Eric Wilbur's Sports Blog

Iginla at the center of anticipated showdown

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:49:08 GMT

Not to look too far ahead, but the Penguins and Bruins would be a heck of a conference finals.

Rangers don't have a Flyers chance against the Bruins

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:49 GMT

Not happening. The Bruins are 17-1 all-time when leading a playoff series 3-0. Of course, when down 0-3 in a playoff series, the rest of the teams in the NHL have come back only once from such a deficit since...

Are the Bruins finally, maybe, coming alive?

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:35:14 GMT

Its May, right? Judging both by the laissez-faire din of the crowd at the TD Garden Thursday night and the droll Ned Martin approach of NBC Sports Networks Dave Strader on play-by-play, you couldnt help but compare the atmosphere at...

Postgame fun with John Tortorella

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:11:01 GMT

Oh, Brooksie. Not that John Tortorella needs any introduction, but for those Bruins fans who may be arriving late to the party, let's just say you're in for an entertaining run here with the Rangers' coach, whose postgame press...

It's never, ever (bleeping) easy with the Bruins

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:08:06 GMT

We make it tough on ourselves. Weve always had trouble with that killer instinct. Claude Julien, Bruins head coach. Theyre going to break the $#@*&^% window. Tony Amonte, Comcast SportsNet. Lets face it, Mr. Amonte may have been...

Claude Julien, meet hot seat ... again

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:11:57 GMT

On the bright side, it looks like Dallas may only be getting a second-round pick for Jaromir Jagr. The conditional draft choice becomes a first-rounder should the Bruins advance to the Eastern Conference final, but suddenly, and perhaps expectedly, that...

Waiting for Will Middlebrooks

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:20:58 GMT

One year ago this month, a 23-year-old Will Middlebrooks got the call to the major leagues when incumbent Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis landed on the disabled list. The kid went on to slug six home runs in May,...

Where are you, Tyler Seguin?

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:12:29 GMT

0-0-0. The magnification of those digits appears larger based on the circumstances, of course, but that is indeed the scoring line for Bruins forward Tyler Seguin through four games of the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a series Boston...

This sign points to oblivion

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:04:34 GMT

Buddy needs a good bleeding. "@gotkasparaitis: Yikes, man with a Toronto Stronger sign... Just awful taste. twitter.com/GotKasparaitis"— Ted Bird (@manofbird) May 7, 2013 Back in January, fresh off Kevin Garnetts bizarrely hysterical taunting of Carmelo Anthony, allegedly telling the Knicks...

Let's hug it out, Toronto

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:04:54 GMT

New Yorkers and Torontonians need some love. Its hard to say in which city youll find Boston wedged deeper into the sports psyches of the general public. In New York, Knicks fans are fraught with angst over the very real...

Bruins host a welcome back party at the Garden

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:23:40 GMT

Good morning, pulse. Welcome back. Where ya been? The Boston Bruins kicked off the 2013 NHL playoffs with an impressive 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night, looking nothing like the team that lingered through the second half...

Prognosis negative for the Bruins

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:42:12 GMT

Confidence? Faith? Hope? Whatever level of conviction you may want to apply, there indeed seems to be a dearth of positive mojo within the fandom of the Boston Bruins as they get set to open the 2013 NHL playoffs against...

High-five for Buchholz's start to 2013

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:28:48 GMT

The most concerning thing to be said about Clay Buchholzs start to the 2013 season is that his ERA has ballooned each of his last three starts. From 0.41 to 0.90 to 1.19, where it stands now after winning his...

Three strikes, Boston teams are out during one frustrating night

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:51:33 GMT

Stink. Stank. Stunk. That was one disastrous evening on the local professional sports docket. For the second time in four days, all three of Bostons in-season teams were in action within the realm of the same hours, and if you...

From Beckett to Webster; Deal with the Dodgers just starting to pay off

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:33:47 GMT

Old buddy Josh Beckett pitched in Baltimore Saturday. Allen Webster pitched in Boston Sunday. One start went just as you might expect. The other provided an encouraging glimpse into the perhaps-potent future of the Red Sox rotation. While its clear...

Emotional rescue, but closing remains an issue for the Bruins

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:43:30 GMT

Wednesday night at the Garden had all the emotion you could hope for. Then, the Bruins took the ice. Perhaps its a bit unfair to question the Bruins effort against the Buffalo Sabres in the wake of the raw display...

Personal triumphs denied at Boston Marathon as we wonder what's ahead

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:11:59 GMT

Minutes after filing a story on the joys of finishing the marathon, the story changed drastically.

Bruins forced to play 'Go Fish' for Soderberg

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:48:29 GMT

Over the years, our fine friends in Sweden have given us ABBA, Ace of Base, Dolph Lundgren, meatballs, and, perhaps most importantly, Malaco, the confectionary company that popularized Swedish Fish and sour watermelon slices. Its time for a boycott, Boston....

Vancouver golf course offers Volchenkov free golf after hit on Marchand

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:38:42 GMT

Vancouver clearly isn't over losing the Stanley Cup.

Shed no tears over end of this streak

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:54:25 GMT

After 794 games, 820 if you include the postseason, the most transparent falsehood in Boston sports will come to an end Wednesday night, weather permitting, and it will come wrapped complete with a rousing apathy. The Red Sox sellout...

Old home place

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:19:19 GMT

As much as you might want to tell yourself otherwise, its not really difficult to choose a favorite Fenway opener.

It's an ad, ad world for Jaromir Jagr

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:36:14 GMT

Jaromir Jagrs latest role may be savior of the Bruins power play woes (has a man-advantage that netted one shot on goal ever been as impressive as Bostons first go-around with their new acquisition Thursday night against the Devils?),...

For starters, Red Sox are a runaway train

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:11:44 GMT

The American League East is 4-6. Egads, thats the worst combined record for a division in Major League Baseball. The AL Central is 6-4; West 7-7. In the NL, the East is 6-4; and the Central and West are both...

Bruins make yet another attempt to power up with Jagr acquisition

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:30:12 GMT

On June 16, 1990, MC Hammers U Cant Touch This peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard charts. Mike Boddicker won his eighth game and Wade Boggs hit his fourth home run of the season as the Red Sox beat...

These things are believed to be true

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:24:48 GMT

I believe. That the 2013 Red Sox will win 88 games and challenge for the second wild card spot. That the Red Sox will get the second wild card slot. That they will lose to the Angels in the ALDS....