Sports Redux: That's More Like It, Too

The Celtics AND the Bruins? Both winning in solid fashion against inferior opponents on consecutive nights? Has the world turned upside-down?

Patrice Bergeron scored in the first 30 seconds, then the Bruins (after their lead slipped to 3-2) hit Carolina with two goals in the middle of the third period to close their road trip on a positive note with a 5-2 win. They still had to sweat it out when Bergeron was helped off the ice late in the game, after taking a Mark Stuart slap shot off the leg. He seems to be OK, though, is the Bruins' consensus.

So with 13 games left, it's time to figure out just what to expect of this team (yeah, yeah, we know). They're in 8th, three points behind 7th-place Philly and three ahead of the 9th-place Rangers. They have six games left with teams that are playoff bound (Pitt, NJ, and two apiece with Buffalo and Washington), three left with teams that aren't (Toronto, Carolina and Florida) and four left with teams on the fringe (TB, Atlanta, Calgary and the Rangers). It's doable. Once they get past the emotional first few minutes of the Penguins game, anything can happen. The Globe goes down memory lane with Pittsburgh on the way to town.

Some subplots today around Red Sox camp, mostly involving health issues. Jed Lowrie's mystery illness has been revealed to be mono, Ryan Westmoreland's brain surgery was declared successful, and Jason Varitek has to fight for at-bats while dealing with his dad's illness. On a happier note, Adrian Beltre says he respects Mike Lowell and wants to be friends even as they're fighting for playing time at third. Unless Lowell gets traded back to Florida, which isn't out of the question.

The quote of the night comes from Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis, after his team lost 152-114 to Phoenix (yes, that's correct): "Well, that's certainly what happens when you don't play any defense."