Tonight's Bruins game was attended by none other than GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brian Burke.  When asked if he expected Thursday night's game to be any different than tonight he simply responded, "no, I expect that this is how they'll be playing for awhile now".  The Bruins that appeared tonight, while they left with another loss under their belts, played the type of game fans expect of them and the type of game that gives them an edge- a strong, physical and emotional game.  The type of game that has been missing since the end of last year's playoff run.

While tonight's game lead the Bruins down a path that pushed them further from a win, it might be exactly what helps them in the long run.  Until this point, the Bruins have been tamed, unemotional and in a state that many have described as the "Stanley Cup Hangover".  Going down for a 2nd time in a week to Carolina did something though- it made the team angry, it made them involved and it made them actually take on accountability.  Before tonight, the team was on a hall pass- the excuses were given; they ran up against good goal tending, they're being gunned for, guys were hurt.  But tonight- the team decided they needed to become involved and it started with their leader, Zdeno Chara.

Chara's jumping into the fight with Harrison set the tone- not only were they going to fight, they were going to pull up whoever they were fighting and make sure they got their shots in.  Up and down the line up guys were involved, going to bat for each other and asking whoever they could if they wanted to go.  While some fans might complain about this, this type of play is what drove them last season.  The games that they were involved in emotionally, they dedicated their game to. Dallas, Vancouver- these games the team came out fired up, and became hardened and sharp- willing to exchange blows as needed but focused to a point on getting the win.  The emotion also carried over often and helped them get through streaks of games.

It seems to work and is needed this season because the physical and emotional game help them create havoc, force turnovers and frustrate opponents.  While the Bruins can play a strong puck possession game and dictate play, it doesn't always seem as though they can generate the right chances like a team such as the Red Wings are able to in a similar style.  Blame it on them not being a Euro-style team or what you will, it just doens't work out often.  When that possession game collides though with that physical and attacking style it leads to a flow that isn't seen really elsewhere in the league currently.  What comes out is a crash the net, force guys out of position, get rebounds and force goals type of game.  Exploited defenses, frustrated opponents, and a home crowd making the Garden feel like, the Garden.

So where does tonight's game leave us?  It leaves us with a disappointment in another loss but with the hope that we might actually see the team that carried our emotions on a rollercoaster high last season back again on the ice.  It opens the door for a group of guys to come out Thursday night against a hot division rival and be a force for a full 90 minutes.  And it leaves the Bruins at a fork in the road with one leading to a hot streak digging the Black and Gold out of a rut and the other to more suffering and a range of questions to ask about the state of this team.  Which path they'll take we'll find out Thursday night.

The 2nd period started looking much like the first- chances for Boston, another goal for Carolina.  After another failed power play attempt and a goal from none other than Joni Pitkanen, the frustration that has been filling the Garden early in the season boiled over.  After Shawn Thornton failed to find a dance partner, a raging Nathan Horton forced some action with Jay Harrison.  Horton wouldn't end up the one with Harrison though as the captain himself, Zdeno Chara felt the need to dive into the action and take on the Carolina D man, knocking him down and then picking him up to give him some more.  Lucic and Horton would both pick up partners themselves and find time in the box for roughing.  In an interesting turn of events, Cam Ward  would come out and start scolding Chara post fight which of course lead to an annoyed Tuukka Rask coming down ice to challenge his counter part.  While the cheers of the fans asked for the fight, Ward would not oblige.

The result of the scrum was Chara with a 10 minute game misconduct and Lucic and Horton both serving minors to give the Canes a 5 on 3 opportunity.  The Bruins penalty kill was up for the job and would even kill a subsequent penalty to Seidenberg.  What they along with the the even strength and power play lines would fail to do though is get a puck past Cam Ward and into the back of the net.  Through 2, the Bruins beat Ward with the shot 5 times- only to find iron on all 5 shots.  It's no wonder that the frustration finally boiled over as it did in this period.

Going into the third the Bruins need to keep the emotions up as it is when they play their best hockey.  They require a physical game and as suggested earlier, may go into dump in chase mode and really lay it on the Carolina defense.  The outcome of the exchanges has to be Carolina defense caught behind their net and forwards turned to miss their assignments.  The Bruins need to use this to continue to create the gaps and generate scoring chances (while following it up with crashing the net).  Ward isn't a goalie that is easy to score one on so they need to do their best to make his life difficult in the third.  While it's unlikely that the Black and Gold will go back to the fighting antics of the 2nd, don't be completely surprised if they show back up early with the 4th line causing a stir and keeping emotions high.

It's going to be a rough and tough 3rd- a storm is brewing in Boston.  The question is, who's going to weather it?

The first period found the B's coming out strong against the Canes with the top 2 lines dominating play early. The Bruins had 3 scoring chances all within the first minute of the game coming from the sticks of Rich Peverley, Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin. While it looked as though they would be the ones to strike first in this outing, Cam Ward held strong and the guys in front of him found a fortunate puck down low and put one by Tuukka Rask, coming from the stick of Anthony Steward.

The feel of the first few minutes were replicated throughout the period- strong pressure by the Bruins for multiple shifts with scoring chances only to have an off shift where Carolina was able to bang it through the neutral zone and create a chance down low. While the effort when the shifts have been positive has been good, the B's have received failing scores on their bad shifts.

Not receiving bad marks in the first tonight: Tyler Seguin. Continuing with the rocket start he's had for his sophomore season, Seguin has created a number of chances- in the first minute of the period, the last minute and a few in between. The young center has seemed to become more comfortable playing with left wing Milan Lucic and his chemistry with Horton still grows. Many have said that he's been the Bruins best player this season and it's an argument that holds strong. Outside of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Tim Thomas, there aren't many that can claim to have brought more to the ice than Seguin. With David Krejci's continued stint on the sidelines the question in the minds of many is now, what do you do when Krejci comes back?

Going into the second the Bruins need to become a more physical team once more and bring the force that drove them through the playoffs on every shift. They may even need to step away from the puck possession game and start playing some dump in chase just to give themselves the opportunity to create havoc in the offensive end and wear out the Carolina defense. Also look for the team to step up slightly more in the neutral zone so that they can turn the puck around quicker and trap Carolina in their own zone and away from the change. Finally, be cognizant of changes in the forecheck where the Bruins may start sliding a forward into the slot to attempt to catch a Cane's defenseman using a lane previously opened for the outlet pass. They've been successful with this in the past against Carolina and may very well present the same trap tonight. The challenge of Ward will still remain though- and that will be a tough challenge to overcome.

North Division

Toronto Marlies (TOR)
Jussi Rynnas made 21 saves in his first start as the Marlies shut out the Lake Erie Monsters on Sunday to bring their overall record to 3-1-0-0 on the season, which is good for best in the North Division. Joey Crabb and Joe Colborne are tied for the team lead in points so far through 4 games. Before shutting out the Monsters, the Marlies won their season opener against Binghamton, then dropped a game against Grand Rapids on Friday in which two former Providence Bruins, Matt Lashoff and Colborne, scored the team's only two goals. The Marlies also beat Lake Erie on Saturday. Their schedule continues with two games next weekend, against the Amerks and the Monsters.

Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
The Baby Habs are 2-1-0-0 to start the season, winning their home opener against Rochester and splitting a two-game series on the road at St. John's this past weekend. In a particularly ugly loss to St. John's by a score of 6-2, goaltender Nathan Lawson allowed six goals on 35 shots, and opposing netminder Peter Mannino allowed two on 20. Through 3 games, recently returned from the KHL Brock Trotter has 7 points for the team lead, and UNH product Phil Desimone has two goals. The Bulldogs can attempt to pull even with the division-leading Marlies tonight with a game against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
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No team ever wants to be down 5-1 in a game, but what about when you’re the goalie heading to the crease in relief? Moreover, what if coming into the game is your American Hockey League debut?

All of that was the case for goaltender Karel St. Laurent when he was called upon to take over for Anton Khudobin in Friday night’s game against the Manchester Monarchs. 

Goaltender Michael Hutchinson is "day-to-day" according to head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Hutchinson, who has seen no action in two games this season, took a puck to the face during practice earlier this week. Cassidy says he will not be in the line up this weekend but probably next.

In the meantime, goaltender Karel St. Laurent of the Reading Royals in the ECHL will be the backup.  

The Providence Bruins were downed 7-1 by the Manchester Monarchs Friday night in Providence. Josh Hennessy scored the only goal for the home team in his debut wearing black and gold.

“We gotta put this one behind us and focus on the positives,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy, “There are some [positives] even if the score doesn’t indicate it. We generated more offense tonight than we did last weekend but we just didn’t finish.”

There is not much that can prepare you for your first professional hockey game but going far in the CHL Memorial Cup tournament certainly helps. Someone not unfamiliar to that longer season and even to being a champion is rookie defenseman Marc Cantin.

Cantin most recently came up short as a member of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors when they were defeated by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup final. It stung but a year prior Cantin had played with Taylor Hall and won the Memorial Cup as a member of the Windsor Spitfires. He only spent the latter half of the season with Windsor but Cantin also played for the Belleville Bulls who enjoyed postseason success.

Marc Cantin skates at Bruins development camp in July 2011.

Last March the Bruins signed Cantin, who went undrafted, to an entry level contract. He had been an invitee to Bruins camp in 2010.

The Providence Bruins' home opener Friday night against the St. John's Ice Caps was Cantin's debut as a professional player. The Bruins lost 4-1 but that first game is something every player has to play and get past as they adjust into a whole new level of hockey.

"It was what I expected it to be," Cantin said of his first game, "I just tried to keep it simple and play solid."

As for the differences between OHL and AHL, Cantin says it is "obviously" the speed and strength of the guys. "It's expected," he said, "These guys are a lot older and they've been playing for a lot longer. Guys are a lot smarter; systemwise, teams are a lot tighter."

All the differences aside, something Cantin will not have to adjust to too much is the season length. With so many post season appearances, the blueliner is used to playing until late May and starting his summer a bit later than his hometown friends. "It's half the battle. You have to know how to treat your body," he said, "You have to do the right things on and off the ice as well as your eating as well as keeping your body physically prepared to play too."

It is not only the long season Cantin will be used to, but the more intense environment he is now in. "It’s a high pressure game, lots of energy, lots of fans and stuff," he says  of his experience in playing for the Memorial Cup.

Cantin recorded one shot in the loss and finished a -1 while tallying two penalty minutes. But it was about what Cantin expected and he expects to get better. "It's going to take a few games to adjust but there is a lot to work on," he said. That kind of adjustment to the speed and different style of play is something he believes every young player has to go through growingwise.

If you ask Cantin for any goal for the season, he thinks of team goals first. But for himself? Just to establish himself as a good player and help to win some games.

The Providence Bruins closed out their opening weekend with a 4-1 loss to the Worcester Sharks Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Lane MacDermid scored the only goal for Providence and earned third star of the game.

Worcester opened the scoring at 14:35 of the first when Curt Gogel got a puck past Anton Khudobin. Providence only recorded four shots the entire opening stanza and could not take advantage of a power play opportunity.

Just over four minutes into the middle period Sean Sullivan extended the Sharks' lead to 2-0. MacDermid dropped the gloves with Jimmy Bonneau right off the faceoff at center ice at 6:36 of the period. A KO of Bonneau could have inspired the Bruins but Marc Cantin got called for high-sticking and then the next two penalties were also to the home team. Brandon Mashinter took advantage of the flurry of power play team for Worcester and put Providence in the hole 3-0 with a powerplay goal at 15:37.

Providence broke the shut out at 18:54 when MacDermid buried his own rebound to make the score 3-1. Colby Cohen got the assist.

Benn Ferriero scored just 1:31 into the third period to put Worcester up by three goals from which Providence could not recover. 

If anything good came from the final 20 minutes of play, it was Tyler Randell's fight. Randell dropped Gogel for what would be his first professional fight.

The Bruins went 0-for-3 on the powerplay but did kill off five of six penalties. 

Khudobin made 27 saves and suffered the loss while Tyson Sexsmith got the win for the Sharks with 19 saves. 

The Providence Bruins lost their home opener in decisive fashion Friday night, falling 4-1 to the St. John's Ice Caps. The newly minted AHL team ran through a young Providence defense in fine fashion, while Providence looked lost and in disarray for the majority of the game.

"Opening night at home can work against you sometimes, but that's not an excuse. They were better than us, they wanted it more than us and it showed, and that's why they won," said Coach Bruce Cassidy after the game.

Lane Macdermid skates against the St. John's Ice Caps on Friday.

Mark Flood scored the first goal of the franchise for the Ice Caps a mere 1:15 into the first period to open the scoring. The game seemed to even out three minutes later, when Maxime Sauve put one past netminder David Aebischer for the first goal of Providence's season. But from there, the Ice Caps dominated.

The P-Bruins managed a mere ten shots on goal in the final forty minutes, while allowing Paul Postma, Carl Klingberg, and Ice Caps Captain Jason Jaffray to score. Jaffray's goal sealed the deal in embarrassing fashion, a shorthanded bid at 1:46 of the third period. For the remainder of the third, the teams seemed to focus more on getting in each others' faces rather than scoring.

A lethal combination of nerves and inexperience took a toll tonight. Without their two top, experienced defensemen, the P-Bruins blatantly struggled on the back end. David Warsofsky in particular had a bad night, on ice for three goals against. Providence was unable to sustain any sort of attack, giving up bad turnovers on sloppy passes all night. Goaltender Anton Khudobin had a fair game stopping 23 of 27 shots; without a solid defense in front of him, he made all the clean saves, and at least two of the goals against were the result of a lot of St. John's traffic in front of the net.

"We weren't clean tonight getting out of our end; you saw it, everyone saw it," said Cassidy. "It made it tough for our forwards to get anything going, so as a result we had no sustained pressure, no sustained attack. We didn't execute well and part of that goes to the D for not making their plays and part of that goes to the forwards for not handling their passes and becoming available."

"I know there are guys in the room that we're counting on [this year] that will play better," Cassidy added, and they have two days to figure it out - the P-Bruins will take on the Worcester Sharks at home at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Sunday.