Trapper
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- Nov 21, 2013
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The Bruins "Physicality" is Overblown. Let me explain why
- Thread starter OVO16
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BayStreetBully
Registered User
I’m more confident with our road matchups his year. Unless Bergeron wants to play 40 min a night, one of Matthews or Tavares is on the ice when Bergeron is not.
That being said, I still hope for whichever of the two to beat Bergeron head on anyway.
Some of you people are honestly infuriating with your defeatist attitude. Especially given it's completely unfounded.
The Bruins BARELY beat us last year, and:
- It took completely lopsided officiating
- Kadri getting suspended 3 games
- Gardiner having one of the worst games ever in the playoffs
- We got almost no production from Matthews/Nylander
- We barely played Kapanen/Johnsson/Dermott
And now:
- We've added Tavares & Muzzin
- Rielly has emerged as a Norris calibre defenseman
- Matthews appears to be healthy
- Kapanen/Johnsson/Dermott are all second year guys now and have grown quite a bit
But sure ... we have no chance.
The Bruins BARELY beat us last year, and:
- It took completely lopsided officiating
- Kadri getting suspended 3 games
- Gardiner having one of the worst games ever in the playoffs
- We got almost no production from Matthews/Nylander
- We barely played Kapanen/Johnsson/Dermott
And now:
- We've added Tavares & Muzzin
- Rielly has emerged as a Norris calibre defenseman
- Matthews appears to be healthy
- Kapanen/Johnsson/Dermott are all second year guys now and have grown quite a bit
But sure ... we have no chance.
- Dec 12, 2017
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And if they lose it’ll be because of lopsided officiating again? That excuse is just ridiculous at this point.
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zeke
The Dube Abides
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The notion, as far as I can tell, is that "physicality/toughness" allows a team to do better in the playoffs than they did in the regular season.
From what I can see, those Quinn teams actually choked more often than overachieved.
I didn't say it was why they lost, but it was a factor.
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I would also add that Matthews, Marner, Kapanen, and Johnsson are head over heels better than they were last year.
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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Thing is though, OT and shootouts are gimmicks that don't exist in the playoffs so the fact that we've done better than they have there is irrelevant. I'm not saying they're better than we are, I do think it's too close to call. And I don't even care who's better, I just want to win the playoff series.
I think with Boston they got Winners, guys who have a very strong desire to Win, they Compete and are relentless on the forecheck, they activate there D keeping the puck in the ozone and wear down teams, I think the leafs will battle but will be a very tough series. there leadership group seems to be top notch as well.
Vaive50
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- Dec 24, 2015
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Regular season doesn't mean much, we beat the Bruins 3-1 last season. I remember in the Quinn days when the Sens always beat us badly in the regular season but never in the playoffs out of 4 chances, we even swept them once.
Bruins 3-1 in reg season this year. The game a couple of months ago in Toronto saw the Bruins play a mediocre game at best and they still beat the Leafs in TO. The lack of toughness has been more apparent this year. I can't remember the Leafs winning a game that was a hard checking match. The past 8 years the Bruins seem to have the refs in their pocket as well. They get away with a lot in the playoffs. I still say Boston in 5.
zeke
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I hope the style of play is better in the playoffs. The past few months it’s been virtually impossible to watch an entire Leafs game and the rest of the League hasn’t been a lot better.
BayStreetBully
Registered User
In 2001, Ottawa beat Toronto in all 5 regular season games, only for Toronto to sweep Ottawa in the playoffs.
Sweet Leaf
Registered User
One player in the right situation moves the needle huge.
In this case, it's Zdeno Chara playing 30 minutes a night against your top line.
We have nothing that can match that physicality and in the past playoff series we had at least one guy who seemed to quit out there against him.
In this case, it's Zdeno Chara playing 30 minutes a night against your top line.
We have nothing that can match that physicality and in the past playoff series we had at least one guy who seemed to quit out there against him.
People continuing to exaggerate the Bruins' toughness because Freddy had a shit 3rd period in goal.
zeke
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Give me a freaking break… Last year vs Boston the only series that let things like that go to the extreme of the old ways was the Toronto vs Boston series when the games were played in Boston and guess what? The Leafs were called for penalties doing these things while Boston wasn't that lead to the blow out wins in games 1-2 and Kadri losing his head in retaliation to a cheap shot on Marner....
What happen to Boston vs Tampa in the next round where the officials called a hockey game under the rules?
All you guys talk like the Leafs were swept last year. They battled through poor officiating, suspension and down 3-1 in a series to take it to a game 7 where they had the lead going into the 3rd. This with Matthews sucking and the great JVR who single handily was responsible on momentum changes going to Boston.
People talk about Wilson and the capitals but guess what it was there skill guys that made the difference by providing the offense they're capable of.
Boston beat the Leafs last year because there skilled guys were making plays and executing every time on the ice + destroying the Leafs on the PP
It wasn't this myth of not being able to handle dirty hockey that cost them in the end. They're top guys outproduced ours.
Sweet Leaf
Registered User
When your first line right winger quits in the middle of the series and is crapping his Coopers everytime he sees Chara it doesn't make it less newsworthy or relevant just because you stretched it to the 3rd period in game 7.
Win, lose, 4 games, 7 games, it's an issue worth addressing when you have guys out there scared in the playoffs.
Anyway, if Freddie Andersen outplays Tuuka Rask last year we win. And we'll win this year if Freddie outplays Tukka. And we'll lose if he doesn't. All these other conversations are just sidelines to that central fact. It's all about Rask vs Andersen.
Holtby beat Andersen 2 years ago. Rask outplayed Andersen last year. It's time for Freddie to outplay the other guy in a series.
Win, lose, 4 games, 7 games, it's an issue worth addressing when you have guys out there scared in the playoffs.
Anyway, if Freddie Andersen outplays Tuuka Rask last year we win. And we'll win this year if Freddie outplays Tukka. And we'll lose if he doesn't. All these other conversations are just sidelines to that central fact. It's all about Rask vs Andersen.
Holtby beat Andersen 2 years ago. Rask outplayed Andersen last year. It's time for Freddie to outplay the other guy in a series.
zeke
The Dube Abides
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yeah, amazing how the super-grittastic bruins folded like a cheap tent against tampa.
HoweHullOrr
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- Oct 3, 2013
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Speaking of the Bruins, I wondered what folks thought about Marchand said about Marner's next contract? Surprised there isn't more talk about this.
zeke
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