Stinker of the year has left us loyals clueless and the end of Chapter 2 within sight

Heading into last night's game against NYC, there was one word to describe the feeling in the air, both in the locker-room, around the arena, outside at Halftime Pizza, Sullivan's Tap, and even all-the-way down Huntington Avenue, well into all the corners of the Northeastern campus.

Like every game day, I dressed ready. Long sleeve shirt with a spoked-B. Leather jacket. Helmet-shaped Bruins beanie. Bergeron T-jersey underneath it all. After class and a quick trip home, I rushed back down to campus for a visit with the GF at Starbucks, where I was convinced to purchase a package of Celtics free tickets and buy one, get one free tickets package, a value of nearly $400 for just $40. Losing 11 in a row (or more) and a 4-15 (or more?) record at home will force an organization to go that direction. But the most interesting thing the salesman had to say was how despite the Bruins' recent struggles, the team still carries with it much more fan loyalty. Beginning after last night's game, and as an immenent trade lingers, that loyalty may soon become a thing of the past.

As I waited for my roommate Jon at Starbucks, I receieved a call. Immediately, I knew he couldn't go - I could sense it in his voice. But, that loyalty, loyalty of a fan who got into the Bruins over the past two years likely through watching and inheriting my own immense loyalty, was all too clear after he told me the first thing that came to his mind after he got into a car accident was that he might be running a little late for the game. But we got there, that is to the bar, with plenty of time for a few pitchers before rushing, as usual, to our second row balcony seats.

The first goal was a bad break. Then Bergeron, my elect for THE Bruin who has underachieved this year, got it back. From there on out, other than the notation of Murray's 300th career assist and Bergeron's 200th career game, there were little if any highlights in the game. The Rangers weren't particularly impressive, and bad bounces don't add up to 6-1 losses.

The Bruin of the game, maybe of the last few games, was Jeff Hoggan, hands down in my opinion. I would actually be shocked if he didn't lead the team in scoring chances over the last two or three games. Let's look at the stats. Two shots last night in under eight minutes of ice time. He was one of the only Bruins to throw some hits, one slightly after the whistle on Jagr, that was welcomed and was one of several questionable penalty calls against the B's. He was also one of only four Bruins with an even +/- rating. His stats Saturday were identical - and he was again one of the only B's with an even rating. In my opinion, HE is the energy forward we seem to be looking for. More ice time would seem to be an appropriate reward for a team in need of the tempo he brings every shift.

Stuart, who I think is a must for the Bruins to hold on to, was -4 last night, certainly not helping his chances of remaining in Boston.

You wouldn't think if that the Bruins would lose by five goals if they kept Jagr off the scoresheet, but that is exactly what happened. The lethal line of Ortmeyer, Cullen and Prucha blasted the B's for nine points - the Sabres will put out a team tonight better rested and with twenty players all better than the Rangers O-C-P line.

We ended up taking the Loge tickets of some friends we saw for the third period and still, we could not watch the final five minutes of the game. It was embarassing. With all that build-up. The urgency. The trade rumors luming. The first home game coming off the break. The night before facing the league's best Sabres. There were too many reasons for the Bruins to play well last night, and what was worst was that they didn't lose a heartbreaker on a bad bounce. There were several bad bounces, and you know what that means. Good teams, playing good hockey, get good bounces. It's the shooter's roll in basketball. It's the banger's, the buster's bounces in hockey.

The players, organization, and everyone who continues to display that apparently well know loyalty, everyone who paid in money and time on their Monday night to come out for the opener of the second half stretch, was embarassed. As Dave Lewis described it after the game, it was "devastating." Devastating will describe just about everything very soon if something doesn't change, starting tonight. Attendenance, playoff hopes, team chemistry are all about to boil over.

As for tonight, I am hoping that Petr Tenkrat is put back into the lineup. For anyone. He has been one of our bright spots all year. Kessel needs to get more PT. A line for tonight - Tenkrat, Kessel, Bergeron. Or maybe even, Bergeron-Hoggan-Kessel. Or Boyes-Hoggan-Donovan. B and B need, our two supposed go-to centers need a fire lit under their asses.

I can only wonder what is stirring in that organization today. Chiarelli I'm certain is on the phone as we speak. Stuart might be surfing the web for apartments in Edmonton. If the Bruins don't take one from the Sabres over the next two days, someone is heading out.

As for the fans, there's still plenty of hockey to be played, but if this ship isn't righted now, this season will be concluded early as the end of Chapter 2, the second lost creation in a young series of the new generation Bruins.