BRUINS CLINCH EAST AND OTHER BOSTON SPORTING NEWS

This is a happy blog! The Bruins have clinched the Eastern Conference and will have home ice at the very least until the Stanley Cup. That is, if they get there. But things seem better as the team has erased a long 20 game slump and have rediscovered their groove. Last Sunday, they went into Philadelphia and won a huge, epic game 4-3. The team put Manny Fernandez in net 2 nights later and it paid off in a 3-1 victory. The team stayed hot soon thereafter in a thrilling 2-1 win versus old friend Alex Auld and the Sens. Yesterday, in a likely preview of the Bruins opening series foe, the NYR, a stellar Tim Thomas and a lone 1st period goal by Wheeler gave the black-and-gold a 1-0 win to cap off an undefeated week! The team still has 4 games left during this upcoming final week of the season, but the division and conference already belong to the good guys. The team will rest some players and get healthy(they are still without Kessel, Thornton and Ward) as they await either the NYR or Panthers playoff matchup the following week. The team will likely use Fernandez once or twice but will aim to keep their winning ways straight up until the postseason. They have won 6 straight games. Finally, the team locked up goalie, and likely Vezina winner. He leads the NHL in GAA and save %. Thomas signed a 4 year deal at 20 million. It's well deserved!
The Celtics had a terrific week too! They went undefeated too! They bashed the Thunder 103-84 last Sunday then went on to beat the Bobcats in 2 OT before beating the Hawks to make it 4-for-4 vs. the Hawks this year and 7 straight in the regular season. With 5 games left, the main goal is to finish in 2nd place in the East. The Magic are % points behind.
Lastly, the Red Sox open the 2009 regular season tomorrow at the Fens versus Tampa!

NHL EAST
1. BOS 112
2. WSH 104
3. NJ 102
4. PHI 95
5. CAR 95
6. PIT 93
7. MTL 92
8. NYR 89
9. FLA 87
10. BUF 85
11. OTT 78
12. TOR 77
13. ATL 74
14. TBL 66
15. NYI 61

NBA EAST

1. CLE -
2. BOS 4
3. ORL 4.5
4. ATL 19
5. PHI 21
6. MIA 21
7. CHI 25
8. DET 25.5
9. CHA 27.5
10. IND 29.5
11. MIL 30.5
12. NJN 30.5
13. TOR 31
14. NY 32.5
15. WASH 44.5