What are folks' feelings on the series through 4 games?
To my eyes, it's looked like the heavyweight bout of the post-season. Two really good teams, playing hard, hitting everything, getting great goaltending... Sometimes we carry the momentum and get sustained pressure, sometimes they carry the momentum and get sustained pressure. Good coaches on both sides...
The goaltending duel has been pretty even. I think Bobrovsky's highs are a bit higher than Rask, he makes several saves a game you don't think are possible, but his lows are also lower, allowing goals you think should never go in. Meanwhile Rask just been holding steady between very good and excellent.
It's a crying shame Pasta isn't 100%. I swear he puts on a cast before the games because it looks like he can't even feel the puck. Otherwise, I feel like the stars on both teams have shown up. The Bruins's stars may not have had the stats to show for it but they were getting chances and just getting robbed by amazing goaltending.
If there's an edge to be given to someone so far, I think it's that Columbus has been the more physical team. Don't get me wrong, the Bruins have been "all-in" on their hitting game as well, but CLB has thrown more hits in the series and they have more big bodies which lets them impose their will physically in more battles. Jenner, Anderson, Foligno, Dubois... I've actually noticed it more with the defense. Guys like Jones and Savard are able to end our offensive cycles with a shove. They knock Marchand off his skates for a second with a shove from behind or the side and for the half second while he's down and up somebody takes the puck. As much as I love Clifton (and he's thrown some monster hits), I wonder if having Kevan Miller's strength in the corners would help neutralize CLB's cycle game.
Thoughts? Adjustments Cassidy can/should make?