Author Archives: @inlow005

Bruins Journey Through California

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Holding a three game losing streak, things don’t get easier for Boston as they begin their California road trip. The Bruins kick off their trip tonight against the Anaheim Ducks, who they have yet to play this season. Following Wednesday’s visit to Anaheim, the Bruins rematch with Los Angeles on Thursday, and San Jose Saturday.  The Bruins finds themselves at a crucial point of the season, slipping away from the leaders of the league.

BRUINS VS DUCKS

Perhaps the easiest test of the trip for Boston, Anaheim currently sits in sixth place of the Pacific Division, ahead of only Edmonton and Arizona.  Like the Bruins, the Ducks have had their share of struggles lately, dropping five of their last six.  Along with that, Ducks’ stars Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler have missed some time due to injury, forcing exploration into their depth charts.  Boston knows this story too well.  They will play without Brad Marchand and Anders Bjork, just to name a few.  This opening match of Boston’s California trip is by far the most crucial.  If the B’s can break their losing streak  with a big win, it can perhaps translate into momentum against one of the best teams in the league.  If Boston fails to snap their losing streak, struggles will only plunge deeper for a deflated Bruins squad.

BRUINS VS KINGS

Just less than three weeks ago, Boston hosted Los Angeles in what turned out to be an overtime heartbreaker.  Boston snagged the early lead during the first period before Tyler Taffoli ripped the equalizer for Los Angeles moments later.  The second and third period were defensive jousts, eventually leading to an overtime match up at the Garden.  About five minutes into overtime, Taffoli recorded his second point of the game and the game-winner for the Kings.  Despite the loss, goalie Tuukka Rask had one of his best outings of the season, logging 28 saves on 30 shots.  But there’s good news for Boston.   Los Angeles is currently on a three game losing streak, all of which came at home.  The time for Boston to play the number two team in the Western Conference is right now.  The potential for the Bruins to take a huge leap following their trip to California is strong, especially if they can start off 2-0.

BRUINS VS SHARKS

A rematch with the San Jose Sharks rounds out the west coast trip.  In a game where Danton Heinen reigned supreme, the Bruins edged out the Sharks with a 2-1 victory.  The goaltending was sharp on both sides of the rink.   However, Anton Khudobin was between the pipes for Boston.  It will be interesting to see if Rask is sidelined for this matchup, given Khudobin’s exposure previously to the Sharks offense.  If Rask does well early in the road trip, it’s likely he will get the nod.  However, I would not be surprised to see Khudobin in net for this game, regardless of Rask’s performance.  As with the other two games of this California trip, Boston must capitalize on opportunities every chance they get.  Missing some key players will add to the struggles we’ve seen this year.   But now is the time they truly need to be overcome.

This west-coast road trip will set the course for the Bruins’ end to November.  The schedule upon their return home is hard enough in itself.  If Boston takes down Anaheim tonight, maybe the ball will finally start (and continue) rolling.  If they drop one to the Ducks, things will only get tougher, facing Los Angeles at home tomorrow night.

 

 

Breaking Down Potential Wild Card Weekend

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Potential Wild Card Weekend

Despite many NFL Sundays still ahead, it’s intriguing to ponder the potential matchups for the 2017-18 NFL Playoffs. With many surprises in the playoff picture, wild card weekend could in fact “be wild.” At the start of the season I did not anticipate Jacksonville to ever hold the AFC wild card lead. Yet here we are, just past the halfway point of the season, and the 5-3 Jags are even threatening for first in their division. With that said, if the playoffs started today, here’s what we would have to look forward to wild card weekend.

(5)Jacksonville @ (4)Tennessee

This inner divisional matchup would be a great way to kick off the NFL playoffs.  Having two teams play each other three times in one season presents so much drama. Especially when considering these two close out the regular season against each other in Tennessee. If these two squared up in back to back weeks, the tension would be hot, leading to a brutal battle on the gridiron. The Jacksonville defense gave up a horrifying 37 points to the Titans in week two of the season. Since then, however, their defense has been rock solid, leading the league in opponent points per game average at just 14.6 (TeamRankings.com). The Jaguars are clawing for a rematch with Tennessee, and getting that chance twice in two weeks presents a fun watch for all football fans.

(6)Buffalo @ (3)Kansas City

The Chiefs came out the gate this season with a dominating first five weeks. It wasn’t until hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, that things went south in Kansas City. The Chiefs have dropped three of their last four games, as they head into a desperately needed bye week. The Buffalo Bills have had some impressive wins of their own, but have a tough schedule up ahead.  One of those games happens to be in Kansas City.  What makes this such an exciting matchup, is Buffalo leads the league in turnover differential, and Kansas City falls one spot behind them at number two (ESPN.com). Because both teams protect the ball and like to cause turnovers, this game could come down to a single fault. Every play will matter, and everyone will have to play to perfection. Luckily, we don’t have to wait long to see this potential wildcard matchup. Buffalo’s regular season trip to Kansas City is just three weeks away.

(5)Carolina @ (4)Los Angeles (Rams)

Perhaps the most entertaining team to watch, the Rams, bring to the table a dominating offensive scheme. Los Angeles has put up absurd numbers this season, while Carolina’s strong defensive efforts have kept scores low. Carolina has definitely had the tougher schedule through this point of the season, having played New England, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Los Angeles, on the other hand, has faced an easier group of teams including Indianapolis, San Francisco and the New York Giants. Their win in Dallas was definitely impressive, but the game was a shootout, and that simply won’t happen against the Panthers. In order for the Rams to advance past wildcard weekend, they will need to wear down Carolina’s defense early and often. If the Rams are going to fall to Carolina, it will be because the Panthers control the tempo throughout the game, and that tempo will be very slow.

(6)Dallas @ (3)Minnesota

The funny thing about this matchup is it’s almost exactly like the Carolina-Los Angeles matchup. At this point in the season, Dallas is fourth in the NFL in points per game (TeamRankings.com). Minnesota, on the other hand, is third in the NFL in opponent points per game (Team Rankings.com). Both teams have won some games in impressive fashion, but the upper-hand definitely goes to the Vikings. Despite losing their starting quarterback at the start of the season, the Vikings have been able to craft a solid string of wins over the past few weeks. In two weeks Minnesota will host the Rams, which will be a strong indicator of how this potential matchup could unfold. Similarly, the Cowboys will host Seattle, who is a defensive powerhouse, thus allowing a “scrimmage” for what they could see against the Vikings. A final factor to ponder, who will be under center for the Vikings come January…?

Much will change in the playoff race between now and January.  Some teams will drop the ball, while others will snag a spot in the playoffs. When I first heard these were the eight teams currently slated for wild card weekend, I was a bit shocked. After breaking down the matchups, I think wild card weekend will set the stage for an extremely entertaining playoffs.

 

 

 

A DIFFERENT FEEL FROM THE 2011 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS

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The start of the Bruins season has been an emotional drain on Boston hockey fans. Failing to scrounge up back-to-back wins at any point during the season, the Bruins have not looked how we hoped. They give us hope, only to let us down a few nights later. What’s the problem with this years team? Why don’t we see the same championship potential from a Bruins team, consisting of many whom actually played on the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team? Let’s break it down…

A LACK OF CHEMISTRY

One thing common among all championship teams, really for any sport, is a strong chemistry on the ice, field, etc.  When I was growing up near Chicago, I was blessed to be smothered with countless hockey championships, at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.  The trust between defensive pairing, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, was immense. It created a contagious chemistry across all red sweaters.  Although superstars themselves alone, combining offensive forces like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp, created a similar atmosphere on the other side of the puck.  With a prolific group of athletes constantly on the same page, winning championships was inevitable. This transitioned into an era of greatness for the city of Chicago, something unseen since the Michael Jordan Era.

Similarly, the Bruins Stanley Cup championship run of 2011, was crafted largely in part due to their chemistry on the ice. The Bruins were led that postseason by David Krjeci and Patrice Bergeron, both whom flirted with two dozen total postseason points, but more important was the supporting cast these two leaders were surrounded by on the ice. Guys like Nathan Horton and Michael Ryder complimented the bigger names, creating a swift and efficient play-style. This season, the Bruins have lacked the chemistry needed to compete at championship caliber. Guys like Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk need to contribute heavily in order to get point hoarders, like Marchand and David Pastrnak, more opportunities as the season continues.

FLUCTUATION BETWEEN THE PIPES

No one is expecting Tuukka Rask to put up the absurd numbers we saw from Tim Thomas during his Conn Smythe Trophy year.  The immaculate display from Thomas throughout both the regular and post-season, is something Bruins fans will never forget. Thomas led the league during the regular season, in both Goals Against Average (2.00) and Save Percentage (.938) (ESPN.com) He then went on to somehow improve those figures in the postseason (1.98) & (.940) respectively (ESPN.com.) Thomas was a vacuum cleaner for Boston, and played probably the biggest role in the B’s brining home their first Stanley Cup in nearly four decades.

This season Rask is not expected to, and will not, eclipse the level of play that Thomas did in the 2010-11 season. In order for the Bruins to contend in the Atlantic Division this season, he will need to improve.  Rask is currently 18th in Goals Against Average this season, with a mediocre 2.73 GAA (ESPN.com.) Rask has shown his ability this season on more than one occasion. He clearly has the power to prevail in net, he just needs to on a consistent basis. I appreciate that the defense has failed him time-to-time, and fortifying defensively is a priority moving forward. Hopefully, Rask can stay healthy, as the concussion earlier in the year was obviously a setback.

SPEAKING OF INJURIES…

They need to cease!  Injuries are part of the game and that’s just the way it is. In order to establish chemistry, and build any momentum, guys need to stay healthy. It seems everyday I wake up to an alert of a new player being out for a couple games or longer. Injuries play a huge role in the sport. With Marchand and Krejci both out for a bit, it’s going to be hard to collect points in the division. How the younger skaters deal with the injuries of the big name players determines a lot moving forward. Will they take the challenge, and prove their potential? Or drop the ball on an opportunity to show Boston fans what they’ve got? Only time will tell.

Stanley Cup champions are not built in the playoffs, they are built in the offseason. They grow from October, through the final puck drop in June. If the Bruins expect to be playing into the late spring, a lot of building blocks need to be put in place.

 

Bruins Seek to Build Momentum

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by: @inlow005

Following a solid 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks Thursday night, the Bruins look to further build some momentum as they host the “Best in the West” Los Angels Kings Saturday night.  With Anton Khudobin getting the nod over Tuukka Rask against San Jose, the Bruins edged out the Sharks in a defensive battle.  Rask, who has missed some time with a concussion, will most likely return to the net to face the Kings.

HEINEN’S HEROICS

More impressive than the defensive efforts of Boston Thursday night was the offensive performance from youngster Danton Heinen.  After being called up to the big stage earlier that morning, Heinen was the hero, notching both goals for the B’s.  With some lackluster penalties at the hands of Sean Kuraly, Heinen’s big-time play was essential for a struggling Bruins squad.  If the young gun can build off his impressive outing, Boston can certainly give Los Angeles some trouble at the Garden Saturday night.

Although relatively absent on Thursday, Brad Marchand provides another aspect of optimism for Boston fans moving forward.  In just eight games the long-time Bruin has tallied eleven points, leading the team in both goals and assists.  Aside from last night’s battle and a shutout loss to Colorado in early October, Marchand has assisted or scored in every game.  I expect to see further progression from Marchy throughout the next few weeks as he has established himself as a strong leader for the B’s.  With some production from the younger guys, Boston has the weapons to emerge as an offensive powerhouse.

FUELING THE FLAME

After big wins, the next big step is adding more fuel to the fire.  Boston has failed to win back-to-back games this year, deflating hope for both the fans and players.  Although facing Los Angeles is rarely fun, the reward of beating them would be immense.  If Boston can squeak past L.A. they will have finally broken their back-to-back win draught, and have done so against the best in the west.  In order to accomplish this feat, a few things need to happen… or would certainly help.

Rask needs to rebound- After missing a few games, Rask needs to come back with a powerful showing.  He faces an extremely tough offense, but has the opportunity to display his talent in front of home fans.

No silly goals- When playing a first-place team, almost everything has to go right.  The Bruins cannot afford to give up weak goals to the Kings.  They have had trouble with silly goals, but Saturday night this is especially inexcusable.

Find twine early- Nothing would be worse than starting off slow and digging a hole against the Kings at home.  If the Bruins can get on the board quick, they will draw the momentum necessary to take down a really strong squad.

Avoid the box- For Bruins viewers, this seems like a no-brainer.  But time and time again Boston ends up in the box when they shouldn’t.  Los Angeles will capitalize on PowerPlays, so best avoid them.

 

 

Bruins Keys to Rematch with Avalanche

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by: @inlow005

Following a rough home loss at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche Monday, the Boston Bruins take the ice in Denver tonight for a shot at redemption. The impressive offensive outing from opening night evaporated Monday afternoon.   Many things need to change on both sides of the ice before the rematch with Colorado.

KREJCI NEEDS A REBOUND

While watching Boston’s opener last week, nobody stood out more to me than David Krejci.  He assisted three of the team’s four goals and went positive in the point differential column.  The chemistry displayed between veteran Krejci and NHL rookie Jake DeBrusk left Bruins fans optimistic for their season on the ice together.  Monday night, however, that optimism turned to skepticism.  In the 4-0 loss to Colorado, Krejci was on the ice for two Avalanche goals.  Line-mates DeBrusk and Andres Bjork both went minus three in the plus/minus category.  Krejci and his line are going to have to get more shots on goal Wednesday night.  The fourth line left winger (Sean Kuraly) should never lead the team in shots on goal.

KRUG NEEDS TO MAKE A PRESENCE

I certainly did not expect a huge showing from Torey Krug in his first game of the season.   But with a game under his belt, Krug will need to make some noise Wednesday night.  Krug led the Bruins in ice time Monday afternoon playing alongside Adam McQuaid.  While McQuaid recorded four hits and an even plus/minus, Krug tallied one hit, a -1 plus/minus, and one shot on goal.  He also found the penalty box once on a two-minute illegal check to the head of Alexander Kerfoot.  If Krug can stay honest defensively and add some offensive value, the Bruin’s can definitely bounce back in their third game of the year.

THE SILLY GOALS NEED TO STOP… OR BE STOPPED

As a hockey fan, nothing is more frustrating than watching your team give up goals that can easily be prevented.  It is one thing to give up a goal when the defense did everything right and the shooter just placed it perfectly.  But when the majority of the goals against the Bruins are from careless mistakes, it gets really frustrating.  In the opener against Nashville, all three Predators’ goals came in the final two minutes of a period.  The entire Boston roster seemed to just give up when the clock was soon to expire.  Luckily the offensive efforts outweighed the defensive laziness, but that won’t be enough moving forward.

In the game Monday against Colorado, three of the goals could have been prevented with more caution from Boston.  Krejci was way out of place for the first goal.  The second goal for Colorado came short-handed after a lack of Boston positioning.  And the third goal could have been avoided if Rask didn’t lunge 30 feet out of the crease trying to collect the puck.  Boston needs to fix its positioning and awareness for Wednesday night, and the rest of the season.

Despite Semyon Varlamov’s impressive start to the year in goal for Colorado, the Avalanche are a very beatable team.  If the Bruins come out with more offensive chemistry and defensive awareness than they did Monday, the Bruins could very well chalk up their second win of the year tonight.

 

 

 

NFL Matchup of the Week

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by @inlow005

After another uneventful Thursday Night Football match up, football fans across the nation eagerly await another NFL Sunday. This week features some of the best match ups we will see the entire NFL season. Baltimore hosts Pittsburgh in a fight for first of the AFC North. Division foes Oakland and Denver battle it out at Mile High. And Los Angeles (Rams) travels to Dallas where they look to take down the Cowboys, fresh off a road win in Arizona. But the game that grabs me more than the rest?  The NFC North square-up in Minnesota.

A FIGHT FOR THE NORTH

With both the Lions and the Vikings sitting on a 2-1 record, week four brings with it the ability to fuel much momentum moving ahead.  Green Bay handled Chicago on the road with ease, pushing themselves ahead to first in the division with a 3-1 record.  The winner of Detroit-Minnesota will share the division lead with Green Bay, while the loser will still have a one game lead over the 1-3 Chicago Bears.

DETROIT MAKING SOME NOISE

Detroit has had a rather impressive start to their year, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.  The Lions high-powered offense has averaged over 28 points per game through three weeks.  Although quarterback Matt Stafford has regressed since his four-touchdown performance week one, the Lions have still managed to put themselves in a position to put points on the board.  Last week, in a tough home loss to the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, kicker Matt Prater went 4/4 on field goals, including two from 50-plus yards.

Defensively, Detroit has been causing turnover after turnover.  In just three games, the Lions have forced eight turnovers, three of which came off of 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan.  Aside from giving up 30 in that loss to Atlanta, Detroit has held their opponents to a respectable number of points.  They currently rank 15th overall in points allowed per game (ESPN.com).

DEFENDING HOME TURF

With a brand new home venue, the Vikings strive to move to 3-0 at U.S. Bank Stadium.  Following a disappointing 26-9 loss in Pittsburgh during week two, Minnesota bounced back with a vicious 34-17 week-three victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Case Keenum, Minnesota’s backup quarterback, has had to fill the shoes of Sam Bradford, who put on an absolute clinic week one before being sidelined due to injury.  Keenum struggled on the road against the Steelers but bounced back with a three-touchdown, 369-yard outing against the Bucs.  Bradford hopes to take the field Sunday, but Keenum has been preparing heavily for his shot to start as well.

The Vikings have, in recent years, been viewed upon as a defensive-based team.  With studs like Anthony Barr and Xavier Rhodes heckling the opposition, the Minnesota defense has emerged as one of the finest in football.  The Minnesota D has faced some of the most recognized quarterbacks in the game so far this year, having faced Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, and Jameis Winston.  Stafford represents an easy test, but facing some impressive quarterbacks thus far prepares the Vikings well.

Predictions

When it comes to inner-division matchups among two similarly skilled teams, I have to give the home team the edge.  Minnesota has dominated in their new stadium, with an incredible fan base.  The rowdy atmosphere of Minnesota is not fun for an opposing quarterback.  If I had to hear that violent Vikings horn blaring after turning the ball over, I would be damn straight phased.  Stafford’s composure will be tested this game.

Final Score: Minnesota 31, Detroit 27

Stud Finder: Adam Thielen, 6 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD’s

 

 

 

 

Hot at Home

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by @inlow005

A REVIVED REDEMPTION

After a disappointing finish to last year’s postseason, the Boston Bruins have started off their preseason campaign hot. Perhaps the 4-2 playoff series loss to Ottawa sparked a fuel given their current 4-1 preseason record. With just two away games left before the season opener, Boston finished the preseason undefeated on home ice. The B’s look to capture their first road win of the preseason this Thursday as they head to Philadelphia before a rematch with the Blackhawks on Saturday.

Although favorites like Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have seen limited ice time, most the Boston core has displayed impressive upside for the coming season. In less than thirty minutes of preseason play, Bergeron has one assist and a goal of his own. Pastrnak has also found the back of the net in addition to assisting Bergeron in his third-period goal against Chicago. If the two continue to see action together, they easily present one of the more threatening lines in hockey this year.

THE HOME ADVANTAGE

On the defensive side of the puck, the B’s have been very consistent at the Garden.  They have given up five goals in three games while experimenting with some different lines and skaters. Adam McQuaid had a very impressive outing against Detroit,  recording three hits and two blocked shots in their 4-2 win.  Zdeno Chara, who sat most of the preseason, did get some action against Philadelphia, blocking two shots and bodying the Flyers three times.

Brandon Carlo struggled a bit in his game against Detroit, as he was on the ice for both Red Wings’ goals.  He bounced back a bit in his only other game versus the Flyers where he posted a +1 in the differential column.  As the regular season commences, Carlo needs to stay out of the box considering he found it too frequently in just two games.

In the lone road matchup of the preseason, the B’s suffered a brutal loss to the Red Wings.  After taking a 1-0 lead late in the first period, the Bruins lost all momentum early in the second.  The Wings scored five unanswered goals (four in the second alone) to win 5-1 at Little Caesar’s Arena.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

Although Tuukka Rask has only seen one preseason start up to this point, he made a very strong impression on Boston fans.  Rask gave up just one goal in front of home fans as the Bruins edged Philadelphia 2-1 in overtime.  Assuming Rask gets the nod in Boston’s final preseason games, he could have some nice momentum heading into the season opener against Nashville.

With the starters sitting most the preseason of course, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the Bruins sit moving into the regular season.  An impressive preseason record certainly pleases the fans, but when the Bruins take the ice against the Preds next Thursday, any speculation will be answered.

 

The Number 63

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by @inlow005

Despised by the greater majority of NHL fans, Brad Marchand is constantly in the spotlight. His antics on the ice are different from that of any other player in hockey. One moment he could be wailing on the star player of the opposing franchise. Then, five minutes after his trip to the box, he scores the game tying goal late in the third. The list of reasons Marchand fills opposing fans with fuming anger is immense. But in the eyes of Bostonians, number 63 is looked upon with admiration, nearly in a heroic sense.

FROM ROOKIE TO VETERAN

Throughout the course of his NHL career, Marchand has matured from a young 21-year-old spending 20x the amount of time in the box than in the points column. This season, he’ll be the fourth highest paid player on the Bruins’ roster (capfriendly.com). A Bruin throughout his entire career, fans watched him develop into the stud he has become today.

His aggressive demeanor has lead Marchand to success through both his physicality and his offensive wittiness. Boston fans perch on the edge of their seat when 63 hits the ice, knowing he could very easily make a huge play for the B’s.  Last season Marchand led the team not only in assists and points, but also penalty minutes. This only glorifies the uniqueness he brings to the city of Boston.

THE MEMORIES

One of the most memorable Marchand moments for Boston hockey fans occurred during the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. After dropping the first two games on the road in Vancouver, the B’s needed a home-ice win in game three. With a two goal lead just past the halfway point of the second period, Marchand went the length of the ice to sneak a short-handed wrister past Roberto Luongo. This set the course for the rest of the series.  The Bruins eventually went on to win game three 8-1 before shutting out Vancouver in game seven on their own ice.

THEATER ON ICE

Marchand’s impressive performance during that Stanley Cup series allowed him to display his theatrical side of the game in Vancouver a few years later. After chirping back and forth on the bench with some Canucks fans, Marchand proceeded to remove his glove and kiss his ring finger while staring down the men in the stands. Marchand’s history with Vancouver epitomizes the hatred he brings out with NHL fans all over the country, with the exception of Boston, of course.

The only time cities like Vancouver can tolerate Marchand?  When he nets the winning goal in the World Cup Finals for their home country of Canada. In every other scenario, Marchand is looked upon as a frustrating pest threatening the opposition’s players and win column. But for Bostonians, few things compare to the thrill of looking up and seeing number 63 skating down the ice in that black and gold.