Sports Redux: Pretty Play, Ugly Loss

When the Bruins deliver a less-than-stellar performance, we think back to when coach Claude Julien described his team as trying to play pretty. Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Sharks - the game marked by the highly-anticipated return of Joe Thornton - was a pretty game in the worst sense of the word.

The B's worked their way through a decent first period that ended with a 2-1 lead, thanks largely to Milan Lucic, who did all of Boston's scoring for the night. But from that point on, it seemed as if the clearly exhausted Bruins were sleep-skating. There was little hustle, many missed opportunities prompted by sloppy passing, and - here's where the pretty party comes in - next to no physicality to speak of. The Bruins could not lay a hit on the Sharks if they tried - something they rarely even attempted (although we give a half-hearted clap to Chuck Kobasew, who tried several times in the second to hit the opponents...and was met with boards and glass instead). While the B's found themselves with multiple power play opportunities, including a 5-on-3, it felt instead as if San Jose had the advantage. Which they did, given that they were playing with hustle, fire, and team chemistry.

Bruins fans weren't the only ones who noticed. Andrew Ference, quoted in the Globe post-game, saw it too. "There are plenty of losses when you can look at yourself as a team and say you gave it all you've got," Ference said. "But we definitely got away from what makes us effective in the third."

Rob Blake, Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek, Thornton, and Mike Grier got the goals for the Sharks, who benefited largely by Tuesday's showing. With the win, the Sharks put an end to their three-game losing streak.

In related game news, Petteri Nokelainen was taken to a hospital after he was hit by a stick that the referees mistakenly confused with a puck (which is why he didn't get the penalty he deserved). Kobasew was also beaten up during the game, sustaining a lower-body injury in the second and an upper-body injury in the third.

The Celts face off against the Hornets tonight in New Orleans, while the B's can rest and think about what they've done until they resume play on Friday.

Finally, baseball news that has nothing to do with A-Rod: more Red Sox pitchers are in Fort Myers! To see the Josh Beckett School of Diplomatic Relations, click on this link and view the video. Ah, that wacky Beckett sense of humor.

Photo by flickr user dan4th.