Peverley Returns to Action as Bruins Play Duck Hunt

It may not have been the prettiest game the Boston Bruins have played this year, but it was exactly what the doctor ordered for game No. 75 of their season.

In Marty Turco's first start at goaltender since getting shellacked by the Tampa Bay Lightning two weeks prior and Rich Peverley's return from a 19-game absence, the B's played Duck Hunt in a 3-2 derailing of the Anaheim Ducks.

Zdeno Chara, Benoit Pouliot and Brian Rolston did the scoring for Boston, accounting for the first of several good signs. The top two forward lines for the Bruins have produced less consistently of late, and it's good to see secondary scoring getting them over the hump. After all, it was secondary scoring that got them through some of the most critical moments of last summer's Stanley Cup run.

In addition to the secondary scoring, we got another positive indication — Marty Turco can play goaltender. Donning his new bright yellow pads, Turco turned aside 25 of Anaheim's 27 shots to earn his first win as a member of the Bruins. It may seem a little bit meaningless since the veteran isn't even eligible to be on the playoff roster, but with their position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture not yet locked down, it will be crucial to get Tim Thomas some rest in the final seven games without sacrificing chances to earn points. I would expect Turco to get two more starts in the final seven games of the season. If I were a gambling man, I would pinpoint next Saturday's matinee with the Islanders as one of those two games. Depending on how things go, we may see him facing Ottawa or Buffalo in one of the last two games on Boston's schedule.

Perhaps the biggest positive to come from this Bruins victory, however, is the return of Rich Peverley to the lineup. Peverley had missed the previous 19 games spanning over two months with an MCL sprain. No. 49 skated with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand while Tyler Seguin moved back up to the top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Jordan Caron, who previously skated with Krejci and Lucic, droped down to the fourth line alongside Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. Daniel Paille became a healthy scratch as a result.

Peverley's impact to this roster was on display against the Ducks. He didn't find the scoresheet, but he was making plays. He fits the system. He's so versatile. When the playoffs come, we will see a few duos staying together. Bergeron will play with Marchand. Krejci will play with Lucic. Who will be the other winger on each of those lines? Now that Peverley has returned, it can really go either way. Seguin may stay with Krejci and Lucic, but if coach Claude Julien chooses to move the youngster back to the Bru-Tang Clan, Peverley is fully capable of stepping in to the right of Krejci. He brings an element that was so critical to the championship run we witnessed last season. Even if the B's may not get Nathan Horton back this postseason, it is an extreme relief to see that Peverley is back on the scene.

Many of you were panicking a week ago when the Bruins were sputtering. After all, they had given up six goals in back-to-back games, both of which were ugly losses. They had lost their grip on first place in the Northeast Division.

Now, having won four of their last five games, Boston stands five points ahead of Ottawa with a game in hand on the Sens. A few more wins can lock up the No. 2 seed in the East. But that's not really the important part.

What's important is that this team is getting closer to being at full health, and their game is clicking at the right time. The last time that happened, about 365 days ago, the ensuing results were relatively satisfying.
 

Bobby Valentine Irked by 4-4 Tie Between Sox and Yanks

Relief pitcher Clayton Mortensen is warming up to come into the 10th inning of a tie game against the New York Yankees in Spring Training. Mortensen, despite three appearances this spring comprised of six shutout innings, is a long shot for making the big league roster and needs to make the most of every opportunity he gets.

Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is happy to give Mortensen another look. He deserves every chance to make the squad that the other pitchers get.

As Mortensen makes his way out to the mound, however, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi informs the head umpire that they don't want to play extra innings. I guess that's a wrap. The game ends in a 4-4 tie.

For Sox fans who love Valentine's fire and energy as a manager, it is pretty easy to understand why this whole situation has irked him quite a bit.

Bobby V claims that the Yankees had enough pitching to keep going. He suggested after the game that it was "probably too long of a ride" for New York back to their own Spring Training facilities more than two hours from Fort Myers.

"It was regretful that Mortensen warmed up and we were told we were not playing any extra innings. I didn't think that was very courteous," Valentine explained.

You have to love a new manager who is sticking up for every guy on his roster — even the ones who likely won't be at the ballpark with him this year — in the face of a lack of courtesy by their arch rivals.

It's just another sign of Valentine's fierce and unique style as a manager — a stark contrast to former manager Terry Francona, who was actually in attendance for the game and was seen shaking hands in the dugout with Valentine.

That unique managing style manifested itself within the game, as well. It got me pretty excited about the future. The Sox rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the final two innings of this game to force the 4-4 tie that ultimately became the controversial final score. Can you guess how the tying run crossed the plate?

Outfielder Jason Repko successfully laid down a suicide squeeze to bring home Boston's fourth run.

We'll have to wait and see how Valentine manages the egos and the personalities on his roster. Francona was exceptionally good at that for most of his tenure in Boston, but Tito never really managed the game with small ball tactics to manufacture runs. If Bobby V can keep his clubhouse in check and focused, his active style of managing could do wonders with the talent and versatility at his disposal.

The Sox are going to be a fun team to watch this season. Bobby Valentine has a mix of every element you could imagine in a manager, and the brand of baseball we're about to see at Fenway just might be something very different from what we've grown accustomed to.
 

What Brady's Restructured Deal Could Mean for the Pats

The New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady have agreed to restructure the final three years of the star's contract, clearing an additional $7.2 million in cap space for the Pats in 2012.

According to ESPN, the new deal has Brady's base salary for this upcoming year reduced from $5.75 million to $950,000. The $4.8 million difference is tacked onto the roster bonus owed to the quarterback, amounting to a $10.8 million signing bonus to be paid to Brady. In the end, he makes the same figures — just in a different form.

What's the catch? In 2013 and 2014, Brady's salary cap hit will rise to nearly $22 million, a difficult number for a team to manage. What does all of this mean?

The Pats already have a pretty good cap situation. Why would they clear up $7.2 million more at a price that will cost them in the two years following? There are a few ideas on this one. The Pats could be clearing space in preparation to land a big signing and still maintain their cushion with the salary cap. But who's left? Most of the big names have been locked up other than former Steelers' wide receiver Mike Wallace, but any team who signs him will be forced to give up a first round draft choice as a tender.

Former Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell and Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo are strong candidates to be donning Patriots uniforms next season, but neither of those guys are so huge that they require a ton of shifting in the salary cap. I raise the question again — why would the Patriots arrange their cap in this manner for 2012 if it results in a tighter cap for 2013 and 2014?

You can never rule out the possibility of bringing in a player through the trade market, but there haven't been many speculations indicating an impending move. So I investigate one final possibility, as unlikely as that possibility is.

In addition to signing someone from the free agent market such as Bell or Castillo, could Bill Belichick finally have his eyes on moving up in the first round to select a premiere player? There is incredible talent in the upper half of the first round. Luke Kuechly, whose stock is rapidly rising, could be a perfect anchor in New England's defense and allow Jerod Mayo to finally move to outside linebacker and generate some edge pressure. Quinton Coples could be another answer on the edge of the defensive line. And as high as they would need to jump to land him, you have to admit — Trent Richardson would be a dream-come-true for an offense that just lost BenJarvus Green-Ellis to the Bengals and seeks more balance in their attack.

Having said all of this, I know that it is extremely unlikely that the Patriots jump up in the first round to select a player that costs more money and carries a greater reputation. It's not the Belichick style. But it's something to consider. Why would they sacrifice the future cap situation for the present if they have no intentions of making a splash?

The draft comes relatively soon, and I can't wait to see how things unfold.
 

Bookie Tip: Phoenix vs. Dallas 8:05 PM

Changing it up for the fellas today and taking a hockey game. I love hockey but it happens to be the hardest to make any dough off. But tonight I love the Coyotes money line. They are looking for a playoff push and the stars are on a two game losing streak. Enjoy.


The Pick: Phoenix, Money Line

March Madness Staff Brackets: Day Two

Yesterday kicked off March Madness, and it was quite a show. There were plenty of interesting story-lines, but no real signature upsets (although UNC Asheville nearly, and maybe should have, up-ended Syracuse). Unfortunately for the Chowdah Chumps, none of us kept our perfect bracket hopes intact. DRob went 13-3 on the first day, Bobby Booze notched a 10-6 record, and new blogger Average Joe — who you'll see some posts from in the near future — gathered an 11-5 mark. I've included the three of our brackets below, with green marks for correct picks and red for incorrect picks. Joe emailed me his bracket before the games started yesterday, I just didn't get a chance to post it.

Here is a nice, easy spreadsheet for you guys to read with the three of our lineups today. Some interesting variation here. And personally, I'm picking 7 underdogs in 16 games. So wish me luck!

DRob's Updated Bracket:

Bobby Booze's Updated Bracket:

Average Joe's Updated Bracket:

Bookie Tips: Round 2 Madness

Montana vs. Wisconsin

I like Montana with an upset today over Wisconsin so I think the +9 is pretty safe. Plus I don't think the Badgers are that great.Big love for the Big Sky!

The Pick: Montana +9

South Dakota state vs. Baylor 

I can see this one as a close one today South Dakota is underrated. 

The Pick: South Dakota State +8

PS. shes from South Dakota i promise Heather Johansen if you don't believe me look it up.

Gonzaga vs. West Virginia 

I have the Zags in the final four so they better win or I should just fork over my bracket money now. Bob Huggins and his fat chins have no chance today.

The Pick: Zags -1

Let the Madness of March Begin!

March Madness has finally arrived. Bobby Booze and I will be thoroughly following every game and gambling our lives away on brackets, point spreads, over-unders and much more. Right here, I'll post our two brackets (click each bracket for the full size view) followed by a quick and easy table of today's games in chronological order with each of our respective picks. Let's hope for a perfect first day and one step closer to winning the $5 million for making a perfect bracket!

DRob's Bracket:

Bobby Booze's Bracket: