. Tim Thomas, Marc Savard, and Zdeno Chara will be representing the East in the game, and Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler will be facing off in the Young Stars Game.

MY 5 FAVORITE BRUINS OF ALL-TIME

The recent book Black and Gold: Four Decades of the Boston Bruins in Photographs is amazing. Photographer Steve Babineau has shot the B's for the past forty years or so, and has snapped some of the most memorable and transcendent pictures in hockey history. The book has reminded me countless times of my own past with the team. My first game, back in January, 1993 was between the Bruins and the fledgling San Jose Sharks. I remember the distinct smell of the old Boston Garden, an odd combination of age, cigarettes, and popcorn; and then B's forward Joey Juneau's collision with a Shark, causing his stick to fly straight up high into the air. As I grew up, I continued to follow the Bruins. I saw the Garden torn down and replaced by the new building, the third jerseys turn an ugly mustard yellow, and hall of fame worthy players come and go on numerous occasions. So, with that said, I think it's time for me to look back at five of my favorite players that I distinctly remember watching don the spoked B. This eliminates Bruins greats like Orr, Esposito, and O'Reilly, but those guys were all a little before my time. Here goes...

5. SERGEI SAMSONOV
The eighth overall pick of the 1997 draft, Samsonov is still lacing 'em up, now for the Carolina Hurricanes. The 5'8 winger was an incredibly gifted stickhandler, often confusing opponents with ridiculous dekes and drags. Just a couple years ago, Sammy scored a jaw dropping goal by taking a feed and wristing the puck between his legs and over the shoulder of the Philadelphia goalie. An immensely talented player.

4. JOE THORNTON
Sticking with Bruins first round picks in 1997, we come to Joe Thornton, the top overall selection that year. Thornton was a much maligned figure in Boston for some reason, as media members and fans jumped on his back for not winning the big one right away, and not deserving the captain's C. What I remember though, is one of the most talented, strong, tough players I've ever seen. He's one of the best passers in NHL history, and someone who was extremely fun to watch. Since his trade to San Jose, Thornton has thrived, helping the Sharks to one of the best starts in NHL history this season.

3. ANDY MOOG
One of my first memories as a Bruins fan was watching Andy Moog make some tremendous glove saves. My friends and I would imitate him playing hockey in my basement, always taking turns to see who could make the best save with the glove, just like Moog. He only played in Boston from 1988-93, but was great in that span, helping lead the B's to two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, both losses to his old team, the Edmonton Oilers.

2. CAM NEELY
Current Bruins President Cam Neely ranks number two on this list, as he was one of the most iconic and skilled Bruins ever. Neely played thirteen NHL seasons, the last 10 with Boston, but was forced to retire young because of knee and hip problems, largely because of cheap shots by Ulf Samuelsson over the years. But while he was on the ice, Neely was pretty much unstoppable. One of my favorite memories of Neely is him deking through the entire Ottawa Senators team, including the goalie, for an easy tally. Neely pretty much revolutionized the "power forward" position in the NHL as well.

1. RAY BOURQUE
Bourque was the reason I wore number 77 in my first year in hockey. His early years were before my time, but as I grew up, he remained one of the best players in league history. His offensive prowess was amazing for a defenseman, as he scored 410 goals in his illustrious career. Who can forget an aging Bourque, playing in the 1996 All-Star Game in front of him hometown fans at the Fleet Center, scoring in the final minute to give the East a 5-4 win and taking MVP honors to boot? Bourque was one of the best players to ever wear the spoked B, and that's why he ranks first on my all-time list.

MY NHL ALL-STAR PICKS

The NHL All-Star starting lineups are out and, once again, the fans got it wrong. Of the six starters (including the goalie) representing the Eastern Conference, four are representing Montreal, and the other two are Pittsburgh Penguins. While fan voting for starters does leave something to be desired, here are my picks for the reserves for both the East and West rosters.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards (9):
Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals
Marc Savard, Bruins
Zach Parise, Devils
Phil Kessel, Bruins
Thomas Vanek, Sabres
Jeff Carter, Flyers
Simon Gagne, Flyers
Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals
David Krejci, Bruins

Defenseman (4):
Zdeno Chara, Bruins
Mike Green, Capitals
Mark Streit, Islanders
Dennis Wideman, Bruins

Goalies (2):
Tim Thomas, Bruins
Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards (9):
Jarome Iginla, Flames
Joe Thornton, Sharks
Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings
Rick Nash, Blue Jackets
Loui Eriksson, Stars
Marian Hossa, Red Wings
Brad Boyes, Blues
Patrick Marleau, Sharks
Daniel Sedin, Canucks

Defenseman (4):
Dan Boyle, Sharks
Brian Rafalski, Red Wings
Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings
Duncan Keith, Blackhawks

Goalies (2):
Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks
Nicklas Backstrom, Wild

In case you're wondering about some deserving players not on my list, keep in mind that these are only reserves. The starters, as voted by the fans, are as follows:

LW: Evgeni Malin, Penguins
C: Sidney Crosby, Penguins
RW: Alexei Kovalev, Canadiens
D: Andrei Markov, Canadiens
D: Mike Komisarek, Canadiens
G: Carrie Price, Canadiens

LW: Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks
C: Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks
RW: Patrick Kane, Blackhawks
D: Brian Campbell, Blackhawks
D: Scott Niedermayer, Ducks
G: JS Giguere, Ducks

3 GREAT SPORTS MEMORIES FROM 2008

With under a week left in the year 2008, now seems like the perfect time to recap one of the greatest years in Boston sports history. 2008 was chock full of great games, fantastic finishes, and entertainment abound from the Pats, Bruins, Sox, and Celts. So, for our 100th post, let's take a quick look back at 2008 with three great memories from the year in sports.

3. BRUINS 5 CANADIENS 4: GAME 6 (April 19, 2008)
The Bruins struggled mightily at times to score goals in 2008. So, with their season on the line in game 6 against Montreal, all seemed lost. The eighth seeded Bruins, who weren't given much of a shot to beat their long time rivals, trailed the game 1-0 after one period of play. Phil Kessel tied the game under two minutes into the second frame, but Montreal converted again and led 2-1 after two. The third period of game six was one of the most spectacular periods ever. Boston rookie Vladimir Sobotka tied the game at two, but then Francis Bouillion gave the Habs a 3-2 lead with 9:56 to go. Everybody was shocked when the lightly regarded B's came back for the third time, when Milan Lucic potted a wrister two minutes later to knot the score at three. Phil Kessel gave Boston a brief lead in the final five minutes, but Christopher Higgins scored for Montreal just 11 seconds later. Finally, with just 2:37 left on the clock, David Krejci found Marco Sturm for the game winner; Bruins 5, Canadiens 4. This game makes the cut because the Bruins offense was so weak all year, and they had lost eight straight to Montreal entering the series. Nobody expected this team to come back from one goal deficits three different times against a team nobody thought they could compete with. Outstanding game.

2. RED SOX 8 RAYS 7: ALCS GAME 5 (October 16, 2008)
The Sox looked finished against the upstart Rays in game 5 of the American League Championship Series back in mid-October. After BJ Upton doubled in two runs in the top of the seventh, the Rays led 7-0 in the game, and 3-1 in the series. Boston, baseball's best home team in the regular season, had been shelled at Fenway by Tampa Bay in the ALCS, and at this point, had been outscored 29-5 in two and a half games there in the series. But, when all seemed lost, the Sox dug in. AL MVP Dustin Pedroia had an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-1. The next batter was David Ortiz, who crushed a Grant Balfour offering over Pesky's Pole in right, 7-4. In the eighth, JD Drew rocked a Dan Wheeler heater over the bullpen with Jason Bay on base, pulling Boston to within one at 7-6. With two men out, Mark Kotsay hit a wall ball double to left center, and then Coco Crisp singled to right to tie the game at seven. Justin Masterson got out of a jam in the top of the ninth, and then Drew hit a screamer just over the glove of Gabe Gross to score Kevin Youkilis and win the game for the Red Sox, 8-7. Trailing by seven runs with seven outs left, Boston stunned Tampa Bay with the greatest comeback since 1929.

1. CELTICS 131 LAKERS 92: NBA FINALS GAME 6 (June 17, 2008)
Was there any doubt what number one would be? Heading into the NBA Finals last June, nine of the 10 "experts" on ESPN.com said the Lakers would hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. Oops. After a huge comeback by Boston at Staples Center in game four, the Lakers narrowly held on for a five point win in game five, sending the series back to Boston with the Celtics leading 3-2. But in this one, LA had no shot. Ray Allen finally found his stroke, and second year point guard Rajon Rondo played the game of his life, with 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and six steals in 32 minutes for Boston. The 131-92 drubbing by the Celtics clinched the club's record 17th title and first in 22 years, and capped off the biggest one season turnaround in NBA history. Allen, KG, and NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce finally captured that elusive first ring, and the Green "Beat LA" once again. Just remember, "anything is possible!"

Hopefully, 2009 will bring some great memories as well. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

IS JULIEN A RUNAWAY FOR COACH OF THE YEAR?

Bruins head coach Claude Julien is most definitely a favorite to take home the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year. But is he a runaway for the prestigious honor, even this early in the season?

I think it will come down to a two man race between Julien and San Jose Sharks head man Todd McLellan, a first year head coach. McLellan was an assistant on last season's Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings squad, and was hired by San Jose after the club fired Ron Wilson in June.

McLellan's Sharks are off to the best start in NHL history. Through 27 games, San Jose is 22-3-2 with 46 points, six more than Boston. They are 14-0-2 at home in the Shark Tank, and have scored 102 goals (most in the league) and have only allowed 64. While the Sharks were considered a top flight NHL team coming into the season, nobody truly saw this coming.

Which brings us to Julien. The B's were the eighth seed in last year's playoffs, and only added rookie Blake Wheeler, fourth line center Stephane Yelle, and forward Michael Ryder--a highly criticized signing-- to the roster. Yet here they are with 40 points (18-4-4), the most in the Eastern Conference. The defense has been tremendous for Boston thus far, as they have allowed only 56 goals, the fewest in the NHL. And the offense, a weak point last year, has been nothing short of great. Boston is third in the league, having lit the lamp 89 times so far this season.

It would be a huge surprise for anyone other than Julien or McLellan to take home the hardware after the season. Julien has to be the early favorite, we are certainly looking at a tight race down the stretch.

CAN THE BRUINS KEEP IT UP?

The Bruins debuted new third jerseys yesterday in their post-Thanksgiving thrashing of the New York Islanders. Five third period goals propelled Boston to another victory, giving the team 10 wins in it's last 12 games. At 15-4-4, the B's are six points ahead of Montreal for the lead in the Northeast division (34 points to 28), and trail only the New York Rangers, by two points, in the Eastern Conference.

Bruins fans are pleased, to say the least. But this hot start, coupled with the team's struggles in recent seasons, beg the question: can they keep it up?

While there is no doubt Tim Thomas will cool off a little bit at some point, there is no reason why the Bruins can't continue to win, and make a serious run at Lord Stanley's Cup in 2009. This year's club has something that Bruins teams of the recent past have not had: Multiple scoring threats. Last year, Boston went on long scoring droughts, unable to put the puck in the net with any consistency. Thats not the case anymore. Through 23 games this season, the Bruins have scored 79 goals, good for third in the NHL. Marc Savard's 30 points put him in a tie for the second most in the league, and his 22 assists are also the second most in the entire NHL. All this comes with Patrice Bergeron still working his way back from a terrible concussion that cost him almost all of last season, and without Chuck Kobasew and Marco Sturm for long stretches because of injury. The emergence of Phil Kessel has been huge, as has the strong play of rookie forward Blake Wheeler, who has seven goals and four assists and is a plus 10 so far this year.

Defensively, the B's are just as strong, if not stronger. Zdeno Chara, the team's captain, is a force to be reckoned with in his own end, as is Dennis Wideman, who came to Boston in a trade with the St. Louis Blues (for Brad Boyes) two seasons ago. While Andrew Ferrence recovers from a broken leg, rookie Matt Hunwick has stepped in and done a great for Boston. The black and gold have allowed just 50 goals on the season, and only a measly 2.17 goals per game. Minnesota (2.14) is the only club that gives up fewer goals per game than the Bruins.

And of course, there is Milan Lucic, who's emergence this season has been nothing short of amazing. The twenty year old winger does whatever the team needs. He fights--his bout with Mike Komisarek of the Canadiens cost the Montreal defenseman a month with a shoulder injury--and he lights the lamp as well. In last week's 3-2 Bruins win over the Canadiens, Montreal tough guy Georges Laracque shadowed Lucic the entire game, and the Bruins' winger was getting booed and jeered throughout the game (because of his KO of Komisarek). Yet when the B's trailed 1-0 in the second, Lucic was there to tip in a great pass from Phil Kessel to tie the game at one. Oh yeah, and through 23 games he leads the league in hits as well.

All of this, plus the incredible play of goalie Tim Thomas, has put the Bruins in position to get a high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this April. Tonight's game against defending Cup Champion Detroit should be a good measuring stick to see how far along the Bruins truly are. A win would be huge for the confidence of this young team. While it's still very early in the season, the Bruins are certainly on the right track to reclaim some of the glory of the Big Bad Bruins.

THOMAS SNUB ANOTHER ERROR FOR THE NHL

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was spectacular in 2007, leading a team with low expectations to the playoffs and nearly shocking the rival Canadiens in the first round. The netminder's tremendous play earned him a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star roster last February, the journey man's first ever All-Star appearance.

This season, Thomas has been even better, helping the Bruins get off to their hottest start in quite some time. The team currently sits in first place in the Northeast division with a record of 10-3-4 (24 points), and has a two point lead over highly touted Montreal. Thomas is 6-2-3 on the year, with a goals against average of 1.76 (first in the NHL) and a save percentage of .945 (also first in the NHL).

But alas, when the NHL's All-Star Ballot came out a few weeks ago, Thomas' name wasn't on it. The Eastern Conference goalies include Martin Brodeur, who is out 3-4 months with an elbow injury, Vesa Toskala, who's .878 save percentage puts him 40th in the NHL, and Rick DiPietro, who has played a grand total of three games this season, with a record of 0-2. Now I understand that Thomas has split time with Manny Fernandez this year, but Tomas Vokoun is on the ballot, despite splitting time with backup Craig Anderson (Vokoun and Thomas have each played 11 games) for the 6-9-1 last place Panthers.

This is a ridiculous snub by the NHL, a league that, let's face it, is pretty screwed up. It is by far the least popular of the four major sports, has too many teams, and is run unbelievably poorly. Ticket prices are too high and the talent pool is watered down (again, because there are too many teams). Fans were turned off by the lockout, and the NHL still hasn't truly recovered.

The League apparantly decided that Tim Thomas, who plays for a historically significant team (compared to the Atlanta Thrashers, for example) that is exceeding all expectations due in large part to his stellar play, is not one of the ten best goalies in the Eastern Conference. The NHL is missing a golden opportunity to spotlight a blue-collar, hard working player, someone the few fans the League actually does have might be able to relate to.

Of course, it doesn't really matter to Thomas. All that matters to him is keeping the puck out of the net, and keeping the Black and Gold on top of the standings.

BOSTON: SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES

Loserville. That was the nickname graciously given to Boston by sports fans across the country because of the Red Sox continued futility, the Celtics fall from grace, and the Patriots constant mediocrity. Since the start of the new millennium however, Boston teams have been able to shed that horrid title and create a new image for the local teams: Champions.

Since 2000, the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, beating the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Panthers in XXXVIII, and the Eagles in XXXIX. The long suffering Red Sox are now a semi-dynasty, reaching the playoffs in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008, and winning two World Series in that span. And while the turn of the century didn't change the Celtics fortunes, the arrival of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen made the Green NBA Champions once again.

Now of course, we have all four major sports teams in the hunt for post season berths. The Red Sox made the playoffs again this year, and were just one game short of reaching the Fall Classic for the second consecutive year. The Patriots are 6-3 and tied for first place in the AFC East despite the losses of Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Adalius Thomas, and Rodney Harrison for the season. The Celtics are 8-1 and leading the Atlantic division again in 2008. Paul Pierce's fallaway at the buzzer lifted the C's to a 103-102 win over previously undefeated Atlanta last night at the Garden. And finally, the black sheep of the group, the Bruins are finally playing up to their potential and at 9-3-3, are tied with Buffalo for first in the Northeast division with 21 points.

Yes it is a great time to be a fan of Boston sports. Will it last? Of course not. Never does. So enjoy it while it lasts. Soon enough we may see that old moniker put to good use once again.

Q AND A WITH JOHN BUCCIGROSS OF ESPN

Winner winner chicken dinner! John Buccigross, Sports Center anchor and hockey writer for ESPN.com answered some Saturday Morning Sports hockey questions (via email). Here are his responses.

Saturday Morning Sports: Phil Kessel now has seven goals on the young season. Do you think we are finally seeing the Kessel people were expecting after he was picked 5th by the Bruins in the 2006 draft?
John Buccigross: No doubt. He is an explosive, agile skater. World Class. Also, he has a great release. Some players are great skaters like Radek Dvorak. Some have great releases like Michael Ryder. Kessell has both.

SMS: Tim Thomas has looked very sharp recently. Do you think he has finally beaten out Manny Fernandez for the number one goalie job?
JB: Tim Thomas is the heart and soul of the Bruins. His personality rubs off the rest of the team. Goalies like that are such a bonus.

SMS: Would you consider Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane to be in the same class as someone like a Crosby or an Ovechkin?
JB: No I would not.

SMS: What do you think is the best division in the NHL?
JB: The Atlantic Division is the best Division.

SMS: Do you think the fireworks in Boston's 5-1 win over Dallas will bring the Bruins closer together as a team?
JB: The Bruins were already close as a team. That's why they made the playoffs last year despite giving up more goals than they scored. I'm not sure what the reason is for this, but they clearly play for each other.

SMS: The NHL is the least popular of the four major sports here in the United States. What do you think they can do to put more butts in the seats?
JB: Charge less for tickets and make the nets bigger.
*Editor's note: I couldn't agree more. The Bruins haven't won a playoff series since 1999, yet their average ticket price is $56.

SMS: If you were starting a team and could have either Bobby Orr or Ray Bourque in their prime, who would you take?
JB: I refuse to answer that question. God Bless You.

BRUINS MIX IT UP WITH STARS IN 5-1 WIN

Last night, the Boston Bruins defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1 in one of the hardest hitting games of the season. Dallas center Steve Ott tried to hip-check Boston's Stephane Yelle at the knees midway through the second period, and the fireworks started from there.

Andrew Ferrence had a huge hit on Ott at center ice, and the game started to get feisty. In the third period, Ferrence fought Stars instigator Sean Avery and then Shawn Thornton beat down Krys Barch. When things didn't go Dallas' way they started cheap shotting the Bruins, further amping things up on the ice. With the game well out of reach for the Stars in the third, Avery boarded Bruins centerman Marc Savard from behind, starting an all out brawl between the two teams.

This is a great sign for the Bruins. Not only did they put the puck in the net, something they struggled to do a year ago, they also proved that they aren't afraid to get physical when teams go after them. When Savard was hit from behind in the third, three other Bruins players instantly grabbed Avery and began pounding away on him. Players who are not known for their physicality, like Phil Kessel, even mixed it up with the Stars. Furthermore, they showed a willingness to defend their own players, something that should benefit the team's chemistry all season long.

All in all, seven players were handed game misconducts and ejected, and the team's combined for 146 penalty minutes. Tim Thomas was tremendous again for the B's, as he stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced. If the Bruins continue their physical play, and keep putting points on the board, there is no limit to what they can accomplish this season.

BRUINS START GIVES REASON FOR OPTIMISM

The 2007-08 season ended just how we all expected it to: with a loss in the playoffs to Montreal. But there was reason for hope as the Bruins skated off the ice dejectedly, after losing 5-0 to their arch-rivals in the seventh and deciding game of the first round last April 21. Claude Julien's team had actually exceeded expectation just by reaching the post season, without nearly staging a dramatic upset against the best team in the Eastern Conference.

So there was reason for cautious optimism as the black and gold laced 'em up for the first time in the 2008-09 season last week. Through their first five games, Boston is a solid 2-1-2 with six points heading into action against the Sabres tonight in western New York. The Bruins have already won in two places they usually struggle, Ottawa and Colorado, and have at least one point in four of their five games despite playing all but one away from TD Banknorth Garden.

The biggest bright spot in the early going has to be the play of young winger Phil Kessel. Drafted 5th overall by Boston in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Kessel had a disappointing '07 campaign, which culminated with Julien benching him for games two, three, and four against the Canadiens. Kessel has scored five goals in the B's five games thus far, including two in Ottawa last Saturday night. Kessel, who has been flying high to start the year, seems less hesitant to dig in the corners, and has back checked masterfully thus far. If the Bruins are going to make the playoffs for a second straight year, Kessel is going to have to continue his tremendous offensive work.

Patrice Bergeron's return is another significant storyline for the Bruins in '08. Bergeron, who missed 72 games a year ago with post-concussion syndrome after a vicious cheap shot from Flyers defenseman Randy Jones, is one of the team's best scoring threats, an area the B's struggled mightily in last season. Bergeron, who netted 31 goals in 2005 and another 22 in 2006, is one of the Bruins top offensive weapons to go along with Kessel, Marco Sturm, and center Marc Savard, who's five goals this season put him tied for fourth in the NHL (along with Kessel).

The Bruins face Buffalo tonight, then come home for Toronto and Atlanta before embarking on a road trip to western Canada next week. If the black and gold can keep putting the puck in the net, there is no reason to think they won't be playing into April and beyond once again.