Bruins regress with losses

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Just when it looked like things were getting better, the Bruins reminded us just how much they miss the Kessel-Savard-Lucic line.

With last night's 2-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Bruins not only lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, but they were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since 2007. The first line of David Krejci with Marco Sturm and Mark Recchi on the wings is just not enough to make the offense effective. Recchi was brought in last season to be a third-liner and a veteran leader and was re-upped for that purpose, not to be a top-line offensive option.

The players on the ice are doing what they can. Shawn Thornton is trying to take over as the team's enforcer and has been pulling his weight. Patrice Bergeron has taken on more of an attacking style and is second on the team in shots as the team's second line center. But right now in terms of skill, the Bruins just don't stack up.

The Bruins have scored three times in the last four games and have a 1-3 record over that span to show for it. The one-goal efford in their 2-1 loss to the Devils came against backup Yann Danis. Their 2.18 goals per game was ranks 27th in the NHL. The power play has been attrocious, going 0-15 since they last scored a power play goal. On the season, the Bruins are converting just 11.5 percent of their power plays, good for dead last in the entire league.

The Bruins need to find a way to beat Montreal Thursday night, not only for their confidence, but for more practical purposes. While it is a long season, the Bruins are fourth in the Northeast Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Out of 30 teams, Boston's 13 points are 24th in the NHL. A prolonged losing streak would make it very hard on the Bruins to recover even with Savard and Lucic back.

On a related note, Phil Kessel played in his first game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, taking a game-high 10 shots, but did not score in the 2-1 overtime loss. He also got laid out in a rude welcome by Mattias Ohland.

Being a fan really isn't fun

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports

OK, I'm a New York Yankees fan and I have no problem admitting it.

What my problem is is that I can't enjoy watching them play -- ever.

I'm a true fan -- like many of you out there (whoever you root for) -- and I live and die on every pitch, regular season or postseason.

So, while the Yanks are trying to win the World Series, I sit in my recliner every night they play the Phillies and I'm a ball of nerves. Every pitch, every at-bat, every play in the field, it's magnified on this level but it also makes me so nervous that I have a hard time watching.

Yes, I want to turn the game off and wait until around midnight to find out who won, but I can't. I need to watch, although it pains me for roughly four hours.

It's not healthy, I know, but that's what we fans do.

We live through our favorite team and take it personally when they lose. When they win, we win. In the postseason, I can't even enjoy a victory, I'm always looking ahead to the next game and then I get nervous again.

Yes, it's not fun being a diehard fan. But why do we do it? Because we love the game and our team.

It's only 10 a.m. when I type this and the butterflies are already setting in. In superstitious, too. I take full responsibility for the Yankees losing Game 5. The reason: I went into my drawer and the first t-shirt I grabbed was what color? Red. It was a bad sign and the Phillies won.

That won't happen again.

I took all the red shirts out of my drawer last night and can't make that same mistake twice.

Oh, and I can't wear Yankees gear, either. Every time I do -- a hat, t-shirt, jersey, sweatshirt, etc. -- they lose.

I know I've got issues, but I'm trying everything in my power -- well, in my mind -- to help my favorite team win the World Series.

I really just want this series to be over -- please tonight -- because this feeling I've had since the playoffs started isn't good. I'm on edge every day, even off days.

Yes, I'm worried about Pedro Martinez throwing a gem, I'm worried about Andy Pettitte pitching on three days' rest, I'm worried about Mark Teixeira and his hitting slump and I'm worried about pitching to Chase Utley.

You get the point, I'm a fragile man right now.

But I know I'm not the only man/women/child out there that's feeling this way.

I hope the players on the field know what we go through cheering them on.

Being a diehard fan isn't fun, but it's really the only way I know how to act.