Kevin Connolly of HBO’s Entourage helped present the award for this year’s James Norris Memorial Trophy.  It was presented to Boston Bruins captain, Zdeno Chara, who took his time and really enjoyed accepting the award.

After talking a bit about what winning means to him, he explained that he was cut from every team he played on as a kid and said he “shouldn’t have made it past juniors.” 

He wanted to send a message to all of the kids at home who were watching the awards since many of them have probably been turned away by coaches that didn’t see their potential.  I think that it’s an important thing to say because, sometimes, having passion for a sport is more important than being the most skilled player on the ice. 

image: NHL.com

Film producer Jerry Bruckheimer helped present the Jack Adams Award which recognizes the league’s best coaches.  Even though I thought Andy Murray deserved to win for all his hard work with the St. Louis Blues, the prize was given to Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins. 

He was pretty long-winded in his acceptance speech which was delivered in both English and French.  It’s nice that he was recognized, though, because the Bruins had an incredible season.

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Boston Bruins goaltender, Tim Thomas, was very emotional as he accepted the 2009 Vezina Trophy.  He was talking about how amazing it is to be named along with the legends since he’s spent so much time just getting on the roster. 

He mentioned his family and his voice was cracking by the time he talked about how his wife travelled with him around the world and never complained. 

The heartfelt moment was a far cry from how he was acting when he and Manny Fernandez accepted the Jenning’s Trophy. 

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The Boston Bruins were honored with the 2009 Jennings Trophy, which is awarded to the team that allows the fewest goals.  Of course, they brought up goaltenders, Tim Thomas and his backup, Manny Fernandez.  Naturally, Thomas took priority at the microphone and went down a long list of people that he thanked.

Things got a little interesting when Thomas said “do you want me to thank your wife, Manny?”  Of course, Fernandez said “no, that’s fine.  I’ll jump in from here.”  The audience laughed at first but then it turned into whistles and catcalls.  Ahhh, the life of a backup goaltender…

image: NHL.com

After having a great year, David Krejci was offered a three-year deal (worth $3.5, $3.75 and $4 million per year) with the Boston Bruins.

Krejci earned the Bruins Seventh Player Award (which is awarded to those who play beyond expectations) and it’s easy to see why. 

This past season, he celebrated a career high in goals (22) and points with (73) in 82 contests.  He was second to only Marc Savard in assists and actually led the league with a +36 rating. 

I like to see a player stick with the team that drafted him (he was chosen by the Bruins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft) and, in his three years since joining the club, he’s racked up 100 points in 144 regular season games. 

The 23-year-old scored two goals and added six assists in the postseason and appeared in all 11 playoff games for the Bruins this season.

image: TSN

The Boston Bruins were facing elimination tonight but they rallied and won Game 6 and have now pushed the series against the Carolina Hurricanes to Game 7.

image: TSN

They are the highest remaining seed in the playoffs at this point and, like the San Jose Sharks (the #1 seed was eliminated in the first round), the Bruins have been showing some weakness.  They rebounded in a big way tonight and staved off elimination.

Barely five minutes into the game the Bruins were up 2-0 and managed to keep a two-goal lead in the end.  Now they will get to play Game 7 at home in Boston.

“From the time we fell behind 3-1 in the series, our goal was to create a Game 7,” coach Claude Julien said. “We’re there now. … Getting to Game 7 is one thing. Now we’ve got to decide what we’re going to do with it.”

I don’t know what is going to happen in that final game.  The Bruins are a great team and have had a great season but the Hurricanes continue to surprise so I really won’t discount them, home advantage or not.

The NHL has chosen not to hand down a suspension to Carolina Hurricanes forward, Scott Walker, after he punched Boston Bruins defenceman, Aaron Ward, and may have broken his orbital bone.  Walker was fined $2,500 but many don’t believe that it was enough.

Many people believe that Walker is guilty of sucker punching Ward and therefore felt that he should have been banned from some games.  I feel like this ruling might have been a little different if the Canes weren’t fighting to stay in the playoffs.

"I accept the League’s decision," Walker said in a statement. "Based on what was said on the ice as I was dropping my gloves, it was my understanding that I was engaged in an altercation."  Carolina GM, Jim Rutherford, weighed in on it as well: "We are satisfied with the League’s ruling.  After our team received several punches throughout the series leading up to Game 5, it was a matter of time before one was going to be thrown back."

Meanwhile, Bruins coach, Clause Julien said: "Personally, I know we’re all entitled to our opinion, (but) I’d be disappointed.  In reviewing what I saw, I just didn’t like what happened. I’m not going to start comparing and stuff like that. I just don’t think there was any need for that. He sucker punched him once coming into the scrum when (Ward) was involved with another player, and then he dropped his gloves and sucker punched him.”

In case any of you are thinking (like my husband) that Ward should have done something to prevent his own injury, Julien has words for that as well:  "I don’t care what people say about Ward should’ve protected himself.  He had no intention of getting involved. We asked our guys to stay composed and not fall into that trap and he just did that. A guy with Walker’s experience should know better than to sucker punch a guy and, again, this is an area that I don’t deal with. I deal with my team and let other people deal with the situation.”

Watch the altercation from last night’s game and judge for yourself:

Jussi Jokinen continues to be an instrumental part of the Carolina Hurricanes’ surprising postseason success and last night’s game was no exception.  Just like the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference, the Canes are playing surprisingly well in the playoffs and now lead the series 2-1 against the Boston Bruins, the east’s best team this season.

Hurricanes goaltender, Cam Ward, was coming off his fourth career playoff shutout and it seemed like the team was on a mission to prove that their first win was not a fluke.  It was definitely an intensely played game and the little feud between Zdeno Chara (Boston) and Eric Staal (Carolina) continued to mount.

The teams were tied 2-2 when the third period ended.  Although Carolina had a good momentum going, Boston netminder, Tim Thomas, really did try his best and made a spectacular save on Matt Cullen and had to reach behind himself and guess where that puck was to stop it from going in.  Thomas hasn’t allowed a goal in third period during the postseason so I wasn’t surprised when they went to overtime.

Jussi Jokinen received a pass and did a really smooth rotation in front of the net before putting it behind Thomas to win in overtime.  I wanted Boston to win but I can’t deny that it was just a really sweet goal.

image: TSN

Just like many of the viewers at home, I’m sure the Boston Bruins were shocked to not only lose to the Carolina Hurricanes but to also be shut out by them.

image: TSN

Hurricanes captain, Rod Brind’Amour, played his 150th postseason game and goaltender, Cam Ward, recorded his second playoff shutout in four games, turning away all 36 shots he faced.

This spoiled the record for the Bruins who were the last unbeaten team left in this year’s playoffs and ended netminder, Tim Thomas’, 11-game winning streak.

The 3-0 victory (and it really could have been 4-0 but a goal was not allowed even though I think it was clearly in) marks the first time Carolina has beaten the Bruins all season.

If anyone was thinking that the Boston Bruins might slow down after a stellar season and after easily eliminating the Montreal Canadiens, they were wrong.  The Bruins took on the Carolina Hurricanes last night and skated away with a massive 4-1 victory.

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Marc Savard had a big night and was a major force against the Hurricanes.  He scored twice in the win and, along with goaltender, Tim Thomas, the Bruins sent a message to the Hurricanes – this series could be over very quickly.

Jussi Jokinen scored the lone goal for Carolina.  I think the team looked a little tired and they probably were compared with the Bruins, who have had a nice long break since they finished the first series against the Habs.

The teams play again tomorrow night in Boston.

image: TSN