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The Bruins just won seven straight games - six of those on the road - against top team. NESN received its highest hockey ratings with Thursday's game against the frightening Tampa Bay Lightning to take over second place in the conference. Penguins and Canadians on deck. Remember the last time the Bs played Montreal?

Lucic is in the midst of his best season yet and added a gaming-winning goal in the waning minutes of Thursday's game. That goal was a thing of beauty. With nearly all the players for both teams lumped into a pile in front of the net, Lucic calmly took the puck from the goal line, slid it out and the tapped a wrister into the top corner for the winning goal.

David Krecji got his 200th career point with that and Lucic got his third goal in three games.

I'd like to see more hitting by Lucic. Penalty minutes and assists are down from the season that made Lucic a fan favorite but goals are up, way up. Lucic has 11 more goals already this season than 2009. He had 262 hits two years ago and is currently at 136 this year. Thursday he beat up Brewer and then scored the game winning goal. He can do both.

I like seeing Rask in net more. I was getting nervous that they would burn Thomas out. Rask needs to get some more experience under his belt and Thomas plays well with rest.

Yankees tonight in spring training. I still get excited for it even though the games mean nothing and most of the lineup we may never see again. Plus, this is the first time in a long time I can watch some baseball. This is the best time of year - hockey going toward the playoffs and the Sox are back. Keep that TV on NESN.

I think more people are excited about baseball because it's a reward for dealing with the winter.

On to football; will we have football? Of course we will have football.

Pats signed Marcus Stroud. You can never have enough depth and never have enough mentors. The Pats are young, Stroud is not. They signed a playing coach. They'll likely draft some kid in the second or third round and station his locker right next to Stroud.

He will also be a great addition when they start facing teams with good pass protection.

Last note on football - I am sick of the Pats' running game. Please draft a powerback. I don't care which pick it is but please, please, draft a north/south runner.

Are you watching this road trip for the Bruins? This team is cup contenders. There is no better way to show that than to walk into Vancover in the midst of a West Coast trip and beat the best team in the NHL with the best home record and a stigma of cheating.

I know most of you don't watch hockey until the playoffs let alone a 10 p.m. midweek game. You have to work, why would you stay up for that? Well, let me fill you in on why I believe this is the most important Bruins road trip in recent history. They haven't had a road trip like this since the 70s.

The Bruins picked up some players at the deadline and they're just now getting to know each other and learn the system. The Bruins are pushing and pushing hard for a cup and is there a better way to get the most out of the late-comers than to have them win the toughest games? They see right now what type of team this could be and can start now to develop the teamwork and chemistry for the long run.

West Coast trips are hard. Here in the east we have short, little trips. Philly, DC, New Jersey, New York, Boston. On the West Coast, nothing is close. Why do you think all the older players look to move east?

Vancover is the best team in the NHL and that's based on the defense. That game went back and forth. It was hard fought and the Bruins out muscled and out hussled Vancover. That is what this team is capable of and that is what the fans should expect when we see our rematch with Philly or even better Montreal in the playoffs. (Did you see that Montreal game a few weeks back. Awesome.)

Tomas Kaberle. Best passer I've seen in Black and Gold. This guy can play. He has had a few miscues but I think those were because he wasn't sure where his teammates will be. That'll improve.

Great trade despite losing Colborne. I really wanted to see Colborne. I don't mind losing Wheeler and as much as I liked Stuart, Kaberle is worth it. Colborne though - sad.

However, it is better than he is off to a team that will get him ice time quicker. The Bruins are backed up in prospects and draft picks so this will help both sides out.

Tyler Seguin needs to start playing better. He's got great feet but he is not getting it done. No grit. No fight. Look at Marchand - he shouldn't even be on the team but he fought and scrapped his way to the top 6. We need that out of Seguin.

Overshadowed by Kaberle, Rich Peverley was a great pick up too. He earned 55 points last year.

The boy of summer started playing down in Fort Meyers and the sun has begun to shine in Massachusetts. With that us baseball fans get antsy. So, with the introduction of a new baseball season, iBerkshires will be introducing a new sports blog.

I will be in charge of this blog though I may not be the only one posting. I am a staff writer here at iBerkshires and I am a Boston sports fan. My coverage plan for this is whatever I feel like writing. My projection is that it will be heavy on the Bruins and the Red Sox. I will try to snag some local sports too.

We got that out of the way so let's talk some baseball. What do we think about this starting lineup? I'm already thinking about October.

Lineup

1) Jacoby Ellsbury - Steal bases and stop crying about your poor little ribs.
2) Dustin Pedoria - Looking creepy with the slicked-back hair but an all-around great player.
3) Youk - YOOOOOUUUUUKKK!
4) Papi - Let's try to start hitting in the first month this time.
5) A-Gonz - Great addition. Smaller ballpark, power pitching, protection in Papi - there is a lot of unseen possibilities here.
6) Crawford - Even better addition. Crawford was the best pick up because of the options. He can leadoff, he can steal a base, he can hit for power and average and  play defense. A great baseball player and should be fun to watch.
7) Drew - Bad back, bad knees, a great arm and can still hit.
8) Saltalamacchia - Who knows. I think Tek might come alive and take this spot in the lineup.
9) Scutaro - Solid and fundamentally sound player and I'd like to see him bump to number 2 in the lineup. He is an intelligent player and will help move the runners. Imagine starting off the games with Ellsbury getting on, stealing second and then Scutaro putting a little ground ball to the right. With 1 out to start the game you are looking to Youk and Papi to hit a deep fly ball - that's doable.

Rotation

1) Beckett - Nasty but I think these hitters are getting used to him a bit. Still strong enough to win 15-games.
2) Lester - Even Better. Staying healthy with this lineup, he could be a 20-game winner.
3) Lackey - Should have a better season now that he's seen the AL East hitters and knows the city. The East Coast and West Coast are drastically different and I'm sure Lackey was a bit distracted by the adjustment last year. Maybe 10-10 or 12-12ish but he will have some important ones.
4) Dice-K - Frustrating but effectively eats innings. Ideally, I'd like to see Dice-K pitching last in the rotation so he'll pitch before Beckett. Teams will have to deal with his pitter-patter on the edges and then the next day face Beckett's fastball pounding the zone. 10-14? Maybe? I have no real projection here.
5) Buchholz - Best on the staff rounding out the rotation. Stay focused, keep it down, throw strikes and he'll have another great season. Two 20-win pitchers on the same staff? It is March, so I say yes.

Pen

Bard, Paps, Jenks - We might be on closer by committee for a bit of this year. However, that committee consists of closers and not middle relievers like we used to have. Jenks, Paps, Bard will be lights out in the back end.
Okajima - Poised to have either a great season or a terrible one. We might be seeing Okajima on the trading block.
Wakefield - Mop until a starter goes down. How many wins does he need?
Wheeler - Great addition. In the heavy hitting AL East you can never have enough options out in the pen.
Aceves - Good pick up. Expect Doubront or Atchison to move into this back-end too.

Other faces we shall see.

Tek - I think his hitting will come around and take over the starting position.
Lowrie - I like him as a utility player but not as a starter yet. He could be in the future.
Cameron - Not sold on him yet. Let's see how he does.
Darnell McDonald - How can you not like Darnell? He may not be an all star but he is a fan favorite.
Lars Anderson - Trade him. We have enough first basemen and we'll need something at the trade deadline.
Kalish, Nava, Reddick - Last year's starters in AAA. They've shown they can step up and any of these guys could fill in a backup outfielder role.
Bowden, Atchison, Tazawa, Doubront - I expect all four of these guys to get a chance and all have a chance to compete for a permanent bullpen spot.
Jose Iglesias - This kid has good hands but I don't expect him to make to the show this year.