BRUINS GDT GAME 70 7:38 PM - THE BEAR explores 8 Mile Road - NESN, ESPN+, SN, 98.5 WBZ-FM

Status
Not open for further replies.

Fenway

HF Bookie and Bruins Historian
Sponsor
Sep 26, 2007
69,098
100,237
Cambridge, MA
1649161656385.png



1649161798115.png

1649161832429.png


The Boston Bruins, who have 10 wins in their past 12 games, get another golden opportunity to collect two points when they face the struggling Red Wings in Detroit on Tuesday.

The Bruins (44-20-5, 93 points) swept a home-and-home set with the Columbus Blue Jackets in their past two contests, though they required overtime to win the rematch 3-2 on Monday in Ohio.

Jake DeBrusk was the offensive star on Monday, scoring two goals, including the game-winner at 1:03 of the extra session. His regulation goal came on a breakaway.

"I was happy to bury that," DeBrusk said. "I had three breakaways on th (Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins) and hadn't scored one."

The hot streak has moved Boston into a third-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division. DeBrusk has recorded at least one goal in five straight games.

The Bruins began a four-game road trip on Monday.

"It's just one of those things where good teams find ways to win," DeBrusk said. "It's a fine line. It took until overtime, but these points are big for us now and we need all of them."

Boston center Trent Frederic left the game early due to an upper-body injury.

The Tuesday game will be the finale of the teams' four-game season series. Boston recorded a pair of 5-1 victories, while Detroit won the second matchup 2-1. The sides haven't seen each other since Jan. 2.

Detroit (26-34-9, 61 points) is in the midst of a free fall, having gone winless in the past six games (0-4-2) and 2-10-3 over the past 15 games.

Ottawa swept a home-and-home set against the Red Wings on Friday and Sunday, winning 5-2 each time. The Senators' Mathieu Joseph recorded his first career hat trick in the first game, and Ottawa's Josh Norris matched that feat in the rematch.

"Guys are frustrated, it just hasn't gone the way any of us wanted to go, since even before the trade deadline," Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. "We've had the hardest schedule (in the NHL), but it's frustrating as it can be."

The last time they faced the Bruins, the Red Wings were hopeful of making the postseason. Those dreams have been dashed over the past two months. Detroit hasn't been over the .500 mark in terms of points earned since an overtime win against the New York Rangers on Feb. 17.

"We were the closest we've been in a couple of years (to the playoff race) and we were playing well, and then (we've) just really fallen off," Larkin said. "It is frustrating, but we have to get something positive here to end the season. We can't go into the summer like this, and then next year. We have to find a way to get something positive."

It's likely the Wings will have a new coach next season. Some fans chanted "Fire Blashill" during the Friday home game, but general manager Steve Yzerman likely will wait until season's end to determine the fate of Jeff Blashill.

"There's no doubt that right now we're beat down mentally," Blashill said. "That's not an excuse. We got to fix that, but that's the reality of it."
 

GordonHowe

HFBoards Sponsor
Sponsor
Sep 21, 2005
15,635
16,230
Watertown, Massachusetts

The Boston Bruins, who have 10 wins in their past 12 games, get another golden opportunity to collect two points when they face the struggling Red Wings in Detroit on Tuesday.

The Bruins (44-20-5, 93 points) swept a home-and-home set with the Columbus Blue Jackets in their past two contests, though they required overtime to win the rematch 3-2 on Monday in Ohio.

Jake DeBrusk was the offensive star on Monday, scoring two goals, including the game-winner at 1:03 of the extra session. His regulation goal came on a breakaway.

"I was happy to bury that," DeBrusk said. "I had three breakaways on th (Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins) and hadn't scored one."

The hot streak has moved Boston into a third-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division. DeBrusk has recorded at least one goal in five straight games.

The Bruins began a four-game road trip on Monday.

"It's just one of those things where good teams find ways to win," DeBrusk said. "It's a fine line. It took until overtime, but these points are big for us now and we need all of them."

Boston center Trent Frederic left the game early due to an upper-body injury.

The Tuesday game will be the finale of the teams' four-game season series. Boston recorded a pair of 5-1 victories, while Detroit won the second matchup 2-1. The sides haven't seen each other since Jan. 2.

Detroit (26-34-9, 61 points) is in the midst of a free fall, having gone winless in the past six games (0-4-2) and 2-10-3 over the past 15 games.

Ottawa swept a home-and-home set against the Red Wings on Friday and Sunday, winning 5-2 each time. The Senators' Mathieu Joseph recorded his first career hat trick in the first game, and Ottawa's Josh Norris matched that feat in the rematch.

"Guys are frustrated, it just hasn't gone the way any of us wanted to go, since even before the trade deadline," Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. "We've had the hardest schedule (in the NHL), but it's frustrating as it can be."

The last time they faced the Bruins, the Red Wings were hopeful of making the postseason. Those dreams have been dashed over the past two months. Detroit hasn't been over the .500 mark in terms of points earned since an overtime win against the New York Rangers on Feb. 17.

"We were the closest we've been in a couple of years (to the playoff race) and we were playing well, and then (we've) just really fallen off," Larkin said. "It is frustrating, but we have to get something positive here to end the season. We can't go into the summer like this, and then next year. We have to find a way to get something positive."

It's likely the Wings will have a new coach next season. Some fans chanted "Fire Blashill" during the Friday home game, but general manager Steve Yzerman likely will wait until season's end to determine the fate of Jeff Blashill.

"There's no doubt that right now we're beat down mentally," Blashill said. "That's not an excuse. We got to fix that, but that's the reality of it."

I was born in detroit, and grew up in grosse pointe, which is on the other side of 8 Mile road. At that time, very much a dividing line between the suburbs and Detroit proper. 8 Mile was, and is, a thing.

When I was living there, in the 70s, Detroit was a mess. The murder capital of the world. No tax base white flight etc.

At that time, in the seventies, all I wanted to do was get the hell out of there. I came here to boston, in 1982. I consider Boston very much my home. However, I retain a great deal of respect for those who chose to stay and to build from the ashes. Detroit is on it's way back. I'm proud of the people who live there.

As Mitch album wrote, Detroit is not s*** on the shoe of america. Not anymore.
 

Skelen

Registered User
Jan 5, 2015
1,287
1,534
Very interested to see the lineup changes tonight. Hoping the 4th line gets shifted a bit. Sadly that probably means Figgy moves up in Freds spot. Wonder if they put McLovin in for Pasta and let him rest or if they liked him better on the 3rd.

Would like to see

March Bergy MVP
Hall Hall2 McLovin
Bleeeed Coyle Smith
Fig Nosek Lazar
 
  • Like
Reactions: lopey

Grasshopperking

Registered User
Sponsor
Jun 5, 2010
3,599
1,184
Brooklyn, NY
Assuming no Pasta/Frederic I think you're close, but likely you'll see Foligno at 3LW and Blidh at 4LW.
Would be a shame if that's the case. Their speed alone should make the decision obvious but we've seen Bruce defer to veterans forever so who knows. TBH I'd rather see stud somewhere in the lineup
 

ON3M4N

Ignores/60 = Elite
Dec 13, 2015
13,036
18,030
Connecticut
Would be a shame if that's the case. Their speed alone should make the decision obvious but we've seen Bruce defer to veterans forever so who knows. TBH I'd rather see stud somewhere in the lineup

Blidh is familiar with Nosek & Lazar as they've played together. Foligno has played with Coyle off and on, so there is some familiarity there as well. Studnicka has no where to go in the line-up unless they decide to give him another look at RW, but they seem adamant that he'll only be in as a center.
 

ON3M4N

Ignores/60 = Elite
Dec 13, 2015
13,036
18,030
Connecticut
Last 10 Games:
DET: 2-6-2 (4th worst P%) / -20 Goals
BOS: 8-2-0 (3rd best P%) / +15 Goals

Road/Home on the season:
DET at Home: 17-13-6 (18th best P%) / -12 Goals
BOS on Road: 22-9-3 (2nd best P%) / +25 Goals

Season Series:
Bruins up 2-1-0 / +7 Goals
 

Grasshopperking

Registered User
Sponsor
Jun 5, 2010
3,599
1,184
Brooklyn, NY
Blidh is familiar with Nosek & Lazar as they've played together. Foligno has played with Coyle off and on, so there is some familiarity there as well. Studnicka has no where to go in the line-up unless they decide to give him another look at RW, but they seem adamant that he'll only be in as a center.
Sure... though I'm sure Blidh could be familiar and build chemistry with L3.
Foligno has looked really bad to me and I'd rather see Studnicka in against Detroit. Build some confidence and get some reps against this clown show.
 

ON3M4N

Ignores/60 = Elite
Dec 13, 2015
13,036
18,030
Connecticut
I don't think Foligno has been as bad as people think. Over the last 10 games with Foligno on the ice:

Shots: 51-36 in favor of Boston
Chances: 42-30 in favor of Boston
HD Chances: 23-13 in favor of Boston

The problem is in actual goals where its 5-1 in favor of the opposition. Both Foligno and Lazar rank the worst among B's in GF% of the last 10 games.

Is he overpaid? 100% not question about it, but he's far from a useless plug like some make him out to be.
 

ON3M4N

Ignores/60 = Elite
Dec 13, 2015
13,036
18,030
Connecticut
Sure... though I'm sure Blidh could be familiar and build chemistry with L3.
Foligno has looked really bad to me and I'd rather see Studnicka in against Detroit. Build some confidence and get some reps against this clown show.

ya he probably could, but that takes time and there is no long term plan for Blidh to play 3LW, so why not play him with guys he's familiar with and give Coyle a guy he's familiar with? I'd love to see Studnicka get some looks to, but he's not going to play LW and the Bruins are adamant about him being a center. You're not sitting anyone for Studnicka right now unless they are injured.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad