Projo Bruins Blog

March 2007 Archives

What's country music doing in Boston?

The Wreckers, the female duo of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, will play a 45-minute show after the Bruins game tonight at the Garden. After a brief sound check this afternoon, the crew and band members, including Branch took a twirl on the Garden ice.

The NHL and country music are beginning to forge a relationship, maybe the fact that the Nashville Predators are one of the more exciting teams in the league helps. Branch, who grew up in Arizona, admitted she's a big hockey fan.

"We were very excited in Arizona when our team started," she said. "I remember going to Coyotes games with my brother, watching fights and eating hot dogs."

Branch sang the National Anthem at this year's NHL All-Star game in Dallas and has performed at other NHL arenas this season.

"It's funny we keep getting calls to do these NHL things," she said. Fans don't think "hockey and country music really don't go hand-and-hand. But, it'll be fun and it will be a chance for some people to be exposed to (country music). I'll be cool to see what [impression] people walk away with."

The Boston Bruins have recalled forward Ben Walter from Providence.

In his second professional season, the Bruins' fifth pick (160th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft has had a tremendous year in Providence. For the P-Bruins, the 22-year-old forward has 22 goals and 34 assists in 62 games this season.

More to come. . .

Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward, who only skated for a few minutes this morning, was just on the ice taking a twirl under the watchful eye of team trainer Don DelNegro. Ward took a shot off the foot during practice on Wednesday, but said after the game-day skate today that he's ready to go for tonight.

From the 9th floor at the Garden _ six stories off the ice _ Ward could be heard telling DelNegro "it's not tender." It's likely he will be in the lineup.

Forward David Krejci has been recalled from Providence for tonight's game. P.J. Axelsson is out of the lineup for undisclosed reasons.

This will be Krejci's third trip to Boston this season. The talented rookie has 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points, while posting a plus-6 rating in 52 games for the P-Bruins this season.

More to come . . .

** Colorado starting goaltender Peter Budaj has a history with the Bruins organization. Fans may remember Nov. 12, 2004 when Budaj played for the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Avalanche at the time.

The Bears and the P-Bruins were playing at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when an all-out melee erupted behind the teams' benches in the lower concourse. The only players remaining on the ice were Budaj and Providence goalie Hannu Toivonen. After passing the puck back and forth a couple of times, the two masked men met at center ice and dropped the gloves in a spirited matchup.

Because Budaj is playing for Colorado ltonight, the incident was up for discussion this morning.

**No. 77 is in the building tonight. And why not? He only played for the Bruins from 1979 to 2000 before being traded to the Avalanche where he won his only Stanley Cup.

Chuck Kobasew will finally make his Bruins debut tonight. The gritty forward was acquired by Boston_ along with defenseman Andrew Ference _ from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Brad Stuart and forward Wayne Primeau on Feb. 10.

Entering last night's game he had missed 17 games due to a dislocated elbow and he was finally cleared to play.

"He feels much better," said Bruins coach Dave Lewis. "He was checked out by the doctors and trainers and they feel he's 100 percent ready to go."

The coach said he didn't think Kobasew would be able to play until the weekend.

"It'll be exciting to see him on the ice," added Lewis. "I'll ease him in and get him comfortable with playing. He hasn't played for six weeks so he'll have some rust."

At the start of the game Kobasew will play with Phil Kessel and Brandon Bochenski.

Fan favorite Aaron Downey is returning to Providence.

The P-Bruins loaned goalie Phil Sauve to Hamilton (Montreal Canadiens) in exchange for Downey, who played three seasons in Providence (1997-2000), and was a member of the P-Bruins' Calder Cup Championship team in 1999.

"It's something," he said. "It's pretty exciting and a good opportunity. If you're going to play in the minors, Providence is the place to play. Its a great organization and they treated me well the three years I was there. Hopefully I can get my game back on track and get back to the NHL. I just want to help out the young guys and play a physical role."

Downey said he doesn't think he'll be able to make the team's game in Worcester tonight because of travel situations, but he's looking forward to his return.

With Hannu Toivonen back in Providence, the P-Bruins had three goalies with Sauve and Jordan Sigalet.