Shotcaller

Monday Morning Shotcaller: Stage 2 Week 2

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New to Overwatch? Get caught up on everything Overwatch League by reading our introduction.

Happy Marathon Monday Uprising fans. Many New Englanders see the first pitch at Fenway as the first sign of Spring. Personally, it’s always been runners headed down Boylston that does it for me. Just as the warm weather erases all memory of the months of snow shoveling and cold weather, so must a new stage erase our memories of what’s come before. A new patch means a new meta. Teams will rise and teams will fall. And I clearly didn’t give the 3-5 Hangzhou Spark enough credit.

This new world looks different. Two weeks in and we see stage 1 playoff teams Toronto and Atlanta already falling to 1-3 stage 2 records. Suddenly those 2 reverse sweeps from last week don’t look so impressive. Where teams line up in the pecking order is in disarray. And though I thought this match would be a cakewalk for Boston, the Spark proved they were anything but.

The Good

rCk

Huk’s stunning trade before stage 2 continues to prove prophetic. Boston’s new off-tank rCk displayed his signature flexibility throughout the match. On DVa, we saw the Fin eat ultimates like on Anubis when Mei’s blizzard was tossed right into the Defense Matrix. How fun is it when you see the icon for devoured ultimates? Conversely, he lived up to his reputation as a great Sombra player. At Blizzard World, he hit a great EMP on offense that pushed the Point A cap, and seemingly within minutes started a steamroll through Point B. You could tell how paranoid the Spark were getting of him. Sitting on his EMP, he hacked just one player near Point C that spooked the Spark out of position. Boston got a team wipe from it without burning an EMP.

It’s safe to say that rCk was the bright spot in a sea of darkness this night. Boston continues to run most of their team play around him. The question is how do they decide to go DVa or Sombra? There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. While I believe he’s just as good a DVa as Sombra, Boston’s efficacy when he was on the DVa is suspect. Hopefully they can turn it around going forward.

Assault Strategy

As Sideshow pointed out at Halftime, Boston ran a fantastic offense around rCk on Anubis. Using his hacks on the off-tank Ria, Boston would dive the squishy targets knowing the Spark couldn’t peel to defend on Point A. On Point B, Boston did a great job coordinating onto the point and never letting go. After two matches in a row of futile assault maps, it was nice to see the Uprising come out and execute their game plan.

The Bad

GOATs

After a week of two matches that saw a mix of Winston/Hammond dive, Pharmercy, and DPS comps, Boston oddly decided that GOATs would be their approach. With little exception, Boston played the 3-3 all night. To little effect. I’m not sure the mentality here. Did they outthink themselves? Were they expecting Hangzhou to prepare for a mix of comps and then get leveled by GOATs? Did they think the Spark’s record suggested they’d get rolled by a simple GOATs comp? Regardless, it was disappointing to see, in a new patch/meta, such a fixation on GOATs. In their defense, we did see several teams go back to the well here so they’re not alone. But Hangzhou didn’t show such timidness, switching to a bunker comp on Oasis to great effect. Hopefully Boston loosens up next match and tries to switch it up.

Junkertown

What an absolute disaster. While I appreciate Boston not defaulting to the 3-3 and trying out the pirate ship, the Spark were ready. Again, Hangzhou showed superior coordination and synergy. Playing a triple DPS on defense, they made quick work of Boston once they got through the second turn on Point A. Offensively, they switched to GOATs once the payload got past the last turn on Point A. Boston strangely played a Roadhog/Moira comp on defense that did not work at all. Needless to say, I think the coaching staff need to go back to the drawing board when they play this escort map again.

Krystal

Known for leading China’s Overwatch World Cup team to the finals this year, Hangzhou’s unused DPS Krystal certainly sparked the team when he hit the stage. Why did they ever substitute him out? They won every map he played on. Apparently he speaks Mandarin while everyone else speaks Korean. No matter. His Bastion on Oasis’ stage 3 was devastating. Between getting Nano Boosted and his tank ultimate, Boston had no response to their bunker defense.

Funny thing is, Boston has been rumored to be seeking a trade for Krystal all season. You almost could see a twisted irony in him being used against the Uprising. At this point the GMs across the league have to take Huk showing interest in a player as them having a diamond in the rough. Would Hangzhou have played the DPS stud had Huk not called? We’ll never know.

Colourhex

No one suffered more from going back to the GOATs well as Colourhex. After his unbelievable 41% critical accuracy last week, the sniper was stuck on Zarya almost the entire match. There were some low points there. A Graviton sucked up by a Defense Matrix on Oasis. Some bubbles that seemed untimed with teammates. But it didn’t get much better for the kiwi when he got on DPS. His Genji on Anubis wasn’t anything to write home about. Undoubtedly the low point came at the most crucial moment. Up 99% on Leijing Tower, Colourhex got spawn camped by IDK and booped off the map while sitting on his Graviton. To make matters worse, the very next life saw him Whip Shotted off the map by Brigitte. Not pretty.

The Uprising

You have to feel for Blasé being stuck in the Brig as I’ve seen it called. While he’s a serviceable Briggitte, he showed last week he has a wide enough DPS pool to warrant being let loose.

Even at the very end Boston was in it. On Leijing Tower’s third stage, Boston coughed up the point two times while at 99%. Still, you felt that this was just the type of pressure Boston had proven themselves adept at. What a disappointment.

Also about Leijing Tower – how do you have 5 ults after getting up 99%-0% and lose? I think Huk and company will be watching the film on that for awhile. The hubris to burn through those ults and lose the stage like they did was nothing short of embarrassing.

I threw a bit of shade at Fusions last week, wondering if he could stay as relevant in this new meta. I don’t think we have a definitive answer this week, especially because he stuck on the Rein so long. However, I do think he played well tonight, and had some great moments throughout the match.

I’m convinced Kellex is the best stall Lucio in the league. You saw him hopping around on Oasis and Leijing Tower several times. It’s always funny to see the other team have to track him down and kill him like having a fly in your food.

Was it me or did Hangzhou come out to some rap music entrance? Can we get on that bandwagon? Let’s get some Dropkick Murphys or something. Whatever it is we come out to just isn’t cutting it. There are some cool themes out there.

We see you Aimgod. He may not get the attention like Jjonak or get put on replay, but the flex support had some great picks this match. I also though he was brilliant in deploying his Transcendences tonight. He never got anxious and waited patiently to use it.

Looking Forward

After an exciting start to Stage 2, Boston took a step backward this week. They can’t take any of their matches for granted. Next week they face London and Vancouver. Obviously the still unbeaten Vancouver will be a tough match, but London shouldn’t be taken lightly. Last year’s champions are 3-0 this stage. I’m just as guilty as anyone as reading too much into the Stage 1 results. Boston needs a win to keep pace with everyone else if they’re going to make Stage 2 playoffs. Here’s hoping this was just a small misstep on a long road to bigger winnings.

For more weekly columns and gameday banter, follow Loadscr33n on Twitter #BostonUp

Revolution Looking to Draw on English Premier League Inspiration

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MLS season is well underway, and it is safe to say New England Revolution have gotten off to a slow start.

Prior to Revolutions game with Atlanta United, just one win from New England’s opening six game in the MLS leaves the side tenth out of twelve sides in the MLS.

However, as the fixtures come thick and fast, there is every reason why you should check them out in the live betting markets as Brad Friedel is looking to draw on English Premier League inspiration to bring Revolution out of the doldrums.

Two of Brad Friedel’s squad have played in England’s top flight and followed in the footsteps of their manager.

Friedel himself is a household name in the English game having played for the likes of Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur in England’s premier league competition and he clearly wants his squad to follow suit.

So, who are the two players who can make a real difference to Revolutions season by drawing on their Premier League inspiration?

Michael Mancienne

English defender Michael Mancienne was set to become the next big thing when he emerged out of the Chelsea youth team in 2006.

However, the now 31-year-old managed just four Premier League games for the Blues and spent most of his five years at the club out on loan at QPR and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After leaving Chelsea for good in 2011, Mancienne made his way over to Germany to play for Bundesliga side Hamburg where he became an important member of the squad over the next three seasons.

After returning to England in 2014 with former European Champions Nottingham Forest, the talented defender went on to make close to 100 league appearances for the side affectionately known as the ‘Tricky Trees’.

Although Mancienne never quite fulfilled his potential across the pond, his talent is undeniable and if Revolution are going to start launching up the table, Mancienne’s experience could prove pivotal.

Carlos Gil

Spaniard Carlos Gil came to Revolution as the ‘designated player’ and is the man Friedel has been searching for.

Able to play in attacking midfield or as an out and out striker, Gil has hit the ground running in the MLS with three goals in his first six games.

Despite still only being 26-years-of -age, Carlos Gil has seen plenty of action on the pitch having played in Spain, England and now the US.

Initially Gil was part of the Valencia youth setup and made eight La Liga appearances for his home club (scoring once) before heading to Elche on loan.

However, in 2015, Gil headed to England to play for Aston Villa.

Unfortunately, it was just at the time when the Villans were on a downward spiral that would eventually end in relegation to England’s second tier.

A loan move to Deportivo La Coruna was secured in 2016 and in 2018 the deal was made permanent.

However, after just 18 league appearances, Gil found himself on a plane over the Atlantic heading to Boston to sign for Revolution.

And the rest is history… So far anyway!

Why Canadian Football League is a Great Option for Sports Betting

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When it comes to betting on sports, fans can choose from a vast selection of sporting activities and teams to back. One less-popular sport in terms of wagering is Canadian Football, but this is not to say that it is a market that should not be explored.

Today’s article focuses on Canadian Football and, more precisely, on the Canadian Football League (CFL), discussing why it is a great option for wagering. In the following lines, you can find a brief summary of the CFL, as well as a handy betting guide on the CFL to help you get started.

About the CFL

The CFL was founded in 1958, which makes it the second oldest professional football league in North America. Ever since its foundation, the league has been popular all over Canada, and it is generally regarded as second only to the NHL. It should be mentioned that the CFL consists of 9 teams.

Contrary to common belief, American Football is not the same as Canadian Football. Whereas it is true that both sports share similarities, there are some key differences between them.

The CFL championship is known as the Grey Cup, and as of 2018, it takes place between June and the beginning of November. To be more precise, the season lasts a total of 21 weeks, and each team plays 18 games (one game every three weeks).

The Grey Cup is broadcast not only in Canada, but all over North America – it is broadcast by three major television companies, which makes it an especially attractive wagering option.

Most common betting options

Without a doubt, prior to making your first CFL bet, you should spend time familiarising yourself with the available betting options. In the following section, we have briefed some of the most common types of CFL bets.

  • Point Spread Bet

To many experts, this is the most common type of bet in the CFL. The point spread is offered by bookies when one of the teams is a favourite, and the other is an underdog. Let us imagine that you want to bet on the Montreal Alouettes in the following situation:

Montreal Alouettes vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+6.5)

In this bet, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are given a point advantage of 6.5 points, which means that the Montreal Alouettes need to win by at least 7 points in order for the bet to win.

  • Moneyline Bet

The moneyline is the simplest bet you can place on the CFL. When you place a moneyline bet, you simply back one team to win the game. As mentioned on this Betsson tutorial teams can win the game even by one point.

  • Parlay Bet

The parlay is a more complex type of bet, where you can bet on multiple outcomes within the same wager. Crucially, all of the outcomes you have selected need to win in order for the parlay to win. Additionally, as there is a smaller chance to make the right guess on parlays, those bets yield amazing payouts.

CFL betting tips

Sporting Pedia UK would like to conclude our article by providing some basic CFL betting tips to help you as you enjoy your new hobby.

  • The weather has an impact

As you probably know, the weather in Canada is strange sometimes – snowstorms have occurred as early as September. What you need to understand is that the weather might have an impact on the performance of both teams. For example, when it winds, players are not as fast as usual, etc.

Naturally, knowing how individual teams perform in certain weather tremendously helps if you are planning to wager. A piece of advice – avoid betting whatsoever if the weather is too unfavourable.

  • Pay attention to injury reports

Another thing to take into account is player injuries. Always keep track of injury reports issued by individual teams, as this will help you place more winning bets. For example, when all members of the team’s defence have undergone even minor injuries, they might perform significantly worse than usual.

What to Expect From the Bruins in the First-Round of the Playoffs

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As the Boston Bruins prepare for their first matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs it is clear to most spectators that the team has an edge going into the match. Just on paper the team is coming off from a great season and is the home to arguably more talented players. Compared to this, the Maple Leafs were poised to be at least the second seed after signing John Tavares but this did not turn out to be the case. This does not mean that the Maple Leafs won’t be a challenge for the Boston Bruins.

In the last season many injuries t haunted the team, even big players like Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron missed out on a lot of play time. Then came the inquiries which additionally affected Torey Krug and David Pastrnak who also missed out on a lot of play time. Despite all of this, the team managed to overcome the obstacles and is one of the favorites to win this year. If you want to wager on your favorite team and predict you will win the 2019 Stanley Cup, then we recommend you to take a closer look at this bookmaker.

2019 could be the year

Momentum is definitely on their side as the Bruins look to pull off a victory against the Maple Leafs, their first competitor. The Maple Leafs recently added John Tavares and with an 88-point score during the last season and a $77 million price tag for 7 seasons, he is likely to make waves and pose a real threat for the Bruins. The Bruins recently acquired Marcus Johansson from New Jersey and Charlie Coyle from Minnesota, bolstering their own team and The Bruins have a successful track record when facing the team and won last year when they faced them in the first-round playoffs. If the team manages to pull off a victory against the Maple Leafs, then they will face the Tampa Bay Lightning who has been on a rampage recently and who also pose a serious challenge for sure

So, what do the Boston Bruins need to do to make it to the Stanley Cup?

It seems like Coach Bruce Cassidy has a well-defined strategy for the coming season and seems confident in the team. When asked about the Maple Leafs, he had the following to say:

“We feel that if they have time and space through the neutral zone to run those long stretch passes and attack the blue line, if we can’t control that part of the game, and eliminate their D being involved in the rush by killing rushes at the blue line, then we’re going to have problems.”

When asked about whether it was considered strength that the team has faced the Maple Leafs many times before and that the team has have a proven track record against them, he said the following:

“No, I don’t think it favors (either team). I think there’s been certainly changes to each team and additions and subtractions, the familiarity of the styles of play, but it’s going to come down to the performance.”

With the fame fading rapidly since the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011, there seems to be a window opportunity for the team to go all the way this season and with the new additions the team stands stronger than ever.

Want to know more about the world of sports?

Get the inside scoops and unbelievable stories? What about this article about the strangest premier league signings? There are some you would not believe, but don’t take our word for it. Check it out for yourself!

Rozier Celtics

Celtics: What, Me Worry?

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The Celtics will play their final regular season game on Tuesday night when they take on the Washington Wizards. If you were to click on over to Sportsbook Review, you would see what the best online sportsbooks are dealing on that game, and every other, all on one page. Chief among them is Heritage Sports and at this moment Heritage’s oddsmakers have pegged the Green as 4 ½ point road underdogs due to the fact that Boston has locked up the fourth seed in the East and should be resting their key players. We know for certain that extra caution will be paid to Marcus Smart, who suffered a strained oblique, as well as Jayson Tatum who is dealing with a bruise to his shin courtesy of Sunday’s game against Orlando.

The Celtics would go on to lose 116-108 to the Magic, but what’s more perplexing than Boston dropping three of four this season to a pedestrian squad like the Orlando, is Boston’s apparent insouciance to their own plight. This team is the C+ student with straight A potential looking directly at a big final exam coming up, without a care in the world. Kyrie Irving has said as much, repeatedly declaring that the Celtics will be ready for the playoffs when they start. It’s as if the postseason will suddenly morph this underachieving group into championship timber, and we will all forget about head-scratching losses like this one.

Speaking of the which, after the C’s Sunday night defeat, in which Brad Stevens rolled out his starters despite the fact that they had clinched the No. 4 seed, Al Horford gave us this little postgame gem, “I think it is important (playing the starters in a meaningless game). Tonight, and this whole week has been good for us. We’ve been challenged, and I feel like our team has answered and played at a high level like we needed to. Tonight, was just another night I felt like we played really well, but we just came up short.”

Is that right, Al? How many times does this team have to lose winnable games before they begin to question exactly what they are doing – and not doing? This is a team whistling past the graveyard and seem to collectively believe that they’re never going to die. If all of this potential was actually realized on a regular basis then the Celtics would be the top seed in the East, preparing for whichever among the playoff dregs emerges to cop the eighth spot. That’s the team we believed we would see after their epic run last season, sans superstars Irving and Haywood. Okay, so things don’t always go as planned, that’s understandable. However, when the team itself snickers at every inference that they could be in for a short postseason stint, it’s downright peculiar. Apparently, they’re not worried in the least and are wondering why everyone else is.

Ironically, the one team that Boston matches up very well against will be their first-round opponent. The C’s have taken three of four from Indiana, with the most recent being a 117-97 slaughter at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse just last week. Assuming our boys roll through the Pacers, then the test truly begins because there are three teams in the East alone that could deliver a punch big enough to knock some sense into what seems to be a blissfully ignorant group of Celtics. But who knows? Maybe Kyrie’s right and so too are his teammates who don’t share their fans’ sense of urgency…emergency even. Perhaps the Celtics were biding their time and tinkering with what worked and didn’t so that they could unleash their full potential once playoff basketball begins. We may not be buying what they’re selling but as long as they go deep in the postseason, all of this hand-wringing and angst will be a distant memory. Let’s hope.

New England Revolution home stand preview

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The New England Revolution are about to begin their only three game home stand for the 2019 season. Over the next three games they welcome Atlanta FC, New York Red Bulls and the Montreal Impact.

Obviously the Revolution haven’t started the season the way they expected. When you look at the moves they made in the offseason, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, with just one win in their opening six games, is disappointing. The side will be hoping to kick start their season over the next three games and gain some momentum to push for a playoff spot.

I’m sure the Revs will be looking to address their lack of offensive production. They are 4th overall In the MLS for touches inside the opponents 18 yards box, but have only registered 11 shots on target, which is 2nd fewest in the league. Add to that the pressure starting to mount on head coach Brad Friedel, and these games are crucial to the Revolutions season.

Revolution v Atlanta Fc

Both teams have started the 2019 season in poor form, creating pressure on both teams head coaches. The defending champions Atlanta Fc haven’t recorded a win in their first 4 games, but have had a busy schedule to start. They have had to balance both MLS games and CONCACAF Champions League games, but now that the Champions league has ended they may begin to improve.

One negative heading into this match is the loss of Centre back and Captain Michael Mancienne. He was given a 1-match suspension after picking up a 2nd yellow card during their home loss to Columbus Crew. Luckily for the Revs, Antonio Delamea will fill the gap competently as he started the season as Manciennes defensive partner. The revs will need their defense to be on its game against Atlanta, who have last seasons record breaking goalscorer Josef Martinez. He has only one goal in his first four games, and will want to find the net to kick start his season.

  • Photo Credit: MercedesBenzStadium.com
    https://mercedesbenzstadium.com/atlanta-united-vs-philadelphia-union-3/#gallery1-14
Revolution v New York Red Bulls

The next team visiting Gillette Stadium on the stand is the New York Red Bulls. New York have had a very similar start to the season as the Revs, but also have a congested schedule to start the season with CONCACAF Champions League matches. But before they visit the Revs they have an away game at Sporting Kansas City to navigate, a game that could pose a significant challenge for them considering their last regular season home game they put seven past Montreal in a big win.

Assuming things go to plan for the Revs, and at worst they grab a draw from the Atlanta game, this game could help lift the Revs four points clear of New York. Depending on how the New York v Sporting KC game goes. A boost for the Revs in this game should be the return of Captain Mancienne to bolster the defense.

  • Anibaba rises over Wright-Phillips to win a header last season
    Photo Credit; Red Bulls News Network
Revolution v Montreal Impact

The third game of the home stand is against the Montreal Impact. The Impact are coming off back to back 0-0 draws, which followed a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Sporting Kansas City. They also have two pretty tough fixtures before arriving in New England. They play top of the eastern conference Columbus at home, then the Philadelphia Union away, a side also performing well to start the season.

Theres a very real chance that the game versus Montreal could see New England jump them on the ladder with a win, depending on how their other results go.

  • Sporting Kansas City attacking the Montreal Impacts goal in their 7-1 win.
    Photo Credit: Diane Scavuzzo

It’s hard to predict how these games will go. But if the New England Revolution are to have any chance of making the playoffs this year they need to take at least five points from the next nine. I honestly believe they can get the win over Atlanta and Montreal, but the New York game I can see being a draw. Anything less than 5 points could see the Revs well behind the playoff positions. Although it’s early in the season, if they can’t find form with three games at home in a row, it’ll be hard to find it throughout the rest of the season.

Jamie Brown

Alex Guerrero thinks Brady can play until 50

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Could Tom Brady play until the age of 50?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with trainer Alex Guerrero after defeating the New York Jets with a score of 22 to 17 at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The question remains can the greatest quarterback play until he’s 50? Brady is playing until 45. He’s confirmed that numerous times. But his trainer Alex Guerrero sees the quarterback playing until 50. Even if Brady was able to, there’s no way Gisele would allow him to keep playing past 45. He’s accomplished so much more than anyone, but the winning never gets old. He cemented his legacy with winning his fifth Super Bowl, and the sixth was just gravy. Just this week he posted to social media a picture of him taking confetti from the Super Bowl out of his helmet. He then wondered if he kept confetti from past Super Bowls. He keeps trolling the NFL, and it’s glorious.

The no drama offseason

This off-season is a lot quieter than last year. Also there’s a lot less drama. Brady and Belichick seem to be on the same page about doing what’s best to win now. They don’t want to plan for the future too much when they both have limited years left realistically. Brady doesn’t need high talent to be successful, just look at the no names they have singed this year. His current receiving crew makes last years look great, and it was average.

Alex Guerrero’s access to the Stadium is still limited, but players can go to TB12 for treatment if needed. Guerrero is blowing smoke talking about Brady playing until he’s 50. He knows when Brady will hang it up, and his main focus will be on his TB12 brand. He still has a good four years left unless there’s a major drop off. I don’t see him hanging it up in the next two years. All he cares about is winning, he doesn’t care if its Chris Hogan out there, or Bruce Ellington, as long as they can help the team win they’ll be fine. Brady will not play until 50 though. His kids are getting older and he probably wants to spend more time with them he’s already accomplished being the greatest of all time.

Uprising Stage 2 Week 2 Preview: Hangzhou Spark

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Friday, April 12th @ 8:45pm

New to Overwatch? Get caught up on everything Overwatch League by reading our introduction.

It’s week 2 of stage 2 and for some reason Boston has to play a game against the Hangzhou Spark. Hard to expect the Uprising to put on a show that lives up to the double reverse sweep they pulled against Atlanta and Toronto. I suppose we’ll have to settle for a stomping of the fun but unfortunately pink clad expansion team.

Yes, this should be a sweep. I don’t make predictions often but anything less than a sweep would be an upset. I said in my stage preview that Boston had to take care of business against the non Stage 1 playoff teams. That’s Hangzhou, LA Gladiators, London, and Washington. Do that, and Stage 2 playoffs is in the bag. Now that Atlanta and Toronto have run away licking their wounds, Stage 2 playoffs should be assumed. 

In fact, we need to look at what we can build from these near throw matchups. Let’s throw some crazy new comps out there. Let’s stick Blase on Baptiste in new and exciting ways. We can be the ones to show what this new hero can do. How about we drop Sombra for a week and let rCk pop off and show just how good a DVa he is. Colourhex should get perma locked on Widow just to put a nail on the whole ‘one match fluke’ fake news I’ve seen percolate around Reddit. Also, Fusions should roll, literally, Wrecking Ball all day. Give him some stage experience and show how good he can be in a post-GOATs meta. The Brit ain’t no one trick.

Basically this week should be nothing more than an exhibition showcase. Those trolls putting Boston outside the top 5 in their power rankings need to be put on blast. Never mind we’re 5th in the overall league standings. Forget how we just made the biggest in season trade in OWL history with Note/rCk. Don’t think about how we just body bagged two Stage 1 playoff teams. That when the pressure is highest, three times in a row now Boston has sacked up and laid waste to the other team

No, this match is about confidence building. About showing who runs this place. Building a reputation as the bad boys of Overwatch. And if three reverse sweeps in a row won’t do it, stuffing the pink colored Spark in a locker is a good start. 

Looking forward to the artwork though.

For more weekly columns and gameday banter, follow Loadscr33n on Twitter #BostonUp

Red Sox

RED SOX – ORIOLES SERIES PREVIEW

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This weekend is one of my favorite as a Red Sox fan, culminating in Patriots Day. Hopefully this year, the Patriots Day series can inspire the Red Sox to turn their season around.

PITCHING MATCHUPS/SCHEDULE (TV)

4/12 Eduardo Rodriguez vs. David Hess (R) 7:10pm NESN

4/13 Rick Porcello vs. Andrew Cashner (R) 1:05pm NESN

4/14 David Price vs. John Means (L) 1:05pm NESN

4/15 Chris Sale vs. Dan Straily (R) 11:05am NESN

NOTABLE NUMBERS

In what is becoming the weekly Chris Sale report, we enter another stage of this saga. Sale’s average fastball velocity was back at 92 mph, after being 89.9 in the previous start in Oakland. The results against Toronto still were not what we want to see, and the fastball still sits a couple of mph below his career average. Let’s see what Monday brings.

The Orioles enter this series after losing their last series 1-3 to the Athletics. Offensively they struggled in the last three games, averaging just 3.33 runs per game. Overall this season the Orioles rank 22nd in OBP, 21st in home runs and 21st in slugging percentage this season.

The Red Sox offense is continuing to heat up over the last few games. Now they face up against an Orioles pitching staff which ranks 29th in ERA, WHIP and batting average against.

None of the pitchers scheduled to start for the Orioles have much history against the Red Sox. The Oriole with the most appearances against the Red Sox is first baseman Chris Davis. In 595 PA against the Red Sox, he owns a .220 batting average, .299 OBP, .393 slugging percentage and 23 home runs.

Mitch Moreland went deep again in the first game of the Blue Jays series. Entering the second game of that series, he leads the Red Sox with four home runs on the season. With another three right-handed pitchers on the slate, he could play a big part once again in this series.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Bullpen: With a three run lead in the ninth on Tuesday Matt Barnes got the save opportunity, but after giving up a run the save was completed by Colten Brewer. It will be interesting to see who sees the next save opportunity. The smart money is likely on Ryan Brasier, but it is interesting that he did not get a shot on Tuesday.

Starting Pitching: There are still a lot of questions around this rotation, with all five starters having an ERA over five right now. After six games against the relatively slow starting Blue Jays and Orioles it would be good to see the rotation show some promising signs. Hector Velazquez was interesting in his spot start and could have a shot at the rotation if these struggles continue.

EXPECTATIONS

If the Red Sox can finish of the Blue Jays series with a win and then sweep the Orioles they could be close to .500. After starting 3-8 on the road, they need to at least win four these six games. They have already lost one, meaning they can only really afford one more loss in this home stand.

If they head into New York next Tuesday much worse than 7-10, then questions are really going to start to be raised. We are by no means too far into the season for this to turnaround. However, losing series to the Orioles and Blue Jays would be pretty concerning for a team with World Series ambitions.

Boston Bruins

Game 1: Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs

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Tonight, the Boston Bruins face a familiar foe in the Toronto Maple Leafs as they square off in Game One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While it may be déjà vu for fans on both sides, the Bruins and Leafs are hoping to bring some new elements to their game. With the defeat against Columbus, Boston was able to secure home-ice advantage, and will face Toronto for the third time since 2013 in the postseason.

The boys in Black and Gold are still out with a few injuries, namely Kevan Miller, Sean Kuraly and John Moore. It was announced that Providence’s Connor Clifton will be playing in his first Playoff and looks to  be slotted aside Matt Grzelcyk. Providence’s Karson Kuhlman will also be in the lineup as both have proven themselves this season, earning a spot on the roster. David Backes and Steven Kampfer will be healthy scratches. Pulling no punches and offering no real surprises, Coach Bruce Cassidy announced his starting line-up tonight:

Playoff fever is hitting the team for both veterans and newcomers. The Bruins are chock-full of second season players that had their real first taste of playing in the Playoffs last year as a Bruin. And much to the delight of fans, defenseman Brandon Carlo will finally play in his first Playoff game.

NEW FACES

Weymouth-native Charlie Coyle and Walpole-native Chris Wagner will debut in their first Playoff game in a Bruins uniform. Both have contributed immensely to Boston’s success towards the end of the season. The Bruins ended their season with 11 wins and seven losses, posting a 49-24-9 record with 107 points. They went 3-1-0 against the Leafs this year, however Toronto has a slight edge over the B’s during the Playoffs at 8-7.

Boston Bruins
PHOTO: MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES

Brad Marchand finished the season with a career high of 100 points, David Pastrnak finished with 81 points while Patrice Bergeron finished with 79 points. David Krejci, whom Cassidy calls an “underlying MVP”, has played in almost every single game this season with 81 games. Krejci has quietly been (along with Marchand) one the teams greatest play maker this season, with 53 assist-a career high for the Czech-born players. Back in the 2008-2009 season, Krejci had 51 assists.

LEAFS

Toronto has had the misfortune of losing to the Bruins in critical games during the Playoffs, however are hoping to exorcise that demon with the the addition of John Tavares. Along with Tavares, the Leafs have added more to their depth that includes Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri. Tavares ended his season with 47 goals and accumulating 88 points.

The Leafs finished the season with 100 points and third in the Atlantic Division. They are eight in the league for the power play at 25.8%, and ranked fourth in the NHL in goals per game at 3.49. Much like Boston, Toronto has a roster of young talent that have netted 20 or more goals.

DEPTH

Auston Matthews netted 37 goals, while Mitch Marner had 26 goals. Kasperi Kapanen, Zach Hyman and Andreas Johnsson have all scored 20 or more goals this season for the first time. Marner has nine points against the Bruins during the Playoffs; Pastrnak became the youngest NHL player in history to net six points in a playoff game last year-breaking a Wayne Gretzky record.

For Toronto, shutting down the Bruins first line will be a huge focus, as well as goaltending. For Boston, they will need to limit the movement of Tavares, Matthews and Kadri.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

Expect Frederick Andersen in net for Game 1 for the Leafs. In the final few games of the season, the Leaf’s number one goalie went .898 in save percentage-reminiscent of last postseason against the Bruins, where he posted a .896 save percentage. Unlike the Bruins, Toronto has had a bit more tougher time in regards to having a reliable back-up goalie.

Garret Sparks has gone through a rough skid, and re-joined the team yesterday. He continues to work with the goaltending coach for 10 days. Michael Hutchinson, who had been elevated as Andersson’s back-up, missed practice due to his wife giving birth.

Boston Bruins
Photo: USA Today)

Rask’s record has dipped a little with the lowest being a .762 save percentage in the last game against Tampa Bay. Last postseason run against Toronto, Rask had a .899 save percentage. Expect Rask in between the pipes for Boston tonight.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“They’re an elite team, and we’re going to have to have all facets of our game working to the best… It’s going to start with, right from the drop of the puck, playing the right way, and I think our team knows what our identity is…we have to be very respectful to our opponent, and we should be.”

Bruins GM Don Sweeney

“We trust all the guys in the lineup and the guys that are out, to be honest with you, have played well for us. Someone shows up sick tomorrow, the guys that are going on, we’d be fine with. We’re trying to put the best lineup out there to give us the best chance to win and see how that plays out.”

Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy

“…Anytime you have a defeat like last season, it drives you to be even better have year, but this is a different team. There’s new guys on the team so it’s kind of a fresh start.”

Toronto Defenseman Jake Gardiner

“It was tough to watch, sitting out like that. It wasn’t fun, for sure. Being able to know I could have an impact on a game and not being able to play, not being out there with the guys you’ve spent a whole season with is tough, especially to see them lose like that and feel like you could have done something about it.”

Toronto Forward Nazem Kadri

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Game 1: Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) – NESN, NBCSN, CBC, TVA
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. (TD Garden, Boston, MA) – NBC, CBC, TVA
Game 3: Monday, April 15 at 7 p.m. (Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON) – NESN, NBCSN, CBC, TVA
Game 4: Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. (Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON) – NESN, NBCSN, CBC, TVA

If necessary, Games 5-7 will TBD

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