Bruins: 2010-2011

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

Just imagine where this team would be without solid goaltending.

I try not to haha. Given we are the second worst playoff team in terms of goals scored, it would be ugly

[Steve_v3 289]

How many points are they just going to give to teams in there division?

You could see them ease into that defensive shell during the third period.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

and thomas is hung out to dry again. He had so many shots, his save % went up after allowing 3 goals.

nevermind. NHL.com's boxscore lagged a bit behind

[Steve_v3 289]

The best is if you listen to NESN & Jack Edwards it's always tough luck & there putting out such tremendous effort. I know the home announcers are going to be biased but really. They played average at best on the most recent road trip. And because they took 8 out of 10 possible points they would have you think they are world beaters.

Sicking what this team has become. Julien turned this team around a few years ago & brought them back to respectability & now is taking them back to that soft lazy team he inherited.

[Jason Harris 31]

You could see them ease into that defensive shell during the third period.

I'd agree with that, because I didn't think they played lethargically in the third period as much they played passively. I'm not sure which is worse, although being outshot 15-4 at one point (as well as the 26-2 by the Caps a couple of weeks ago) is inexcusable. I hate the prevent defense in football, and it's not much better in hockey.

While I readily admit the B's deserved to lose for playing so passively, a couple of observations about the end of the game:

1) I didn't like Chara's icing because it caused them to have to keep the checking line on, although it sure would have been nice to have the puck roll four inches to the left.

2) Ryder definitely tripped Wisniewski, while Wheeler was absolutely stupid to have his stick so high toward Wisniewski's hands when he basically couldn't impact the play from where he was. That said, there it was quite obvious Wisniewski dove on both of those plays. (Or more accurately, on Wheeler's play, the second replay showed Wheeler's stick was hardly going to touch Wisniewski, but Wisniewski sort of reached back to make sure the stick tugged at his arm, then he went down.) My point, however, is both of those plays were obvious at game speed, let alone in replays. My philosophy on dives is officials need to have the cajones to call both penalties; otherwise, the diving will never stop.

3) However, the one non-call that really got to me was seven guys were on the ice, so there was plenty of visibility, and right in the middle of the zone where at least one set of official eyes should have been looking, Subban skated right at Bergeron and blatantly entangled his left leg into Bergeron's legs to spin Bergeron around. Clearly interference -- and, actually, clearly dirty -- in the middle of the zone, but no call.

[Steve_v3 289]

I'd agree with that, because I didn't think they played lethargically in the third period as much they played passively. I'm not sure which is worse, although being outshot 15-4 at one point (as well as the 26-2 by the Caps a couple of weeks ago) is inexcusable. I hate the prevent defense in football, and it's not much better in hockey.

While I readily admit the B's deserved to lose for playing so passively, a couple of observations about the end of the game:

1) I didn't like Chara's icing because it caused them to have to keep the checking line on, although it sure would have been nice to have the puck roll four inches to the left.

2) Ryder definitely tripped Wisniewski, while Wheeler was absolutely stupid to have his stick so high toward Wisniewski's hands when he basically couldn't impact the play from where he was. That said, there it was quite obvious Wisniewski dove on both of those plays. (Or more accurately, on Wheeler's play, the second replay showed Wheeler's stick was hardly going to touch Wisniewski, but Wisniewski sort of reached back to make sure the stick tugged at his arm, then he went down.) My point, however, is both of those plays were obvious at game speed, let alone in replays. My philosophy on dives is officials need to have the cajones to call both penalties; otherwise, the diving will never stop.

3) However, the one non-call that really got to me was seven guys were on the ice, so there was plenty of visibility, and right in the middle of the zone where at least one set of official eyes should have been looking, Subban skated right at Bergeron and blatantly entangled his left leg into Bergeron's legs to spin Bergeron around. Clearly interference -- and, actually, clearly dirty -- in the middle of the zone, but no call.

I agree with you on the call in OT. Wheeler has to realize that he can't put his stick there though.

In my opinion this shows that this team has more than enough talent to compete with anyone. They haven't looked great & they still manage to get points. I hope someone (Neely) in the organization will demand that this crap stops & makes some changes.

[chippa13 1844]

I think they're due for a pasting, probably at the hands of the Pens. Playing so-so and getting points always hides problems and lets some bad habits sneak in. Don't be surprised if the Pens score at least 6 on Monday.

[Gr8erade 1]

I get frustrated watching the blind passes in their own zone that end up in guys' feet or behind them, or worse yet picked off. I like Savard, but he's put more passes on the sticks of the other team in his own end than he has on any of his wingers in the offensive end. The B's are having the same problem that my beer league team does, they run around in transition and don't take care of the ice between the tops of the circles and the blue line and it bites them all the time. Their transition from defense to offense is just brutal.

I don't recall them hitting anyone either. Did Chara win the Norris and become a pacifist? It doesn't seem like he intimidates anyone defensively anymore, and the offense is completely gone.

And those were some softies Thomas let in. He's had quite a few of them in the past couple weeks.

When your best players are Bergeron, Thornton, and Campbell there's a problem. Every single other player is completely inconsistent. They can be so invisible that I couldn't tell you whether some of them even played.

They're lucky they are where they are in the standings right now. There's some time to fix things, but they need to get going soon.

[Steve_v3 289]

They're lucky they are where they are in the standings right now. There's some time to fix things, but they need to get going soon.

+1

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

I get frustrated watching the blind passes in their own zone that end up in guys' feet or behind them, or worse yet picked off. I like Savard, but he's put more passes on the sticks of the other team in his own end than he has on any of his wingers in the offensive end. The B's are having the same problem that my beer league team does, they run around in transition and don't take care of the ice between the tops of the circles and the blue line and it bites them all the time. Their transition from defense to offense is just brutal.

I don't recall them hitting anyone either. Did Chara win the Norris and become a pacifist? It doesn't seem like he intimidates anyone defensively anymore, and the offense is completely gone.

And those were some softies Thomas let in. He's had quite a few of them in the past couple weeks.

When your best players are Bergeron, Thornton, and Campbell there's a problem. Every single other player is completely inconsistent. They can be so invisible that I couldn't tell you whether some of them even played.

They're lucky they are where they are in the standings right now. There's some time to fix things, but they need to get going soon.

Thomas has been consistent. I blame too much work for some of his goals latley. Take a ton of shots on the montreal pp in overtime and then get screened. He has alot of deflections off his own players go in. And for the most part, rask has been solid, look at his save %.

Bergeron has only really come around as of late offensively.

Marchand has been pretty consistent IMO.

[Gr8erade 1]

Thomas has been consistent. I blame too much work for some of his goals latley. Take a ton of shots on the montreal pp in overtime and then get screened. He has alot of deflections off his own players go in. And for the most part, rask has been solid, look at his save %.

Bergeron has only really come around as of late offensively.

Marchand has been pretty consistent IMO.

I wasn't really counting Thomas and Rask, as they're really not the problem and they're really the only reasons why the B's are where they are. Rask has been mostly fine but getting zero goal support.

Bergeron is usually solid, even if he isn't scoring. Savard hasn't been scoring and has been more dangerous to the B's than to the opposition. I realize he is still working his way back, but jeeze. A lot of these plays are just poor decisions no matter what. Krecji seems to be disappearing for long stretches, then has a great shift. Then disappears again. At least the 4th line goes out and does what they're supposed to.

And yeah, Marchand has been consistent, but you're talking about yet another bottom 6 forward. Which, as I said, is a problem.

[Jason Harris 31]

Based on his play over the past month, I hope Marchand starts to feel confident enough that he can stick in the NHL based on his skills, so he can stop being an agitator. The truth is the kid has played like a punk for most of the year, so it's been enlightening to see some of the offensive skill he possesses. Yet just the other night, he purposefully sprayed the goalie on a near breakaway, so it seems he still feels that he has to be "gritty" to stay with the team.

[chippa13 1844]

I've seen quotes from him where he believes that he has to play that role to find his niche in the NHL. I think he can be just as successful with his effort on the forecheck and flying around the ice sans puckishness.

[Jason Harris 31]

Anyone else notice that not only have the B's crept up in the standings, but they're also creeping up in team scoring? Around November or December, they were one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, but now they're the 8th highest scoring team.

I still have concerns about this team in a playoff series, since I think their defensive system is more easily solved when teams have to play them back-to-back, but this has been a decent stretch over the past three weeks.

[trevor13478 1]

Anyone else notice that not only have the B's crept up in the standings, but they're also creeping up in team scoring? Around November or December, they were one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, but now they're the 8th highest scoring team.

I still have concerns about this team in a playoff series, since I think their defensive system is more easily solved when teams have to play them back-to-back, but this has been a decent stretch over the past three weeks.

Bergeron has really been playing up to his potential as one of the best two way players in the game, showing off his offensive skills as well. Everyone seems to really have picked it up since Savard's return which is great to see, and even Savard himself seems to be rounding into form from past years, which is obviously a huge x factor for the Bruins going forward to have their best offensive player getting his game back.

Rask is playing well also, although he was never really playing poorly, just got zero goal support from the offense. I think he needs to see more starts, Thomas can't play like this all the time and you have one of the best young goaltenders rotting on the bench. Get Tuukka some experience and Timmy some rest.

What do you guys think PC has in store for the trade deadline, if anything. Any moves you'd like to see? Personally I think the B's are lacking an offensive d-man as they have been since, well I guess since when Ray Bourque left. Kaberle is out there but I wouldn't move one of our first round picks for him. If he could be had for Ryder Hamill/another prospect and maybe a 2nd rounder or one of our other d-men I'd be all for it but I'm hearing the price would likely be Wheeler/Ryder and their first back, I think that's too big a price to pay when he could be had for free on July 1st. (Pending he doesn't get traded and signed to an extension elsewhere)

[chippa13 1844]

I'd rather see Kampfer grow into the role than to dump Hamill and prospects/picks for a Kaberle rental.

[Hooah4 12]

I'd rather see Kampfer grow into the role than to dump Hamill and prospects/picks for a Kaberle rental.

as long as they let him grow into it. Matt Hunwick anyone?

[chippa13 1844]

Hunwick faded all on his own. He did nothing in his second season with the B's and is working on doing even less this season. Trust me, the B's were wise to send him packing. Now, if only they'd come to the same realization about Wheeler.

[Steve_v3 289]

SAVARD LEAVES GAME WITH HEAD INJURY

I almost hope he ends up sitting the rest of the year. He wasn't playing all that great anyways & he doesn't seem to be even close to be back to where he was.

Hopefully he will be OK.

[Jason Harris 31]

Savard's point production hasn't returned to PPG, but I thought the last ten days or so that he was looking nearly like the Savard of old, although it's obvious he still doesn't have as much stamina as the other players. His passing has been great, however.

I was at the rink two weeks ago and struck up a conversation with a woman in the skate shop. Somehow. she mentioned the B's were coming to Colorado in January. I told her, no, they're not visiting the Avs this year. She told me she was pretty confident, because she heard her sons talking about it. I told her that I was also pretty confident, because I'm from Boston and that's the first game I check every season. The obvious answer is I now owe that woman an apology -- as well as a big thank you! -- but when I mentioned to the Big D that the B's were coming to Denver, the funny part is she told they can't be because she had also checked the schedule and they weren't on it. I don't know how both of us could have looked at the schedule and come away thinking the B's were not coming here this year, other than perhaps I have to finally admit to myself that maybe I really do need glasses.....

Anyway, when we were at the game, I was thinking about what changed the last three weeks to get them playing better overall. My thought is it boils down to one player addition and one line change. The first is Kampfer, who I think is filling the role of offensive defenseman better than either Hunwick or Wideman did over the past three seasons. There are occasions Kampfer's might be too aggressive with his pinching, but he really has great offensive instincts. He's been a big boost to the offense, along with moving Marchand to Bergeron's line. Do you realize those three (with Rechhi) have scored 18 goals so far in January? Or that the B's are now sixth in goals per game?

[Steve_v3 289]

Anyway, when we were at the game, I was thinking about what changed the last three weeks to get them playing better overall. My thought is it boils down to one player addition and one line change. The first is Kampfer, who I think is filling the role of offensive defenseman better than either Hunwick or Wideman did over the past three seasons. There are occasions Kampfer's might be too aggressive with his pinching, but he really has great offensive instincts. He's been a big boost to the offense, along with moving Marchand to Bergeron's line. Do you realize those three (with Rechhi) have scored 18 goals so far in January? Or that the B's are now sixth in goals per game?

I totally agree about Kamfer. He has been great imo. He had a bad pinch in that Buffalo game last week that led to a goal but if he played more conservative I don't think he could be effective. The overall effort has a lot better this month.

I think they need to find a way to get Rask some more time & give Thomas more rest down the stretch. If they don't I think Thomas will struggle in the playoffs.

Bergeron's line has been fantastic. Who knew that Marchand fit in so well with those guys. After watching him play last it's almost hard to believe it's the same guy.

If Savard's injury is severe enough they may put him on long term IR. That could open the possibility that they could take on some salary at the trade deadline.

[chippa13 1844]

Marchand is a good complement to that line. He plays a very aggressive game and he doesn't seem to hesitate out there like other folks they've tried with Bergeron and Recchi. As for Kampfer, I've liked his game since he first came up. In fact, my brother was writing a fantasy column on defensemen about a month ago and I told him to keep an eye on Kampfer as an up and comer. It has been nice to be proven right by this kid so far.

[start_today 770]

I wonder how much of Savard's injury on Saturday would have been mitigated by a visor. I know it's hard to get used to playing with, and vision is possibly the biggest part of his game, but with all his concussion problems you think he'd want that extra bit of protection. With a visor he still would have taken that shot to the head, but it would have prevented his forehead from banging into the glass, which seemed to be the issue.

Ditto all the Kampfer comments, but I think we all said the same things about Hunwick we he first came up.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't think a visor would have done much to help Savard. That was a pretty hard hit of the head.

[chippa13 1844]

Another concussion for Savard.