The Athenaeum Forum

BOSTON -- Even with team captain Zdeno Chara already in Russia and four more players headed that way, the Boston Bruins didnt appear to have even the slightest pre-Olympic distraction. The Bruins closed out their surge to the Olympic break with a 7-2 rout of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday as seven Boston players finished with multiple points. "Thats something we talked about before the game. We wanted to end this on a good note and feeling good about ourselves heading into the break and I think weve done that," said Patrice Bergeron, who had two goals and an assist. The Bruins won for the ninth time in 11 games with one loss coming in overtime and enter the break with a large lead in the Atlantic Division and second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Bostons spot in the standings was secure regardless of Saturdays result. Instead of coasting into the break, the Bruins closed with their first seven-goal game of the season. "Our transition was great and thats why we had so many odd-man rushes," said Bergeron, whose only upcoming break is a long flight to Russia to join defending Olympic gold medallist Canada. "Im Really excited and now I can look forward to it a lot more." Fellow Olympians David Krejci of the Czech Republic and Swedens Loui Eriksson added a pair of assists apiece in their final game before Olympic play begins. "I liked the way we handled that," Boston coach Claude Juliene said. "Its not like the games we lost we werent very good. Throughout that stretch I thought the consistency we were looking for was there and more." Juliene is also Olympics-bound as a member of the Team Canada coaching staff. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask of Finland got the day off and Chara left Boston early to carry Slovakias flag in the opening ceremony. Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists, Jarome Iginla a goal and assist and Reilly Smith a pair of assists for Boston. The Bruins outshot the Senators 42-28 and chased Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson after Boston took a 5-1 lead early in the third on a goal by Milan Lucic. "This is one of those nights where we just have to let it go, forget about it and move forward," Anderson said. "We have that no-quit mentality and I think its shown over the last month or so. We have put ourselves in a pretty good situation to be in the hunt and to be in the battle for a playoff spot." Bobby Ryan scored in the second period and Patrick Wiercioch added a goal in the third for Ottawa. Boston backup goalie Chad Johnson made 26 saves while getting the start for Tuukka Rask. The Bruins led 2-0 after the first on goals by Bergeron and Chris Kelly, then pulled away with two more in the second. Bergeron scored his second of the game with a series of moves that left the Senators standing still as he made his way to the net and tucked a backhand inside the post. Defenceman Erik Karlsson was bracing to block a shot that never came and was caught standing upright as Bergeron skated around him, then caught Anderson with another fake that sent the Ottawa goalie toward the far side of the net. Bergeron neatly slipped the puck to the back of his stick and poked it in as he went behind the net. Ryan pulled Ottawa within 3-1 on a goal with 2:45 left in the second, catching Johnson offguard with a wrist shot when the goalie was expecting a crossing pass. But Boston scored again just 1:03 later when Krejci slid a pass across the crease to Iginla for a one-timer, then Krejci and Iginla assisted when Boston made it 5-1 3:35 into the third on a goal by Lucic. Notes: Anderson allowed five goals on 33 shots. ... Boston D David Warsofsky picked up his first NHL assist on Kellys goal with 3:34 left in the first period. Tyson Barrie Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Nathan MacKinnon Jersey .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. http://www.hockeyavalanchestore.us/Semy ... ov-Jersey/. Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. Carl Soderberg Jersey . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Joe Sakic Jersey . Villa has already confirmed his short-term deal and the Daily Mirror reported early Tuesday that Lampard will join him as both build up match fitness ahead of moves to the new Major League Soccer franchise New York City.PHOENIX -- With all the big bats in Colorados lineup, it was Drew Stubbs who provided the biggest swing in the Rockies latest victory. Stubbs hit his first home run of the season, off closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning, to lift Colorado over the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday night. Troy Tulowitzki had his second big game in a row in Arizona, hitting a two-run homer to put the Rockies up 4-3 in the sixth. A.J. Pollock tied it with a two-out home run in the eighth. Stubbs, who entered in a double switch in the eighth, hit a 2-2 pitch from Reed (0-2) into the right field seats, his first homer in 43 at-bats this year. He also chased down Eric Chavezs drive in deep centre to end the game. "Coming in and facing their closer, one of their best guys in the back end of the bullpen, you just hope he makes a mistake and you get a good pitch to hit," Stubbs said. "That last one was a slider out over the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it." Reed got ahead 0-2 on Stubbs. "I was feeling good, but once again a terrible slider in the zone," Reed said. "It was supposed to be down and away. I left it over the middle of the plate. He made me pay for it." Boone Logan (1-0) gave up Pollocks homer but got the victory. LaTroy Hawkins allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Colorado won its fourth series in a row. "I think right now you see signs of a group that comes together and understands how important it is to win," Tulowitzki said. "I think you see young guys buying in to doing things right to win the game. Thats what weve been trying to accomplish here the last few years, but I think this group has a firm grip on that." The Diamondbacks dropped their fourth straight, all at home, to fall to 2-13 at Chase Field this season. Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood left in the sixth with tightness in his right elbow. Tulowitzki also had a single and scored twice. In the first two games of the series, he is 5 for 6 with five RBIs and two home runs. Hes also walked three times, meaning hes reached base in eight of his nine plate appearances. "Hes in a good place," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Hes hitting the ball all over the field and very hard. Hes a great player." Colorados Nolan Arenado had an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, longest in the majjors this season.dddddddddddd. Justin Morneaus RBI triple extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Trailing 3-2, Colorado took the lead with two runs in the sixth. Carlos Gonzalez led off with a double to right, then Tulowitzki hit Mike Bolsingers 0-1 pitch into the swimming pool area beyond the right field fence to make it 4-3. Arizona batters had struck out four straight times when, with two outs in the eighth, Pollock hit Logans 0-1 pitch high off the foul pole in left field to tie it at 4. Arizona scored two in the second. Miguel Montero led off with a double, went to third when Chatwood threw wildly on a pickoff attempt and scored on Aaron Hills sacrifice fly. Chavez walked, then scored from first on Chris Owings two-out double down the left field line. The Rockies tied it with two in the fourth. With two outs, Tulowitzki singled and scored on Morneaus triple to right, where the ball bounced away from Gerardo Parra. Arenado singled up the middle to bring Morneau home. The Diamondbacks regained the lead, 3-2, in the third. Hill doubled with one out and scored when Chavez singled. Bolsinger left after giving up four straight hits to start the sixth, including Gonzalezs leadoff double and Tulowitzkis homer. With runners at first and second and no outs, reliever Oliver Perez got Corey Dickerson to pop out, then struck out Jordan Pacheco and Chatwood. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases against Chatwood with no outs in the sixth and got nothing out of it. Hill walked, Chavez singled and Pollock walked. That brought the Rockies trainer to the mound and ended the night for Chatwood. Chris Martin, in his second major league appearance, got Owings to bounce to third for a force at home, then pinch-hitter Roger Kieschnick struck out and Tony Campana bounced out to third. NOTES: Owings made a spectacular diving catch of Pachecos foul pop behind third base to end the Colorado eighth. ... The Diamondbacks said top pitching prospect Archie Bradley will be shut down for two weeks with a strained right elbow, then will begin a throwing program. Bradley was struggling at 1-4 with a 5.18 ERA for Triple-A Reno. ... In the series finale Wednesday night, Colorado sends Jordan Lyles (3-0, 2.93 ERA) to the mound against Arizonas Josh Collmenter (1-2, 3.38). ... The Rockies are 4-1 with one game left on their road trip to Los Angeles and Phoenix. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '