Streak snapped; Selanne scoring; Frolov fulfilling

Neither team was really able to establish a rhythm during Tuesday's game, featuring the visiting Panthers and the streaking Bruins. The crowd seemed to have an equally tough time getting into the game. As I walked around inside the arena toward our section, I could have heard a pin drop during the opening minutes of action. And as I watched from my seat, the B's seemed in control for much of the first half of the game, but still they found themselves down 2-0 heading into the third.

Tim Thomas singlehandedly paid for my $15 ticket (cut down from $25). He made a hefty handful of flat out brilliant saves, saves that I would say a keeper would have a 1 in 5 chance of coming up with. And he made at least three or four, if not five or six. Especially big was his reaching glove save while on his back with his helmet falling off. There was just one minute left following that save and the Bruins couldn't find the magic.

It wasn't the most exciting game, but for $15, Thomas made it worth it. And two very good signs. Thomas is establishing himself as a legitimate No. 1, and Glen Murray, who was The guy being mentioned day after day in a seemingly inevitable trade for a No. 1 keeper, scored twice and leads the team with 11 goals. He isn't too far off the league leaders either.
I have some pictures of the game but uploads await.

I'm hoping for a better effort tonight. The Penguins have four sensational players, but I still see the Bruins as the better team. And to the Senators credit...that No. 25 power ranking is just absurd. The Sens are playing much better right now, yet they are ranked below the Blackhawks. If those teams squared off for the next 10 games, I don't know if Chi Town would claim a single victory. I guess the Sens will just jump like 15 spots in the coming weeks.

Also of note: Selanne scored twice last night in the Ducks' 5-0 beating of the Sharks. I guess the Ducks showed the No. 1 ranked Sharks who's best. #8's goals weren't bad either and came one game after he posted a career high five assists. It brings me great pleasure to see my all-time favorite producing like he once did pre-injuries.

Hobby Hot Streak:

Alexander Frolov, that 6'2, 210 pound elusive forward selected 20th overall in 2000 by the Los Angelas Kings, is not very well known. He has been completely overshadowed by his fellow rookie class (Zetterberg, Spezza, Nash), but his time to shine might be approaching. Frolov has scored twice in each of his last three games while accumulating eight of his 21 points in those games. On pace for 45 goals and nearly 80 points, this Russian could soon become an elite scorer rather than a potentially gifted scorer. He soon could be mentioned in the same sentence as hobby superstars Nash, Spezza and Zetterberg, who all have gotten off to slow starts (not so much Spezza). In any such case, if Frolov approaches the 40 goal plateu, his rookies should triple in value.