Bruins Sweep Weekend For Tighter Grip On First In Wales

It might be safe to say that the Black and Gold have returned to their mid-season form with the playoffs just two weeks away. With two wildly disparate games over the weekend, the Bruins tightened their stranglehold on the Wales' top spot after a 7-5 shootout win over the Leafs Saturday night and last night's Tim Thomas-led victory over the sandpapery Flyers, 4-3. The weekend sweep leaves the bears with 106 points and seven games remaining. Should the 2nd place D.C. Caps win their remaining six games, the Bruins need only go 3-4 the remainder of the way to hold the #1 seed.
 
In last night's take down in Philly, it was once again the Tim Thomas show as the All-Star made 45 saves, none better than his helmet-losing thievery of dirty Scott Hartnell during a 5-on-3 Philly power play. After stopping Mike Richards' shot with the score 3-1, the rebound went right to Hartnell on Tank's left. Hartnell gathered the puck before firing but Thomas dove across the crease to make the stop with his helmet, knocking the equipment off his head resulting in a whistle. Though the Flyers would get within a goal after pulling goalie Antero Niittymaki, Thomas quelled Philly's last surge to hold down the fort and seal the 'W'. Offensively, the Bs were paced by the re-emerging Milan Lucic's two goals (#s 15 and 16), Dennis Wideman's career high-tying 13th, and Mark Recchi's eventual game winner and 20th on the year (his 16th season with 20 or more). The suddenly awake David Krejci added three helpers, giving him a five point weekend. In the pugilist department, a game Steve Montador took a beating from head goon Daniel Carcillo and Andrew Ference had a quick scrap with Hartnell. Most importantly, the Bs beat a tough, playoff-bound Flyers squad and put some more space between themselves and the Caps.
 
Saturday's Hockey Night In Canada stat-padder with the Maple Leafs certainly provided entertainment for spectators and home viewers alike, even if it's not how Claude Julien drew it up. The game tape could also serve as Manny Fernandez' audition tape if Tim Conway ever decides to film a "Dorf on Hockey". Even though Thomas' back-up was able to overcome a three-goal 1st, thanks to the guys in front of him as well as a more inept cage-tender at the opposite end in Justin Pogge, the play of Fernandez has to be of some concern to the front office on the eve of the postseason dance. Looking more like the robotic, early-season goalie that needed to shed his considerable rust rather than the confident, competent mid-season version, it'll be interesting to see how the Bs manage Fernandez while simultaneously trying to pin down home-ice throughout the 1st three rounds. Do they give him the majority of the last seven games in hopes that he rounds back into form (as well as giving Tank some much-earned rest)? Does Julien continue to go game-to-game as he has all year? Or would the team be best served by bringing up Tuukka Rask to spell Thomas should his play do a 180 come playoff time? The Bs can afford to have Fernandez lay an egg in the next two weeks as he seeks to rediscover his game. However, they have no such luxury once the second season starts. If he's still spending more time on his knees than the neighborhood BJ queen, then the brass may have no choice but to bring up the Mighty Finn.