The Boston Bruins had a stellar 2017-18 season, tallying 112 points and finishing in second place in the Eastern Conference. The B’s played an exciting brand of hockey due to a mixture of talented young players and skilled veteran stalwarts like Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Bruins president Cam Neely was pleased with the “exciting” brand of hockey that Boston played this season, noting the hockey IQ and execution on the power play gave the B’s a special energy. To hear Neely discuss the Bruins’ season with NESN’s Andy Brickley, check out the “NESN Sports Today” video above, presented by People’s United Bank. ... NESN.com
Sports
Here’s Danny Ainge’s Reaction To Cavs Player Calling Him A ‘F—ing Thief’
Danny Ainge may have pulled off another heist, but he knows better than to take a victory lap. The Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations made the news this week when The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd revealed a Cleveland Cavaliers player called Ainge a “f—ing thief” for pulling off the blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade last summer. Ainge was asked how he felt about those harsh words Thursday during his weekly radio interview on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich” and responded with a healthy dose of diplomacy. “First of all, time will tell,” Ainge said, as aired on NBC Sports Boston. “The pick that we gave them (the Bro... NESN.com
How Jaylen Brown Can Make NBA History During Eastern Conference Finals Vs. Cavs
The Boston Celtics entered the 2018 NBA playoffs with little expectations after losing star point guard Kyrie Irving for the season due to knee surgery in March. Boston still grabbed the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the C’s were an afterthought when the playoffs began. That all has changed now, as the Celtics narrowly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1 before rolling over the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 2. And after Tuesday night’s 107-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston now holds a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics have gotten large contributions from almost everyone on their roster ... NESN.com
Dustin Pedroia Singles, Scores Run In Pawtucket Red Sox Rehab Start
FOX Reveals Troy Aikman, Joe Buck As ‘Thursday Night Football’ Announcers
Football fans will hear familiar voices on Thursday nights this season. FOX Sports president Eric Shanks revealed Monday Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will announce “Thursday Night Football” games in 2018, according to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand. Buck and Aikman, FOX Sports’ top football-announcing team, also will continue to call some games on Sundays “They will call all the doubleheader games, as well as the Thursday games,” Shanks said, per Ourand. FOX had explored hiring a new set of announcers for its first season of “TNF” games, with Jason Witten and Peyton Manning among the network’s rumored targets. But Manning... NESN.com
Red Sox Notes: Bullpen Comes Up Huge In Boston’s Win Over Blue Jays
The Boston Red Sox bullpen has been heavily criticized throughout the season — and sometimes for good reason. But the Red Sox relievers deserve enormous credit for how they performed in Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Drew Pomeranz started the game for Boston but exited in the fifth inning after surrendering three runs without recording an out. From that point on, Hector Velazuez, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree and Joe Kelly combined to shutout the Jays and secure the win. Velazquez was particularly important, as the righty minimized the damage in the fifth and wound up throwing two scoreless innings. “You’ve got to give cred... NESN.com
Red Sox Starter David Price Felt Good In Saturday’s Outing Vs. Blue Jays
David Price looked sharp in his return to the mound. After getting scratched from his start Wednesday to undergo testing on his hand (which revealed a mild case of carpal tunnel), Price returned to pitch Saturday in the Boston Red Sox’s 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. In the start, the lefty struck out six while allowing two runs on five hits with three walks over 5 1/3 innings. After the game, Price indicated that he felt good and kept getting better as he continued throwing. To hear from Price, check out the “NESN Sports Today” video above, presented by People’s United Bank.