European News In Exchange For Bruins Season Opener

Tuukka Rask and his team NC Plzen are set to take on the Knights today at 2:30ET (Photo Credit: Steph Phillips)

Tonight was supposed to mark the beginning of the 2012-2013 season for the Boston Bruins, who were set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on nationally aired television.  But alas, we must settle for ESPN 3 online coverage of the KHL.  Don’t get me wrong, the European games are intriguing and fun to watch, but it’s not the same.  I would rather watch the teammates play on the same team rather than against each other, it makes it seem more like a scrimmage than a real game.  Yet, some hockey is better than no hockey at all, right?

Today Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask‘s team NC Plzen is set to take the ice at 2:30EST against Kladno.  The last time Tuukka was in goal for NC Plzen he helped lead the team to a 2-1 victory.  In the three games that Rask has been in net for NC Plzen, he has provided 78 saves and two victories.  Today Tuukka will face his old Stanley Cup teammate Tomas Kaberle along with Jaromir Jagr and Tomas Plekanec. The last time these two teams met up the Indians(plzen) fell to the Knights 4-0 on home territory. As they head back to the Kladno Knights ice they are looking to bounce back and earn themselves a win.  This game has a lot of hype around it and according to the Indians’ preview, tickets have “long since sold out.” If you would like to see this game, you can watch it here.

Other European News:

While Tuuka’s team may be the only game on the television-internet today, there are plenty of other players with some pretty cool news.  For instance Patrice Bergeron debuted in his first game for HC Lugano of the Swiss League a couple of days ago and managed to put up four points. Yeah, you read that correctly.  Perfect Patrice scored two goals and had two assists for four points in his first game.  If that isn’t a current-reigning Selke Winner showing his talents, I don’t know what is.

Patrice isn’t the only one showing off his skills on the ice from the Bruins squad either.  Take a look at this swift pass from Seguin for the game-winning goal for HC Biel (Grey team):

Also his first goal for HC Biel was c’est magnifique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH 8uhA-xcis

Captain Zdeno Chara also had his fair share of excitement as his team Lev Praha faced off against Alex Ovechkin‘s team Dynamo Moscow.  It was the first time the two captains met since the Capitals eliminated the Bruins in Round 1 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals. Just as the announcers were stating the KHL isn’t as physical as the NHL, Chara unleashed a heavy check sending the home-crowd into a roaring cheer.  Unfortunately this game came down to a single goal, one scored by none other than Alexandre Ovechkin himself.  A goal that could have easily been waived off per NHL officiating as goaltender interference.

For now this European stuff will have to suffice until the NHL decides to stop being stubborn.  We can still dream dear Bruins fans.