Bruins Post Mortem

You just knew it was gonna end like this. Another one goal game. Another nail biter. Another horrible ending to a game that would end the season too soon because no one wants hockey to end after one round. Not after what we experienced last season!

But here we are. Left to wonder why the Bruins could only score 15 goals in this seven game season. Why none of the big boys stepped up to the table, got the noses dirty enough to put rebounds past the young solid goaltender for the Washington Capitals.  A lot of bystanders in this series and that’s so unlike what this Bruins team has been all about. Where was that snarl?  Where was that nastiness that they needed to breakdown the defensive wall that the Capitals had put up and relentlessly did not give in.

It wasn’t about Washington’s offensive prowess because the Bruins defense pretty effectively shut down the like of Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich, and Nicklas Backstrom. It came to the likes of Milan Lucic, and Patrice Bergeron, although limited, not scoring a goal in the series. Third line center Rich Peverley had the most goals on the team with three. David Krejci virtually missing in action and cliche it may be, the Bruins best players were not their best players by a long shot.

The big thing for Boston was the fact that in consecutive playoff years, the power play was non-existent. Two goals with the man advantage in 23 opportunities none larger that with just over two minutes left in the third period of game seven on what was really a questionable holding call. This power play was abysmal for two seasons now and obviously has not been addressed. The coach spoke about the fact that they had no one like Marc Savard on it. Well it’s been a known fact that Savard ain’t walking through that locker room door for the past two seasons yet what we’ve seen is what we have gotten and it did not change from playoff year to playoff year.

Shot selection was weak for the most part.  Most of the time the Bruins settled for the point shot and more often failed to get it through to the net. Often shots were into the netminders pads or glove. Note to Bruins shooters, get good hard low shots above the 11 inches of padding goalies wear!

Tired, weary, passive, injury, not the will and want of last year. Whatever the reason, this was a different Boston Bruins team than its winning predecessor. Maybe we were looking through black & gold colored glasses thinking that everything would be alright and come together last night. Tim Thomas would again be the brick wall he was, Brad Marchand would be the “L’il Ball of Hate”, Bergy would be Bergy, and we would all get no sleep again until mid June.

Not to be. Now the speculation on changes and trades and free agents begin. Somehow, I’m just not quite ready for that. First round eliminations are just too hard to take. It ended quick & painful and way too soon.

~Ric

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Bruins – Caps Bruins need a win to stay alive!

Well now what?  It comes to an elimination game on Sunday afternoon, and we never know what can happen.  What we do know from past experiences is that the Bruins had three seven games series last year on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. In each of those series, Game five seemed pivotal. They won two of the three losing the fifth in the Final. Winners of the fifth game of a series after being tied at two a piece have gone on to win the series eighty percent of the time which means it really doesn’t look good for the Boston Bruins after dropping game 5 at home Saturday afternoon.

What this game came down to was Washington taking advantage of the breaks Boston gave them and the Bruins did not. Zdeno Chara rang a shot of the goalpost in the first period with Boston on the power play and Daniel Paille on a shorthanded breakaway clanged one off the post. Those shots go in and its an entirely different hockey game. The Capitals meanwhile made the most of what Boston gave them with a scramble in front and Jay Beagle putting a puck under Tim Thomas and a weak goal that went in off Thomas’ glove and Washington led 2-0 in the second period.

The Bruins finally got to young Braden Holtby as desperation was setting in. Dennis Seidenberg & Brad Marchand scored 27 seconds apart late in the second and the building had come alive and new hope that things in the Bruins world of hockey would be alright.

Ah, but old friend Mike Knuble would pick up a dandy rebound in the slot low left circle for a wide open shot and a 3-2 lead.  Give Boston credit as the finally scored on the power play as Brad Marchand backhanded a pass to Dennis Seidenberg who quickly laid it over to the left point for a Johnny Boychuk one-timer and the game was tied.

With just over two minutes left in the third, Benoit Pouliot was called for slashing and The Capitals converted on a wrister from Troy Brouwer from the top of the right circle that Thomas certainly should’ve had and with that, Washington can eliminate the defending Stanley Cup Champions from playoff contention at the Verizon Center Sunday Afternoon.

So, can the Bruins break that eighty percent fact and send this series to a game seven back in Boston, or will they have a melting the ice party at the TD Garden? They’ve been down this road before.  Last year the Champs were 4-0 in elimination games. They need the kind of effort they had in those games last year to keep their season alive.

~Diehard

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Mario Lemieux & the Pittsburgh Penguins are Frauds!

I’m no national media columnist, but after watching what was for me a mixture of delight and disgust known as game 3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs the Flyers in Philadelphia, I think its time for one of those National, high profile columnist to do it.  Time to call out that hypocrite and fraud of an owner of the Penguins Mario Lemieux. When Lemieux was a player, despite his offensive talents, he constantly complained about the clutching and grabbing that went on in his 90′s era. He threatened to quit playing because of it. Since he has been in charge of the Pittsburgh franchise he has hinted about not being an owner in the National Hockey League more than once.

Well Mario, You are a fraud. You are a hypocrite and from where I sit, you have been your entire professional career. Yes the league appreciates all you have done to promote hockey. Yes the league appreciates the fact that when no one else would, you stepped in and saved that Penguin franchise and kept professional hockey in Pittsburgh. But it’s your two-face that grinds my gears now and for a while.

For many years you played along side one of the National Hockey League blatant cheapshot artists and gutless players in Ulf Samuelsson. For three seasons you played with another gutless cheapshot artist in Darius Kasparaitis. And if my memory serves me, you never had one complaint about the fact they were injuring opponents many times.

After you purchased the team you then and still have in your employ a new century thug in Matt Cooke who has a few suspensions and fines for his gutless and cheap acts on his hockey brethren including one of the worst head shots ever seen in the NHL to the Boston Bruins Marc Savard in 2009 which has effectively ended his career as he spends much time trying to figure it all out.

You then have the audacity to send a letter to the National Hockey League after another donnybrook with the New York Islanders late in the 2010-2011 season in which 65 penalties were assessed, including 15 fighting majors and 21 game misconducts, resulting in a total of 346 minutes. Oh by the way, New York won the game 9-3 which seems to be some sort of pattern with the Penguins.  When they are out of the game, it deteriorates into a brawl.

Your statement to the NHL after that game: “Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.

“The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.

“We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players.  We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.

“If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.”

Well just tell me what is your statement about what happened at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon. Most of it initiated by the thugs in white with the skating Penguin Crest.

Are you going to condemn your team because it was all on them. I’m no Philadelphia fan. I’m a hockey fan. I enjoy a good hockey fight, and I grew up in the bench clearing brawl era so I’m not immune to any of this.  I actually was laughing at the first period. But as the game/fights progressed, as your team could not keep the Flyers off the scoreboard, as your team continued to get frustrated and take cheap shots, it really brought it all back to you!

Until you clean up your own house in Pittsburgh, you should not think that others should clean it up for you. Or maybe you should not be in a league that allows the people you employ act like fools!

~Diehard

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Bruins Caps Game 2

They haven’t had a lead in the series yet they have a victory. But all is not right with the Boston Bruins as they head into Washington for game three of this series with the Capitals. Both teams have scored but two goals and if you are looking for a bright spot, it has been the stellar play of Tim Thomas whose Stanley Cup playoff shutout streak ended at 161 minutes, 41 seconds. However, the Capitals first goal is one I’m sure he’d like to have back.

But what of the Bruins offense?  Where is the traffic in front of the net? where are the second and third chances on the young inexperienced goaltender? Right now they are nowhere to be found. It seems that one (shot) and done is the nature of this series for the Bs. The one second chance they had was a loose puck squirting out in the slot with Benoit Pouliot beating Braden Holtby to the puck tying the game.

The Capitals have played the way they wanted perfectly. Blocking tons of shots and when Bruins shots made their way to the net, they were an easy save for young Mr. Holtby because he had clear sight of the puck. Capital defense making sure of that.

I’ve not questioned Claude Julien’s in game decisions and said I would not since June 15, 2011, but being what happens over time, you knew that would change. A couple of curious line combinations for the Bruins. At one point he double shifted Tyler Seguin putinng him on the David Krejci line with Rich Peverly and again on his usual line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Ok, he’s young and can take the cardio and who knows, you might just strike goal. But the more curious is the defensive combo of Greg Zanon and Joe Corvo. That duo had many issues in the first overtime and when they were out there with the fourth line of Greg Campbell, Shawn Thornton & Dan Paille, well lets just say thing were very scary. I know the coach and he is not gong to change his formula for success, we know that.  But he should not have those five on the ice at the same time. Also, revisiting one key element in last years playoffs is Johnny Boychuk being on the ice at the wrong time. He was the only player on the ice for both Washington goals and had a bad hand in them especially the whiff on the clearing attempt which led to the Johansson pass to Niklas Backstrom snap wrister to end the suspense and send this to Washington and hand the Caps a chance to get the upper hand on the Bruins.

It’s time for the upper classmen of the Bruins to get going. Bergeron & Krejci were not good in faceoffs and Washington out hit the Bruins and were patient enough to get goals on plays that Boston could have prevented instead of boo-boos that have cost them a series lead.

~Diehard

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NHL Playoffs Day 4

Because I have no life, I probably watch entirely too much hockey, especially at playoff time. But really, if you are a sport fan there really is nothing better than watching playoff hockey and seeing the upsets and the upsets in the making. And now with social media, you can witness all kinds of entertainment with Facebook and Twitter. And since the Presidents Trophy winners, Vancouver Canucks now find themselves down two games to none to the eighth seed Los Angeles Kings, and heading south for the next two.  Last years runner up is in dire straits and as usual there is talk of possibly a goalie change for game number three. That would give Corey Schneider his first ever playoff start. But also per Coach Alain Vigneault he has refused to name his starter for game 3. The Vancouver natives are very restless and should they get down three games, oh what fun it will be in British Columbia.

The Philadelphia Flyers have a habit of getting behind by two or three goals lately, but that has not prevented them from coming back and winning the first two games of their series against favorite Pittsburgh Penguins in dramatic fashion. Game one the Penguins shot out to a three nothing lead only to have the Flyers, led by Claude Giroux come back to tie and then win the game in overtime. Game two, same thing. Sidney Crosby scored 15 seconds into the game. They then forged into a 3-1 lead only to have the Flyers tie it, go ahead, go behind and finally blow away the pens by an 8-5 score. This one is far from over but Pittsburgh MUST win game three.

Who knew that the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators would show so much hatred for one another. The Rangers blew out the Sens in the first game 4-1 and it wasn’t really that close. Game two began with game misconducts to Rangers Brandon Dubinsky and Ottawa’s Terry Carkner as he checked Brian Boyle and then began to pummel Boyle into the ground. Dubinsky came to Boyle’s rescue and got the game for third man in. New York took liberties with Ottawa in game 1 and Sens coach Paul MacLean decided to put in a little grit to stem the tide. Hockey nastiness ensued but in overtime, another tough guy scored the winner and now that series is tied heading up to Canada’s Capital!

Detroit & Nashville head to the Joe Louis Arena for game three tied at one game a piece and although the Red Wings came back to tie that series at one, make no mistake about it, The Predators will give them a fight in the theatre where the Winged Wheel won an NHL Record 23 straight during the year. Todd Bertuzzi, probably the pugilistic guy on the Wings sent a message to Shea Weber and the rest of the Predators that bashing his teammates heads into the glass or any other shenanigans will not be tolerated.

What to make of the Florida Panthers?  Not sure as they played their first playoff game in a dozen years and yet there wasn’t anyone there to see it. Lots of people disguised as empty seats in game 1. The team didn’t show up in the first period as the New Jersey Devils quickly stormed to a three-nothing lead and relied on their future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur to hold onto a 3-2 win and Brodeur’s 100th NHL Playoff victory.

The St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks is another series knotted up at one game a piece and heading to the Northern California. Pretty evenly matched teams who have played two pretty spirited games. Goaltending still the key in this series. Jaroslav Halak was knocked out of game two by his own man. Of course its the dreaded upper body injury and from the way it looked, Halak probably got concussed. Still no nastiness yet but that should change as it rolls along!

And yet another series that has been pretty exciting and tied at one. Chicago rallying in the third period of both games to tie the games and send them into overtime. Phoenix won game one & Chicago won game two after sending it to OT with 5 seconds left in the third. Games Three & Four head to the United Center in Chicago. I still think Mike Smith will out-duel Corey Crawford and take this series. Stay tuned.

~Diehard

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NHL Playoff Predictions

Western Conference

1 Vancouver Canucks vs 8 Los Angeles Kings:  I’ve watched a lot of hockey this year including the West and yes Vancouver has equalled last season with another Presidents Trophy as best regular season team in the NHL. The Kings have had their ups and downs. New manager, and the fact that they have a hard time scoring goals. Their one constant was goaltender Jonathan Quick and he will have to be even better to hold off the Canucks and especially their power play! I would love to see an upset here but I don’t see it happening.  Vancouver in 5 games.

2 St. Louis Blues vs 7 San Joe Sharks: Since Ken Hitchcock took over the Blues, they have been nothing short of sensational. Underachieving at the beginning of the season, they were in the top spot in the league for a while. Jaro Halak & Brian Elliott share the number one spot in goal in which the lead the league in goals allowed with a measley 165. I’m no longer a Sharks fan because no matter what, they don’t seem to have a killer instinct to go to the next level. Love Joe Thornton and hope someday he gets his name on The Cup, unfortunately, I dont think its this year.  St. Louis sweep!

3 Phoenix Coyotes vs 6 Chicago Blackhawks: Good for the Coyotes. Solidified thier position on the final day of the year. Once they knew they were not going to give Ilya Bryzgalov teh gazillion dollars he wanted, they aimed for free agent Mike Smith from Tampa Bay and he has been beyond what they could have dreamed of. Ray Whitney is playing like he is 29, not 39. And the supporting cast has made Glendale, AZ popular in the NHL.  Who knew?  The Blackhawks are just not what they were two years ago when they brought Chicago their first Cup since 1961. Despite the talents of Messers Sharpe, Kane, & Toews, I have no confidence in goaltenders Corey Crawford & Ray Emery. The Dogs have their day. Coyotes in 5.

4 Nashville Predators vs 5 Detroit Red Wings: Intriguing in that Nashville has played the Wings tough all season long and have beaten them at the “Joe”. Never count the Red Wings out of any game. I have respect for the team and the organization. However, I have major disdain for their fans. They have become like Canadian fans in that they think they deserve to win all the time. Anything less and they’ve been robbed by officials, bad ice, 7-legged octopi, or whatever and for that reason, I hope they get chopped by the Predators! Nashville in 7.

Eastern Conference

1 New York Rangers vs 8 Ottawa Senators: No one thought that Paul Maclean would be able to coach to a playoff spot. Surprise! They actually were the number three seed late in the year pushing the Bruins down to number seven, albeit for one day. Ottawa has been a perennial also ran since their Cup Final run back in 2007. Not big on Craig Anderson in goal. Likewise for the New York Rangers who have been eliminated in the first round last season and did not qualify the year before. They are backed in goal by Henrik Lundqvist who should win the Vezina this year but still has not been able to put the Rangers over the hump. Tough series! Rangers in 6.

3 Florida Panthers vs 6 New Jersey Devils: The Panthers coach last year when they failed to make the playoffs is now the Devils coach. Rookie coach Kevin Dineen has his Panthers in the playoffs for the first time in a decade, but alas I don’t think they will be going very far. Pete DeBoer has the Devils playing like the Devils of old.  And speaking of old, Martin Brodeur could be up to his old playoff tricks again which should get him and New Jersey through to the second round! New Jersey in 4.

4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs 5 Philadelphia Flyers: Wow!  What’s good about this series is that it doesn’t conflict with the Bruins-Caps series and should be a delight to watch. Talk about Old Tyme Hockey and hatred, nothing could be closer to that than this series purports to be. Which team will outlast the other as they beat each other to a pulp. Philly goalie Ilya Bryzgalov had better be “Gigantic” like never before because the fire power of Evgeny Malkin, James Neal and the all around wizardry of Sidney Crosby could put his wierd  world come crashing down on him.  Flyers need the continued offensive power of Claude Giroux, Daniel Brierre & Scott Hartnell to counter the Pens.  Marc-Andrey Fleury, solid and seasoned should be able to handle Philadelphia, although it wont be easy!  Pittsburgh in 7.

last but certainly not least, 

2 Boston Bruins vs 7 Washington Capitals: Coaching, Dale Hunter vs Claude Julien and I go with experience here. It took me a while to come around to Claude’s way of thinking. But he will keep rolling all four lines over the boards regardless what the Caps do and until proven otherwise, it will do the Bruins just fine! Everything else is intangible including the young starting goaltender for Washington. But I just can’t see the Caps beating the Bruins in a seven game series.  Bruins in 6!

Its’ the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs and there just isn’t a better time of the year!  Go Bruins!

~Diehard

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Bruins – Caps Preview!

It’s that unmistakeable time of the year when the city is abuzz. The Red Sox will open their home portion of the season Friday. The Celtics are capping their regular season. Thousands will ine up in Hopkinton Monday to do some ungodly long run. But the most important event happens Thursday night at the TD Garden as the Boston Bruins will put its fans on hopefully, another two month emotional roller coaster ride.

The Bruins host the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in what some are seeing as the team that could upset the Bruins in the first round. I’m not so sure about that however, the Caps did win the season series 3-games to 1. The Bruins will be looking to become the first team to repeat as Champions since the Detroit Red Wings swept these same Washington Capitals four straight 14 years ago in 1998. Boston is back to playing their game in which they hit, force turnovers, challenge their opponents and with Tim Thomas giving them the kind of goaltending they need, well, like last year, anything is possible.

They also need to restrain the offensive punch of Washington.  Alexander Ovechkin, by all accounts had an off year and “only” scored 38 goals and led the Caps in scoring but he also has a pretty good supporting cast in Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green who has missed more than half the season is back on the blue line.

As with any playoff, injuries come into play and both teams are missing a few key players. Tuukka Rask practice with the team this week and seems to be coming along. Right now it wouldn’t surprise me if he was sitting on the bench backing up Thomas come Thursday night! Adam McQuaid is out with an upper body injury (eye-possible concussion) and it looks like he will not start the playoffs. Johnny Boychuck is day-to-day with his knee but has been skating and could possibly start the playoffs. 

Conversely, Washington is missing both goaltenders who played all year as Tomas Volkoun is out with a groin injury, deadly for a true butterfly goalie, and Michal Neuvirth is nursing a lower body injury as well. Braden Holtby will be the game 1 starter Thursday, backed up by journeyman/lifetime AHL-er and one time Providence Bruin Dany Sabourin. Not necessarily Vezina material but the Caps are hoping for the rookie to come up big in hoping for the upset.

There is not a lot of difference between this seasons team and last years except for the fact that the B’s have had mood swings all year. October was a big laugh, November & December, they were unbeatable, and from January till mid March they were a .500 team that seem to wander around not knowing what they were doing.  Focus has been the issue as they finished the year with a solid 7-2-1 run and begining to resemble the team they think they are.

The Bruins have to be physical with the highly skilled players on the Caps, and Zdeno Chara has always played well against Ovechkin and if Claude Julien employs the pairing of Chara with Dennis Seidenberg which was a huge factor in last years Cup run, it should fair well for Boston.

Offensively, I see no chances in line for Boston as leading scorer, Tyler Seguin, who had more points than “The Great 8″,  will continue with Patrice Bergeron , (my MVP of the team) at center and Brad Marchand on the other side. The depth of this team is what will make difference, as all four lines will have to continue to give solid contributions.

I generally do not make predictions on the Bruins playoff series because for 39 years it was all too crushing when you let your heart get in the way of your head. I’m a little more pragmatic as I am older. However, my editor asked for the predictions from us.

So, with goaltending always being magnified this time of year, Mr Holtby may come up with some sparkling saves on occasion, but really, I see no reason why the Bruins offense will be stymied. Tim Thomas, until proven otherwise, should be his old playoff self.  Bruins win in six games!

~Diehard

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