Post-Game Talk: Bruins blow it in the 3rd again, show they just don't have it right now.

[Over the volcano]

If they can do it for 40 min they can do it for 60. First two periods were as good as they've looked all year. Lucic flipped the switch and looked like a 6 million dollar man

 

[Kate08]

Just playing the devils advocate here.

If expectations are based on facts, and the facts being used to say "there is reason to be concerned" are based on recent play, can others not use previous play with the same core group to indicate that these concerns may not be fully warranted? For instance, at the beginning of the year, the Bruins were amazing - a top team that was getting the job done. Another example is Rask - if he has earned 2 shutouts in 4 starts just recently, doesn't that give a possible indication that he could steal a series for us, even if our offense and defense don't play to their peak ability?

I think the argument has to be a two way street here - there is historical data backing up both arguments.

Personally, I'm a in the middle of both arguments - I'm concerned about some areas, but I also believe this team has some strengths that are unmatched in the league, let alone compared to our possible first round opponents.

I completely agree, and this is the type of post that uses facts and logic to present an argument as opposed to just "I'm a fan so they're gonna win!".

Well said, and I completely agree with your points. My hesitation comes from truly not knowing who this team is right now -- there has been no consistency in almost any area of their game the entire year. You just don't know which version of the team or a specific player is going to show up.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I am definitely concerned, but have full confidence that the B's can take any of their prospective foes in the 1st round.

BOS outplayed WAS in their building for the majority of the game, had some bad luck with Kelly's post in OT and then got a BS call against them. They need to tighten up the PK for sure and stay out of the box, but a lot more stuff gets let go in the playoffs and the B's are a very good 5 on 5 team.

Win of lose in the first round, serious changes need to be made to the PP in the offseason, whether it's coaches or personnel. It can be such a weapon (all if the Caps goals on PP), and the B's have not taken advantage of it for several years.

 

[C77]

Another blown lead last night which was almost unheard of for the Bruins when they were healthy and playing well in past years. And now the penalty kill is starting to slip.

I hope they can pull it together for a great last push with all the core members of the Cup team but it looks doubtful. The Bruins had their time with this group and this coach in 2011.

 

[Oates2Neely]

If they can do it for 40 min they can do it for 60. First two periods were as good as they've looked all year. Lucic flipped the switch and looked like a 6 million dollar man

Seems as if he's heating up at the right time.

I'm predicting a solid showing in the Playoffs. These guys have been here before, they know what it takes. That room is full of high character guys (Kelly Bergeron Chara Seidenberg),. And now they have a better version of Seguin and Marchand. Rask has been sold all season long. Jagr IMO is a great replacement for Recchi. THIS Bruins team is a better version of 2011 Bruins. Now they may not win the Cup, but they sure as heck have just as good a shot as ANY team in the league does. Guys will step up, there will be unsung heroes, there will be another "Ryder glove save" moment. It's Playoff time, it's a different season, and I'll put my money on this team succeeding..

 

[qc]

I've been more calm about this team than many of the posters here, but last night was a reality check for me. We absolutely have to get back on track with penalty killing, yayaya I know Wash is a top PP team, but if you watch the sequences of us on the kill, it's embarrassing.

 

[nmbr_24]

What encouraging signs have you seen recently. I gotta hear this because if anyone sees anything positive in this group right now you get the homer of the year award. If their play doesnt do anything but scare you sh --less then you are in fairy tale land.

I have seen some enouraging signs and I sure as hell don't think I am the "homer of the year".
Encouraging signs are things that have changed for the better and there are a few things that have changed for the better.

I think Lucic' play the last few games has been encouraging. I think the way the D moved the puck out of their zone in the last couple of games is encouraging. Rask's play has been encouraging.

That sure as hell doesn't mean that I think that this team is in any position to do anything this post season unless a lot more than those things change. There is more wrong with this team than those things but they are still some encouraging signs and give me hope that they won't get swept in the first round.

If you want to call me a homer of the year for that, go right ahead.

 

[C77]

Seems as if he's heating up at the right time.

I'm predicting a solid showing in the Playoffs. These guys have been here before, they know what it takes. That room is full of high character guys (Kelly Bergeron Chara Seidenberg),. And now they have a better version of Seguin and Marchand. Rask has been sold all season long. Jagr IMO is a great replacement for Recchi. THIS Bruins team is a better version of 2011 Bruins. Now they may not win the Cup, but they sure as heck have just as good a shot as ANY team in the league does. Guys will step up, there will be unsung heroes, there will be another "Ryder glove save" moment. It's Playoff time, it's a different season, and I'll put my money on this team succeeding..

On paper....It's an unbelievable team. On the ice they aren't that great.

 

[TCL40]

I find it interesting that folks expressing concern are always told to eat crow when they are wrong, and that threads from 2011 get dug up to somehow prove that it's silly to be concerned. Yet if year in and year out you're expecting a championship and believing that the team is strong enough to pull it off, you're actually wrong more than you're right.

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. There are things to be validly concerned with heading into the playoffs.

I think the three concerns I have:

Consistent lack of a sixty minute effort.

No hunger and no heart (2011 team played with a hunger I haven't seen from this team).

Team is unable to get out of the defensive zone and constantly turn the puck over-making the high risk boneheaded pass when a better option was available.

I would put the lack of a pp on the list but anyone who watches the Bruins knows a good pp just isn't in the cards. At least until Ward is gone, Savvy's clone shows up to play, or a miracle happens.

 

[Oates2Neely]

On paper....It's an unbelievable team. On the ice they aren't that great.

Meh, it's been a weird season (lockout, no Timmy, etc.), yet here they are a 'win' tonight and they win the Division. Islanders, Senators, Leafs, no pushovers but I'll take the Bruins all day in a 7-game series against either team.

 

[TCL40]

Who knows? They aren't the Isles that are the laughing stock of the league and the B's are 1-1 against them this year. They didn't look great against them in early April, that's for sure. I would hope/expect that a combination of stepping up for the playoffs plus playoff experience would win out over an inexperienced Isles team, but who knows? It's not a slam dunk.

Wasn't that a no Bergeron game?

I think when it comes to team mvp's Bergeron is the Bruins.

But I agree Isles aren't somehow an easy win, but then I don't think any team in the playoffs is an easy win. That thinking loses games if it is in the heads of the players.

Like I said earlier in the age of the cap any team can take any other team if they are peaking at the right time.

 

[bluetib]

Just playing the devils advocate here.

If expectations are based on facts, and the facts being used to say "there is reason to be concerned" are based on recent play, can others not use previous play with the same core group to indicate that these concerns may not be fully warranted? For instance, at the beginning of the year, the Bruins were amazing - a top team that was getting the job done. Another example is Rask - if he has earned 2 shutouts in 4 starts just recently, doesn't that give a possible indication that he could steal a series for us, even if our offense and defense don't play to their peak ability?

I think the argument has to be a two way street here - there is historical data backing up both arguments.

Personally, I'm a in the middle of both arguments - I'm concerned about some areas, but I also believe this team has some strengths that are unmatched in the league, let alone compared to our possible first round opponents.

The positives:

Lucic is back since 2 games
Rask is hot
Soderberg
Jagr
Chara with Seidenberg
Khudobin
Hamilton


The negatives:

Recent concussion for Bergeron
Same for Marchand
Post concussion syndrome for Horton
Thornton intermittent since concussion
Chara needs a Coke
Seguin is soft and shaky
3rd period leads
Power play
Speed
Tape on tape pass
Etc...

 

[Tim O'Reilly]

When you see the trouble that the PK had last night, I think it goes right back to what Julien said this week: lack of practice time hurts. The schedule has been total garbage. Thank you NHL. Now we might start on Tuesday night? Unreal. Easy to think that these guys are pros and know what to do, but even the greatest player ever, BOBBY ORR, needed and used practice time to help his game even more. If in the last 2 weeks we had some time to work on PK and such, we would have had the division by now.

 

[Kate08]

Where did you see they might start on Tues? I saw likely Wed or Thurs

 

[Greyhounds]

Where did you see they might start on Tues? I saw likely Wed or Thurs

Playoffs start on Tuesday. That was mentioned on NHLN or NBCSN. Not sure when the Bruin series will start, might depend on who they play.

 

[Tim O'Reilly]

Where did you see they might start on Tues? I saw likely Wed or Thurs

I saw them talking on HNIC last night and they said teams start either Tuesday or Wednesday. Sorry, should have said that. Not like previous years where it all started on Thursday's for the most part. I guess the lockout is the reason.

 

[pucky]

So, the consensus here is there's no real preferred opponent?

How is Bergy? I think a huge positive is he's playing. Hopefully, he stays healthy these playoffs. They need his offensive production and faceoff abilities. Imho, I think the Isles would be the most difficult foe although Karlsson gives the Sens some more firepower from the backend. Without Spezza, though, they are still challenged to score goals. Good or decent D, though.

I still think the Leafs would pose the easiest opponent although you never know with the Leafs. I think the Leafs will be really nervous the first game, though, so whoever gets them, I think game 1 will be easiest for their opponent.

I the teams the Bruins match up best against or would be easiest from left to right:

Easiest -> Difficult -> Challenge
Leafs -> Sens -> Isles

My reasoning for the Isles is that they haven't been in the playoffs lately either but they have been on a good streak the last while and they have some very good players with Tavares etc. They look like a playoff team and if they work hard, could be a PITA for some teams.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I the teams the Bruins match up best against or would be easiest from left to right:

Easiest -> Difficult -> Challenge
Leafs -> Sens -> Isles

My reasoning for the Isles is that they haven't been in the playoffs lately either but they have been on a good streak the last while and they have some very good players with Tavares etc. They look like a playoff team and if they work hard, could be a PITA for some teams.

The Isles are our best match-up, I think. I get that you shouldn't project too much about a match-up on paper, especially with this Bruins team, but some of the aspects of this match-up are too enticing to not want to see it play out. Wrote this in the other thread, but might as well post it here as well:

- They aren't very strong 5-on-5 (worst of Eastern Playoff teams, second worst for overall Playoff teams), and the Bruins are always great 5-on-5, which is what the Playoffs are usually all about.

- We should be able to dominate them in the faceoff circle regardless of the match-up (their top 3 centers are all below 50% and they don't really have a specialist)

- They are more reliant than most on their top line so we can pair Chara and Seids up with more certainty

- They are not a very physical or large team so we may be able to impose our will on them, both in the offensive zone and the defensive zone

- Their defense in particular is relatively soft/small and they may have a tough time containing our larger forwards in the cycle game; MacDonald and Hamonic are good defensive players but I wouldn't consider them world-beaters

- They've been weak in their own barn and we usually have a great Bruins representation there; while they have a great road record, we counter with a great home record

- They have next to no Playoff experience, we have a ton

- We have been pretty dominant against them in recent years

 

[Latrappe]

I am definitely concerned, but have full confidence that the B's can take any of their prospective foes in the 1st round.

BOS outplayed WAS in their building for the majority of the game, had some bad luck with Kelly's post in OT and then got a BS call against them. They need to tighten up the PK for sure and stay out of the box, but a lot more stuff gets let go in the playoffs and the B's are a very good 5 on 5 team.

Win of lose in the first round, serious changes need to be made to the PP in the offseason, whether it's coaches or personnel. It can be such a weapon (all if the Caps goals on PP), and the B's have not taken advantage of it for several years.

I don't share your optimism for three reasons: 1- Consistency, 2- Scoring and 3-Lack of defensive awarness. Even if the Bruins dominate for 2 periods, their lack of scoring prevent them to build a big lead who would deflate the opponent. They always leave the door ajar for the opponent to come back. They have an hard time to play sound defense for 60 min. I don't see how this team can win if they can't capitalze on their scoring chances while allowing a TON of scoring chances the other way. To me, Rask and Khudodin saved our bacon way too many times. At some point, they can't do it alone. That's why i think B's playoffs dream will be short lived.

 

[burstnbloom]

I think the three concerns I have:

Consistent lack of a sixty minute effort.

No hunger and no heart (2011 team played with a hunger I haven't seen from this team).

Team is unable to get out of the defensive zone and constantly turn the puck over-making the high risk boneheaded pass when a better option was available.

I would put the lack of a pp on the list but anyone who watches the Bruins knows a good pp just isn't in the cards. At least until Ward is gone, Savvy's clone shows up to play, or a miracle happens.

This is a bit of revisionist history regarding 2011. That team finished 8-6-4 after their 8 game winning streak in feb/march and lost the first two games to Montreal after showing lackluster effort. We were all saying the same things like they play with not heart or Julien has lost the team. There was rampant speculation that Claude and/or Chia were going to be fired. Then they hit the switch. Can they do it again? I doubt it, but I, like most of you, had written them off in April 2011 too. It remains to be seen what they can do when the season is on the brink.

 

[Bread and Circuses]

The negatives:

Recent concussion for Bergeron
Same for Marchand
Post concussion syndrome for Horton
Thornton intermittent since concussion
Chara needs a Coke
Seguin is soft and shaky
3rd period leads
Power play
Speed
Tape on tape pass
Etc...

You forgot the uncanny ability of them to shoot at the glass.

 

[Bruwinz37]

I have seen some enouraging signs and I sure as hell don't think I am the "homer of the year".
Encouraging signs are things that have changed for the better and there are a few things that have changed for the better.

I think Lucic' play the last few games has been encouraging. I think the way the D moved the puck out of their zone in the last couple of games is encouraging. Rask's play has been encouraging.

That sure as hell doesn't mean that I think that this team is in any position to do anything this post season unless a lot more than those things change. There is more wrong with this team than those things but they are still some encouraging signs and give me hope that they won't get swept in the first round.

If you want to call me a homer of the year for that, go right ahead.

Fair enough..sure, there are a couple things to like. Rask by and large has been good. Jagr is obviously a plus. Lucic....I still need to see more. He looks like he is putting in more effort out there but last night he still gave away the puck way too many times and lets face it his goal was flukey at best....but still, credit due.

All in all these "positive signs" do not outweigh the negatives. This team is tired, slow, soft and simply cannot score consistently. Many guys are underperforming. The PP is a train wreck and now the PP is struggling.

 

[nycbruins*]

Dougie over mcquaid. Experience be damned. Adam can come back fresh next season, but he should be all done for this year.

 

[Bruwinz37]

How about being the better 5 on 5 team in a hot team's own building? How about that for encouraging lol?

Loss.

They may have controlled the play a bit more, but they did not put in a full effort again. Also, once again, they did not get many good scoring chances. Made it an easy night for the goalie. The two goals we scored were a fluke and a goal that most HS goalies would stop.

 

[Yeti34]

Dougie over mcquaid. Experience be damned. Adam can come back fresh next season, but he should be all done for this year.

Agreed. Adam needs to have a full offseason to get back in shape. He looks very weak out there,and a big partof that was having those offseason surgeries leaving him no time to train.