My husband and I live in Arizona. When the game schedule came out, the only time the Red Sox would be anywhere near us was this weekend. Its a four hour drive so we left the kids with my parents and headed to California. Charlie watches over my classroom and decided to stay and man his post (I forgot to bring him and forgot the alarm code to get in after hours). Of course I had my Chowdaheadz tshirt though. Great game, 5-0! Now four hours after getting back from the game, we are driving back to Arizona!

When the Sox were off to that horrible start I did everything to try and turn it around. Then I finally sat them together and the winning began!! Everyone that has them should immediately sit them near each other! Together we will be unstoppable!!

My sister and I visited our Dad and took these photos – Dad loved Charlie so much, he ordered some for his friends too.

When the Boston Bruins take the ice on Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, they will not only have the chance to polish off Les Habitants and move on to the conference semifinals, but they will accomplish something never done before in franchise history.

On 26 occasions, the Bruins have lost their first two games of a playoff series. On all 26 occasions, they went on to lose. On Tuesday night, with a win, the Bruins can finally erase the zero.

There is certainly no shame in losing the first two games of a playoff series, especially if doing so on the road. However, the Bruins lost the first two games against Montreal at home, and looked anemic in the process.

The Bruins found their way back on the road, winning both Games 3 and 4 at the Bell Centre, and then taking the crucial fifth game in a double overtime thriller at the TD Garden on Saturday night.

Now, with the clear advantage, the Bruins will attempt to finish off the Canadiens once again on the road.

Canadiens forward Scott Gomez knows exactly what’s at stake.

“It’s an elimination game. We’re looking forward to it. It’s a big challenge. It’s been a great series. Now, we’ve got to try to get some breaks here and there. We want to go back to Boston, that’s for sure,” Gomez told the Boston Globe.

The difference in their overall play the last three games? Desperation, as two Bruins’ players mentioned.

“The fourth win is the toughest,’’ said Patrice Bergeron. “To be desperate is what you want to do.’’

“We just know we fell behind the first two games and we didn’t play our best,’’ said Zdeno Chara. “We knew that we had to be better. We’re just playing with a lot more desperation.’’

So there you have it. Desperation is the key.

For continuing coverage of the Boston Bruins, follow us on Twitter @chowdaheadz.

Thousands of defensemen have played in the National Hockey League during its existence, yet only a select few have ever been acknowledged as the game’s best. For Boston Bruins’ defenseman Zdeno Chara, it has become almost an annual rite.

Photo credit slidingsideways via Creative Commons license

Chara was named as a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the fourth time in his career on Monday, just a day before the Bruins take to the ice in Montreal to finish out their conference quarterfinal series with the Canadiens.

Chara, who won the award in 2009, was gracious in his comments regarding his nomination.

“I’m very humble and very thankful,’’ Chara told the Boston Globe. “Especially after you consider how many guys had such a great season — a breakout season. I’m just very thankful that people who did vote recognized the definition of the Norris Trophy award.’’

According to NHL.com, the Norris Trophy is awarded to the player who “demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”

That would certainly describe Chara, who continually provides solid offense to go with this shutdown defense.

But Chara understands the totality of the position and what it entails better than most.

Opening Day 2011. Around me. Alternate home and away Jerserys, red socks hanging, New Era Hat. Don and Jerry, Ortiz Bobble head. Me wearing my Bost Red Sox home Jersey. Red Sox fan for 28 years and counting.

The Boston Celtics broke out the brooms in Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon against the New York Knicks, something they have not done since sweeping the Indiana Pacers in three games back in 1992, with the original Big Three.

Now, the Celtics await their next playoff opponent, and while it’s likely they’ll be facing the Miami Heat, they’ll have extra time to prepare.

The Philadelphia 76ers avoided a sweep of their own, beating the Heat in Game 4, 86-82, to extend that series just a wee bit longer.

That’s fine with the Celtics, who will use the time to rest, relax and get their game face on.

While finishing off the Knicks, the Celtics did let their guard down, allowing the Knicks to close to within four after jumping out to a 70-48 lead midway through the third quarter.

However, Kevin Garnett (26 points, 10 rebounds) rallied the troops, scoring 20 of his points in the second half.

“I thought we dropped the guard a little bit,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “Give them credit, I thought they played desperate and you could see it in their play and their defensive energy.”

Despite that energy, the Celtics closed on a 17-9 run, earning two days off and at least a week before their showdown with the Heat.

For continuing coverage of the Boston Celtics, follow us on Twitter @chowdaheadz.