Pop Quiz

Three Boston professional sports teams played games yesterday. Which one did Shank write his latest column on?

A) Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 13 - 5;

B) Celtics beat the New Jersey Nets, 94 - 82, or

C) Bruins lose to the Washington Capitals, 2-1 in overtime.

The correct answer is C). I didn't say this would be a difficult quiz!

Bruins fans loved it when Tim Thomas shoved Washington center Nicklas Backstrom in the third period of Saturday’s game. Backstrom kept digging near the crease after Thomas covered a shot, and the Capitals forward absorbed two gloves to the face from the Bruins’ combative netminder.

It was mildly reminiscent of a moment in Game 3 against the Canucks last spring in the Final when Thomas coldcocked Vancouver superstar Henrik Sedin.

Unfortunately for Thomas and the Bruins, Backstrom had his revenge when he scored the winning goal (wrist shot, stick side) nearly three minutes into the second overtime to give the Capitals a series-squaring 2-1 victory over the Bruins.

Shank has written nine columns this month; six of those focused on Red Sox or Bruins losses and the Red Sox' (poor) prospects for the 2012 season.

Dan Shaughnessy - international man of misery...