2019 Stanley Cup Final Game 7 still stings

[Aussie Bruin]

Welcome to the jungle....we have cookies!

Thanks BMC. Cookies sound good to me! Anzacs are our local cookie, so let me contribute some to the thread:

 

[BMC]

Thanks BMC. Cookies sound good to me! Anzacs are our local cookie, so let me contribute some to the thread:

View attachment 248513

@Bruinaura you got some competition here!

 

[Bruinaura]

@Bruinaura you got some competition here!

Well, I guess you can never have too many cookies

 

[Fenway]

 

[aguineapig]

I think the title of the thread is accurate - "stings" is a good word. Maybe because I'm older (59), I get over these losses easier than I used to. With the recent passing of one of our own members and someone who I know of who died way too young, priorities change and agonizing for months just isn't worth it. Don't get me wrong, I was crushed when we lost Game 7 and no doubt will be again in the future but I am looking forward to a brand new season coming up in just 57 days.

That about sums it up. And what Townes said,

To live's to fly
Both low and high
So shake the dust off of your wings
and tears out of your eye

 

[Bmessy]

Would Backes' 6 million dollar leadership have helped during that first intermission?
Marchand won't ever live that line change down in my book.

 

[BMC]

I hope he dropped it on his foot.

 

[BMC]

Would Backes' 6 million dollar leadership have helped during that first intermission?
Marchand won't ever live that line change down in my book.

He's the Bill Buckner of the Boston Bruins now and forever.

 

[JOKER 192]

Marchand won't ever live that line change down in my book.

Just one more thing to add to his ever growing "Dumb shit I did" list.

 

[Estlin]

Would Backes' 6 million dollar leadership have helped during that first intermission?
Marchand won't ever live that line change down in my book.

What about the often talked-about leadership of Chara and Bergeron, for example? If Backes were needed for leadership, then that's a indictment on Boston's other "leadership".

 

[Bmessy]

What about the often talked-about leadership of Chara and Bergeron, for example? If Backes were needed for leadership, then that's a indictment on Boston's other "leadership".

Which is why at first I Iaughed when we signed him and people talked about his leadership for the room. But with the amount of disappointments in the playoffs we have racked up it very well could be true
Several no shows with Julien's teams (early losses to Carolina, Washington, Habs) and now a Stanley Cup game 7 meltdown.

Perhaps they needed more leadership. Chara is the old scary grandpa noone wants to disappoint. Bergeron and Krejci don't seem like vocal leaders. Do people want to follow Marchand into battle? I'm not in the room so it's only speculation

 

[missingchicklet]

We heard constantly during the season from the younger players that the B's leadership was helping the team in a big way. It makes no sense to think that there was all of a sudden a lack of leadership in the SCF. The Bs were worn down and had bad stretches of scoring even strength. Lack of leadership was not why the Bs lost the series. Not having Backes in the lineup was not even remotely why the Bs lost game 7. He was toast by that point. Avoiding making big mistakes and rising to the occasion and making big plays are what win championships. The Blues beat the Bs in game 7 in both departments.

 

[Aeroforce]

I'm actually pleasantly surprised at the heat Marchand is getting. I thought I might be one of the only ones feeling that way, but I put it up there with Norwood, Buckner, etc. Maybe worse, because a hobbled Buckner was put in a position he shouldn't have been in.

So I'll go out on a limb and express that Rask, who I've always defended, also let me down. He had a unanimous Conn Smythe, a permanent silencing of his critics, and who knows - maybe even the Hall of Fame, there for the taking. He wasn't awful, but he picked the wrong day for perhaps his most average performance of the playoffs.

I know, technically the first goal wasn't his fault. Goalies are cut some slack on deflections and screens.

But I revisited Game 7 against Montreal from 2011. Thomas made three improbable saves on deflections in less than three minutes. Thomas' "Battle-fly" style may not be as technically clean as Rask's but it got the job done.

It's cued up to the OT if anyone wants to check it out.

 

[Trap Jesus]

So I'll go out on a limb and express that Rask, who I've always defended, also let me down. He had a unanimous Conn Smythe, a permanent silencing of his critics, and who knows - maybe even the Hall of Fame, there for the taking. He wasn't awful, but he picked the wrong day for perhaps his most average performance of the playoffs.

I got ripped on here for expressing disdain at Rask's performance, but I still feel the same way. He crumbled when it mattered most, and he has a history of doing that.

 

[McGarnagle]

I don't think a team that won a game 7 against a good team and rival, that made it all the way to game 7 of the finals despite injuries and bad officiating has problems with leadership or choking.

Rask had his least-good game of the playoffs and Marchand made his most boneheaded decision of the season, but I consider it a case of "shit happens"

It was pretty much all bad luck. They came out on fire and couldn't do anything, Binnington got incredibly lucky on a couple of those early saves, and O'Reilly pooches a deflection in on a counter attack.

Of all the players on the team, I feel the most gutted for Tuukka. He did it all and finally had his career-defining playoff run, shutting up his critics by dominating the Leafs in game 7, outdueling the over-hyped Bobrovsky in round two, playing solid through the ECF, then honestly looking vastly more impressive than Binnington in the finals. Then game 7 happens and it's all for naught and people are still whining about him being a loser. And one-year wonder rebound machine Binnington gets lucky on a few early shots and everyone acts like he stole the series and is the new Quick or whatever. I hate people. Can we start the season already and avenge this loss?

 

[LouJersey]

I don't think a team that won a game 7 against a good team and rival, that made it all the way to game 7 of the finals despite injuries and bad officiating has problems with leadership or choking.

Rask had his least-good game of the playoffs and Marchand made his most boneheaded decision of the season, but I consider it a case of "**** happens"

It was pretty much all bad luck. They came out on fire and couldn't do anything, Binnington got incredibly lucky on a couple of those early saves, and O'Reilly pooches a deflection in on a counter attack.

Of all the players on the team, I feel the most gutted for Tuukka. He did it all and finally had his career-defining playoff run, shutting up his critics by dominating the Leafs in game 7, outdueling the over-hyped Bobrovsky in round two, playing solid through the ECF, then honestly looking vastly more impressive than Binnington in the finals. Then game 7 happens and it's all for naught and people are still whining about him being a loser. And one-year wonder rebound machine Binnington gets lucky on a few early shots and everyone acts like he stole the series and is the new Quick or whatever. I hate people. Can we start the season already and avenge this loss?

Bruins best players were garbage for a majority of that series.

The Bergeron line was trash and had 2 even strength goals . Coyle line scored 2. Krejci and Debrusk one total between them. Once the refs put the whistle away they were sunk since their 5v5 play all year wasn't great. O'Reilly scored 5 ev goals by himself.

I see a shitload of excuse making here.

I do feel terrible for Rask, he deserved way better.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Rask deserves nothing. That type of talk should be reserved for goalies like Lundqvist who actually show up when it matters most only for their team to let them down.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Bruins best players were garbage for a majority of that series.

The Bergeron line was trash and had 2 even strength goals . Coyle line scored 2. Krejci and Debrusk one total between them. Once the refs put the whistle away they were sunk since their 5v5 play all year wasn't great. O'Reilly scored 5 ev goals by himself.

I see a ****load of excuse making here.

I do feel terrible for Rask, he deserved way better.

I'll beat the dead horse here and once again say not being able to score in the first 10 minute onslaught of game 7 was the dagger in their heart

 

[JOKER 192]

It's cued up to the OT if anyone wants to check it out.

Thanks for that, never get enough of beating the Habs. Especially when you go on to win the Stanley Cup.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Rask deserves nothing. That type of talk should be reserved for goalies like Lundqvist who actually show up when it matters most only for their team to let them down.

Excuse me but how many Stanley Cup Finals has Lundqvist been in?

 

[Trap Jesus]

Excuse me but how many Stanley Cup Finals has Lundqvist been in?

Lundqvist in the playoffs between 2012-2015 was otherworldly.

Overall stats: 39-36, 2.05 GAA, .930 save %, 6 SO

He was great every year, between .927 and .934 save % all 4 years, but the breakdown of his stats is crazy.

In those 4 playoff years, he played 57 non-elimination games and recorded a .920 save % in those games. He then played in 19 elimination games, recording a 15-4 record and a .953 save %, never allowing more than 3 goals when the Rangers could be eliminated. 11 of those 15 wins were by 1 goal, and the Rangers scored 5 goals in the 4 losses, 2 of which went to OT.

If you want to extend the sample size a bit, between 2008 and 2015 Lundqvist had a .951 save % in 23 elimination games, with him having a 16-7 record and never letting in more than 3 goals.

Lundqvist is one of the most understood players in recent memory. He's a living legend who dragged horrible teams as far as he possibly could.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

Lundqvist in the playoffs between 2012-2015 was otherworldly.

Overall stats: 39-36, 2.05 GAA, .930 save %, 6 SO

He was great every year, between .927 and .934 save % all 4 years, but the breakdown of his stats is crazy.

In those 4 playoff years, he played 57 non-elimination games and recorded a .920 save % in those games. He then played in 19 elimination games, recording a 15-4 record and a .953 save %, never allowing more than 3 goals when the Rangers could be eliminated. 11 of those 15 wins were by 1 goal, and the Rangers scored 5 goals in the 4 losses, 2 of which went to OT.

If you want to extend the sample size a bit, between 2008 and 2015 Lundqvist had a .951 save % in 23 elimination games, with him having a 16-7 record and never letting in more than 3 goals.

Lundqvist is one of the most understood players in recent memory. He's a living legend who dragged horrible teams as far as he possibly could.

But he couldn’t drag them far enough to win it all so it was all his fault like you state with Rask

Got it.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I got ripped on here for expressing disdain at Rask's performance, but I still feel the same way. He crumbled when it mattered most, and he has a history of doing that.

I think the issue is that you, and some others, were going to say this was “the story” if anything happened other than winning the Stanley Cup.

That’s called having an agenda, not being “realistic” as I’m sure you claim.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Rask deserves nothing. That type of talk should be reserved for goalies like Lundqvist who actually show up when it matters most only for their team to let them down.

It is posts like this that almost convince me this is a trolling account.

 

[Trap Jesus]

But he couldn’t drag them far enough to win it all so it was all his fault like you state with Rask

Got it.

I've posted those Rask numbers enough where it should be completely clear that Rask has been a huge part of the problem why the Bruins lose elimination games more often than not.