Spectator threw a shoe after Bruins’ Frank Vatrano's hat trick

The Boston Bruins stomped all over the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-2, on Friday night, handing them their third consecutive loss.

But it was a hockey official left holding a shoe.

A big reason for the Bruin's romp was rookie Frank Vatrano's first career hat trick. But because it happened on the road, where you don't expect a lot of hats thrown in tribute, a couple of caps did make their way down to the ice — along with the shoe.

Yup. A shoe.

The size 12 was probably a hint from a disgruntled Penguins fan sitting in the Consol Energy Center stands who had seen enough of the 21-year-old Vatrano.

In other words, take a hike.

Frank Vatrano nets his first NHL hat trick in #NHLBruins 6-2 win--WATCH: https://t.co/D0n3mJX2St

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 19, 2015

Disbelieving officials scooped up the wayward shoe which was hopefully claimed at the exit because it was snowing and about 20-degrees in Pittsburgh last night.

Kevan Miller gets decision against Joe Vitale in Bruins' first fight (VIDEO)

Don't let the Bruins' clean slate of fighting majors so far this season give you the notion that the Beantown brawlers have become more passive.

No sir.

That passivity ended in grand style during Saturday's contest against the Arizona Coyotes when

Arizona forward Joe Vitale grabbed a hold of Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller. The two first shared some unpleasant words before Vitale, probably now regretfully, dropped his gloves. 

Here's video of the NHL's season's most exciting scrap to date with blow-by-blow commentary from the Bruins announcer Jack Edwards:

Vitale might have destroyed Miller's collar hanging on to his dignity, but his opponent gets the TKO.

Alex Ovechkin takes slapshot directly to his boys (VIDEO)

Man gets hit in groin by football is always good for a laugh. But man gets hit in groin by hockey puck? Eh... not so much!

Alex Ovechkin found out his whole commitment to defense is maybe a little harder than he thought after the Capitals shooter took a full on blast from Bruins defenseman Torey Krug right to his nether regions.

And I don't mean Siberia.



And although Ovi didn't see the missle-shot coming, the Russian did make the play.

Bruins' Seth Griffith scores amazing, backwards, no-look, through-the-legs goal (VIDEO)

There have been plenty of backwards or no-look or through-the-the-legs goals scored in the NHL over the years. And all are pretty remarkable on their own but, have you ever seen all three plays on one score?

Well, the Bruins' Seth Griffith performed the amazing triple-feat against the Devils goalie Corey Schneider Monday night.

After blocking a shot to start a breakout, Griffith muscled through two Devils as he crossed the blue line. As he approached the crease, New Jersey defenseman Marek Zidlicky spun Griffith around, but the Bruins center slapped the puck backward and past the goalie. 

Griffith's all-out effort got a big cheer from the sold-out TD Garden crowd — and an even bigger one when it was replayed on the scoreboard and fans could see in slow motion what had happened.

“I knew if I got it on net, something good might happen,” Griffith said after his highlight-reel goal helped the Bruins beat the Devils 4-2.

Eight-year-old cancer survivor fist-bumps every Boston Bruins player (VIDEO)

There was an amazing moment at TD Garden Tuesday night and it had nothing to do with the action during the Bruins-Panthers NHL match-up. In fact, it is what happened during the pre-game warm-ups before the Bruins' 2-1 OT victory that is worth seeing again.

Liam Fitzgerald, a brave 8-year-old boy with Down Syndrome who successfully battled cancer got to fist bump all the players on his favorite hockey team. And if the adorable reaction from Liam and the players alike doesn't get you, your heart must be colder than the surface the players skate on.

Footage of the  exchange between Liam — wearing a Bruins team hat and jacket —  and the players went viral with nearly 1.5 million views:

Boston.com reported that Liam was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was just four-years-old. After three and a half years of battling the grueling illness he survived but didn't let it stop him from rooting for his favorite teams — namely the Bruins and the Red Sox.

Liam visited Fenway Park this past summer as a guest of starting pitcher Clay Buchholz, but Boston.com reports that Liam's true love is the Bruins and he even dressed up as defenseman Adam McQuaid for Halloween last year.

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, who has a partnership with the Bruins Foundation for an annual charity fundraiser, told McQuaid that Liam is a big fan of his, so the player invited the little guy and his family to the Bruins game.

Liam was beaming as he met Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and even former Bruins Johnny Boychuk and Shawn Thornton.

"It not the attention, it’s the smile they bring to his face," said his mom, Christine Fitzgerald.

And that smile is pretty infectious.

Red Wings' Smith wants no part of Bruins' Chara (VIDEO)

Nothing represents the Boston Bruins physical presence like 6' 9" captain Zdeno Chara.

And, as the beefed up Bruins team evened up their series with the Detroit Red Wings with a 4-1 victory Sunday, at least one Red Wings player seemed a little intimidated by the big Bruin.

Brendan Smith, at 6' 2", is a pretty big size  himself, but looked like he wanted no part of the giant Zdeno.

It's the kind of scuffle you see outside your local tavern every weekend.

"Hold me back."

Ryan Clowe and Milan Lucic slug it out (VIDEO)

The New Jersey Devils wore their throw-back uniforms but couldn't revive those old winning ways Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.  They lost their third straight 4-2 on home ice, and at least one Devils player took it literally on the chin.

Late in the first period, Ryan Clowe got frisky and slugged it out with Milan Lucic. The two respected brawlers battled evenly until Clowe took one to the jaw. 

So much for inspiring the team.

Two women injured when protective netting falls at TD Garden (PHOTOS)

Two women were injured when the protective netting behind one of the goals fell at the TD Garden Thursday night.

The pole that holds the netting struck the women after the Bruins-Capitals game at about 9:40 p.m., according to CBSBoston.

One woman was taken out of the arena on a stretcher, the other had a neck brace. Their names have not been released.

Boston Police say both bloodied women are in their 20′s and they were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with minor injuries.

It is unclear what caused the netting to fall.

A photographer covering the game for Getty Images was also nearby and, luckily, only his camera got smashed.

This could've been my head from the falling netting at TD Garden. Hoping the best for the 2 injured fans. pic.twitter.com/EwFxOLKswB
— Jared Wickerham (@WickPhoto) March 7, 2014

The netting, which is suspended above the glass at the ends of the rink, was made mandatory by the NHL in 2002 after a fan died when she was hit by a puck in Columbus, Ohio.

Brad Marchand gives Canucks fans the ring finger (VIDEO)

Sometimes bad memories eventually fade away but all it takes it takes is a single gesture to remind some about the days of dreams lost.

In this case, it took two.

The Vancouver Canucks beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Saturday, so you could say they got the last laugh but the Bruins Brad Marchand made sure his hand motions evoked memories of the Bruins’ victory over the Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final before the game was over.

Marchand also mimed "raising the Cup" to jar the crowd's memory just a little more.

Apparently, that bit of trolling didn’t leave Bruins' head coach Claude Julien amused. He said that the 25-year-old antics will be addressed, according to PHT.

Being a rabble-rouser is a part of Marchand’s game, so it would be interesting to see how Julien gets his message through to his star mime. 

Coach's house gets toilet papered after Blackhawks' Stanley Cup win

After the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup back in 2010, fans responded by toilet papering head coach Joel Quenneville's house in celebration. After all, it was the team's first title in 49 years.

Monday night, after the Blackhawks' stunning victory over the Boston Bruins to win the Lord Stanley again, Chicago supporters showed their appreciation once again by TP'ing the coach's home.

That’s a photo of Quenneville’s house via Paul Pabst, the producer for “The Dan Patrick Show.”

Ellie, a Blackhawks fan, tweeted that her friend is a neighbor of Quenneville’s and helped drape his house in Charmin while proudly posting photos of her own TP hanging skills.

Vandalism like this usually calls for a hosing down by the homeowner but Coach Q even came out and signed autographs for his giddy neighbors.

Coach Q signing autographs for the neighbors. pic.twitter.com/JXgrVr8Xru
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) June 25, 2013

Tortorella fired as New York Rangers head coach

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that head coach John Tortorella has been relieved of his coaching duties with the team.

A conference call to officially announce the firing of the controversial and rough-edged coach will be held at 2:15 pm Wednesday afternoon, according to SNY.

Rumors of Tortorella being fired had been floating around Madison Square Garden ever since the Rangers disappointing 2013 season ended and they intensified when the team was bounced from the playoffs by the Boston Bruins over the weekend. He still has one year left on his contract.

Under Tortorella’s guidance, the Rangers posted their second most wins all-time in a single season with 51, and tied for second in franchise history with 109 points in 2011-12.  He became the 30th coach in NHL history to coach 800 games on March 27, 2012, at Minnesota (3-2 win), and won his 100th game as Rangers Head Coach with a 5-3 win on November 5, 2011, vs. Montreal.  On March 26, 2013, Tortorella became the 30th head coach in league history to register his 400th NHL coaching victory, with a 5-2 win at Philadelphia. He also passed Tom Renney for fourth on the Rangers’ all-time coaching wins list with a 3-2 shootout victory on April 10, 2013 vs. Toronto.

Tortorella was named the 34th head coach in franchise history on February 23, 2009.  He ranks first on the NHL’s all-time wins list among U.S.-born coaches with 410 career victories, having passed Peter Laviolette with a 4-3 shootout win at Montreal on March 17, 2009.

Prior to returning to the Rangers, Tortorella served as Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning for seven seasons.  Under his guidance, Tampa Bay compiled a 239-222-36-38 record in 535 games.  He led the Lightning to four consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, including two Southeast Division Championships in 2002-03 and 2003-04.  In 2003-04, Tortorella guided Tampa Bay to a franchise record 46 wins and 106 points, and went on to capture the only Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history.  He was awarded the Jack Adams Award as the National Hockey League’s top coach following that season.

Never known to be a player's coach, Torts was criticized during the 2013 playoffs for his public scolding of players, his demanding style of coaching and his curt and profane press conferences.

Rumors have Jim Schoenfeld or Lindy Ruff as the frontrunners for the vacant position.

Tortorella says anyone who doesn't believe he still loves Brad Richards can 'kiss his bleep'

John Tortorella has a way with words but it's too bad most of them can't be posted on family media sites.  The New York Rangers head coach once again needed his potty-mouth washed out with soap during Thursday night's postgame presser after the New York Rangers staved off elimination against the Boston Bruins with a 4-3 overtime win.

Tortorella made expensive forward Brad Richards a healthy scratch in an eventual Game 4 win, but — in his own profane way — Torts insisted that he and Richards are still close and if you don't believe him well ...

“I love that guy,” Tortorella said. “I’ve grown up with that guy. Kiss my [expletive deleted] if you’ve written anything differently.”

It’s not the first time the Blueshirts' blue-mouthed coach's comments have needed a five-second delay and, with the second-round series extended for at least one more game, it might not be the last.

Tortorella didn’t elaborate on the chances that Richards would be back for Game 5 but did admit he's happy they survived Thursday's OT victory.

“I’m happy for them,” Tortorella said. “They’re still breathing.”

Maple Leafs fan holds up the most tasteless sign ever

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally ended the longest current home playoff drought in the NHL after playing their first postseason game at the Air Canada Centre Monday night against the Boston Bruins.  Most fans showed up and and made the experience of hosting the big night fun and memorable. But some showed the world they've never been there before in more ways than one.

This knucklehead took the occasion to hold up a poster with the words "Toronto Stronger" emblazoned with a blue ribbon to support the team.  All fine and dandy except when you realize it's a play on the words, "Boston Strong," the slogan used to help Boston residents — and everyone else for that matter— come to grips with the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy.

Twisting the rallying cry of a devastated country to cheer your own city is in bad taste. Using the words to compare the hopes of winning a hockey series to a city that just lost its innocence is shameful.

Stick to the blue and white scarves ... eh.

Bruins Tim Thomas Skips Ceremony With President Obama

The Boston Bruins went to the White House to meet President Obama and celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup championship yesterday— shorthanded.

Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas snubbed the meet-and-greet with Obama and later issued a statement on his Facebook page citing his reasons for snubbing the President of the United States at the traditional ceremony.


"I believe the federal government ha grown out of control," he stated, "threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people."

Call it Unoccupy White House.

The Internet lit up with polarized opinions about Thomas' political views and defiant stance at the expense of the entire team.

The Bruins president, Cam Neely, tried to distance the team from Thomas without alienating the playoff MVP.

"We are disappointed that Tim chose not to join us and his views certainly do not reflect those of the Jacobs family or the Bruins organization," said Neely.

Thomas— born in Flint, Mich. and an outspoken Tea Party member— said he blames both political parties for the nation's woes and had been at odds with the Bruins about attending the fete for a while.

"The Federal government has grown out of control threatening the Rights, Liberties and Property of the People," for that reason he stated, "I exercised my right as a free citizen.  This is not about politics or party, as in my opinion, both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country."

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said he had been trying for months to convince Thomas to attend with the rest of the team, but that it still didn't happen.

Even though the event was an honor for the entire team, a lot of the attention was centered on Thomas.

President Obama didn't seem miffed by the slight and even singled out the absent Thomas to congratulate the goalie on his playoff exploits.

"Tim Thomas posted two shutouts in the Stanley Cup Finals," he said.  "He set an all-time record for saves in postseason."

Thomas is only the second U.S. player to win the playoff MVP.

Yesterday was the Boston Bruins turn to bask in the national spotlight for what they accomplished as a team and Thomas took the opportunity to turn it into a personal political statement.

Call him disrespectful, unprofessional, selfish or just plain honest, Thomas got his point across— no matter who he disappointed or pleased in his wake.

It's his right as a citizen in this country to voice his opinion— whether it be declining an invitation to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or camping out and banging drums in a city park.

Olivia Munn Is New York Rangers Good Luck Charm

A New York Ranger dating a model or actress is nothing new in the city, but center Brad Richards might have just landed himself a keeper in Olivia Munn.  At least Rangers fans hope so.

Munn has been linked to Richards since November and since then has been a regular in the stands while the team has gone on a torrid hot streak.  They now find themselves at first place in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

The pretty Maxim model and actress was spotted at Madison Square Garden again during Monday night's 3-0 win against the Islanders.  Following the game, she was seen being high-fived and thanked by Rangers fans in the stands, according to the New York Post.

Richards and Munn have been spotted getting cozy all over Manhattan and reportedly spent Christmas Eve together.

According to the Post, the couple go to trendy hot spots together and were seen "laughing a lot and very affectionate."

The victory against the Islanders was the Rangers (22-8-4) fifth straight and they have improved to 11-3-2 at home this season.  They remain one point ahead of the Boston Bruins.

Richards has 12 goals and 14 assists in 34 games this year.

For now at least Ranger fans can call Munn their lucky charm and be thankful she isn't a Kardashian.

Andrew Ference Proves The NHL Is For Goons and Geeks

Staying true to his word, Boston Bruins player Andrew Ference went "one up" on his teammates when it came to his day with the Stanley Cup.  That's if if you consider bringing the trophy into a group of people who gather for a pointless act, then disperse one upping.

 That's right, Lord Stanley has been flash mobbed for the first time and, hopefully, it will be the last time it participates in a "spontaneous" outbreak of dance.

In front of speakers blaring the strains of Queen's "We Are the Champions," the defenseman walked into a flash mob crowd in the North End of Boston carrying the Lord Stanley over his head.  Hundreds of hipsters and computer geeks filled the Hanover Street block and swarmed the happy hockey player.

The poor Cup, which gets to spend a day with each player on the winning team, has already been dropped,  filled with milk and breakfast cereal and who knows how many people sloppily slurped beer from its mouth so far this year.   But its most undignified moment must be this-- being the center of a geek-filled flash mob-- doing it for the dance.

Ference celebrated the Bruins 2011 Championship by parading through the hometown streets and later visited a local hospital with the trophy.

I can't wait for the player who "planks" the trophy for the first time.

Jurors in Casey Anthony Trial Will See Recording of Lightning-Bruins Playoff Game

The jurors in the Casey Anthony murder trial found out this morning they will be allowed to watch a recorded tape of tonight's Game 7 Stanley Cup Playoff match-up between their home team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Boston Bruins.  The 12 jurors and five alternates broke out in applause when Judge Belvin Perry announced his decision regarding the big game.

The sequestered Clearwater, Florida jury, selected from the Tampa Bay area, was transported to Orlando after Judge Perry made arrangements for Friday's 8 p.m. EST game to be recorded and shown later to the jurors of the highly-publicized case.

This is the first Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals in five years and will be played at the TD Garden in Boston.

Anthony was charged with 1st degree murder after her 2 year-old daughter was found dead in 2008.  The polarizing trial has received a lot of national media attention.

The winner of tonight's Lightning-Bruins game will face the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Canucks defeated the San Jose Sharks in five games.

The murder trial began Tuesday with opening statements after 11 days of jury selection.  The trial is expected to last about two months.

The finals series begin Wed. June 1 in Vancouver and a game seven would be played there on June 15.

Which means, if the Lightning win tonight, the jurors will probably continue seeing delayed tapes of the Lightning games throughout the Finals.