KPD raises a valid point that now there is enough video of what Cassidy has changed that there are no surprises.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...-finish-now/uH5Zjj6ifeTcRTNsJ7k0pN/story.html
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...-finish-now/uH5Zjj6ifeTcRTNsJ7k0pN/story.html
A couple of things have happened here. First off, the Bruins were bound to cool off. It was barely a .500 club (26-23-6) when Cassidy took over, and the 12-3-0 run into the middle of this month was, in part, a product of a jump start to the dead battery of their emotions.
It’s also true that opponents have adjusted to the new-look Bruins. For the first 8-10 games under Cassidy, it was a surprise around the league to see Boston defensemen jumping into the offense, firing shots from low in the zone. The sight of Adam McQuaid ripping in a one-timer from the left wing dot all but shook down the thunder from the Gallery Gods.
But if the key to real estate is location, location, location, the key to today’s NHL is video, video, video. There are now 18 game tapes of Cassidy & Co. out there, which means there are no secrets.
Cassidy will continue to tinker with his forward lines — in contrast to Julien’s more conservative approach — but the methodology isn’t going to change. The new Bruins play faster, identify offensive opportunities quicker, try to exploit them. Everyone else in the Original 30 has it figured.
Now, once again, it’s about the finish.
