Bête noire: litereally French for "Black Beast". It is often used to describe a situation or a set of circustances when the fight is unwinnable. As a hockey term, it was first used by legendary French hockey announcer René Levavalier, and it certainly aplies to the Boston Bruins, in particular to goaltender Tim Thomas.



Try as they might the Senators could not dig themselves out of the hole they had created for themselves in the first period. The Bruins outmuscled, outmatched, outwitted and outplayed the Sens for the better part of the first period, racking up a commanding lead, and then sad back and played the defensive hockey they play so well. By the time the Senators had adjusted to the pace and style of the gam, it was already too late.

But most of all, it was Tim Thomas who proved the Senators' undoing. He was, once again, the major key to the Bruins win, playing a near perfect game. I'm not sure if the Ottawa lads are now not a little in awe of him, and if that doesn;t contribute to the lack of scoring somehow.

Ottawa needs to find a way of defeating this team soon. The Sens face the Bruins again twice more this month, on the 18th and the 23rd. They must win there. The Bruins are very likely one of the teams Ottawa willl have to face come playoff time, and they need to solve the "black beast" before then.