Some of the rookies last night all looked a little intimidated by the Caps. Make no mistake about it, this is a big part of the game. Obviously I am not talking a stone handed goon, but you need guys that can play and also handle the rough stuff. I think Kuraly, Schaller, Accari all play hard, but you can definitely tell they want nothing to do with after the whistle skirmishes. Schaller I believe fought earlier in the year, but I think that was more to try to fit in with the team than actual be a bruising presence. They need a little more teeth and wag in their tails to contend with teams that like to bully a bit. That's what made the Bruins great during the cup runs. They had talent, but also the ability to bully their way to victory if needed. They all bought into that identity. You can see the left over guys like Chara, Mcquaid, Miller, Marchy that thrive under that condition and try to bring it back. Unfortunately the make up of the team has changed and they have lost that bully by committee mantle which is why they still really haven't found a true identity yet. Hopefully they figure it out, but I'll continue to watch and note how they handle the rougher teams in the league. Sometimes you need to be the aggressor right off the bat. The Bruins lately only semi rise to rough stuff and they are never the initiator of it anymore.
