Why do those days have to be "gone" though? Because that's completely make believe. They played a solid game, but to say that they didn't really push back when Buffalo were taking clear runs is completely fair. No one is saying go two hand a guys noggin off his shoulders. Lauko was ran probably 2-3 times, and healthy runs, too.
Marchand was hit hard (cleanly) but hard and then Pastrnak was dangerously tossed down from behind. Nothing. Again, take a number, deliver it back.
If that's the game you like to see them play, fine, fill your boots. It's not really for me, though. It's the same brand of hockey we used to make fun of other teams for. You know? The turn the other cheek hockey. The team that we made fun of for that brand of play took it to the Bruins on Saturday night, too.
This idea of you can't win games by pushing back is kind of silly. They were up 5-0 and they still didn't even look like they were a bit irritated.
To summarize from my perspective. I know that this isn’t 1989 anymore and I can accept that the game has changed and is likely never going back to the way I’d like it to be played.
With that being said, there needs to be a threshold as to where the Bruins will push back and I really think it’s much too high right now.
To use numbers for illustrative purposes:
In the 80’s that threshold was probably about 20
In the 90’s probably 30
The 2009-2014 team probably about 35
Todays team, it seems to be approaching 80.
Not good enough, especially when it’s Marchand, Pasta or one of the rookies on the receiving end.
Lastly, I don’t think a clean, but hard hit needs to be avenged.
But when a team is running around and throws several clean, but hard hits someone needs to step up and either do the same or throw down with someone to send a message.
