Tag Archives: Boston Bruins

Where the Bruins Stand After Free Agency

The Boston Bruins were very active at the beginning of free agency this past Sunday. They signed four players to NHL contracts as some fan favorites departed for other teams. Their additions included Jaroslav Halak, John Moore, Chris Wagner, and Joakim Nordstrom. The Bruins were able to fill most of their holes, but missed out on prized free agent John Tavares as he choose to sign with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL offseason is young and the Bruins roster will undergo more changes before the season begins.

Will They Trade a Defenseman?

With the addition of John Moore, the Bruins now have nine defensemen on the roster. Moore will be a big part of the Bruins future after signing him to a five-year deal. If The Bruins make a trade to improve their second line then one of their defenseman may get dealt. Torey Krug has been mentioned in trade rumors and could help net the Bruins an impactful piece. Adam McQuaid and Kevin Miller are also possible trade targets for other teams.

Photo Credit: Charles Krupa/ AP Photo

Bruins Find Their Backup Goalie in Free Agency

Anton Khudobin had a breakout year for the Black and Gold last season. The Bruins were unable to keep him, however, as the Dallas Stars signed him to a two-year deal worth $2.5 million a year. Khudobin’s replacement will be former Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who the Bruins signed to a two-year deal. Although Halak is a capable goalie, his number were not impressive last season. In Boston those numbers should improve as he will have a better defensive group in front of him.

Photo Credit: Brett Cyrgalis/ New York Post

Bruins Add a Physical Presence

Halak was not the only former Islander the Bruins signed. Halak’s teammate forward Chris Wagner will join him as well. Wagner is only 27 years old and is a Massachusetts native. Wagner will provide the Bruins with a physical presence on the third line. He was second among forwards in hits last season with Anaheim and New York. Wagner is coming off his best offensive season as last year he had a career high seven goals and nine assists.

Photo Credit: Christopher Pasatierie/ Getty Images North America

Where Does This Leave the Bruins?

Sweeney prioritized depth over making a huge signing. He has set the Bruins up well to compete next season. He has put them in a good position to make a trade if the Bruins can find the right match. The Bruins will be connected to players like Wayne Simmons and Artemi Panarin until a deal is actually made. This will be a very interesting offseason for the Black and gold, free agency is just the beginning.

Boston Bruins- the Grizz Is Back

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Late Friday Night, the Boston Bruins announced that they signed restricted free agent Matt Grzelcyk to a two-year deal worth $2.8 million. The Charlestown native will be signed through the 2019-202 season.

BY THE NUMBERS

This past season, the 24-year-old defenseman had quite the season, if not impressive for a rookie. As one of the many first-year players that made an impact, Grzelcyk tallied up three goals and 12 assists over 61 games. During the Stanley Cup playoff run, he had one assist. At just 5’9″, 174 lbs, the defenseman looks to add some strength to his game:

“Getting in the weight room is obviously huge for me, like it is every offseason,” Grzelcyk said. “I think just quite a bit of confidence going into next year, and trying to earn a spot again, that hasn’t changed.”

A third-round pick for the Bruins in 2012, Grzelcyk spent his first season in Providence. In this past season, “Grizz” played alongside veteran defenseman Kevin Miller, adding some much-needed depth on the blue line. During the regular season, he logged 16:44 ice time minutes; in the playoffs, he averaged 15:56 minutes on ice. Grzelcyk also scored his first NHL goal this past season.

First @NHL goal for Boston-area kid, Matt Grzelcyk! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/b8Xovq9KNO

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) November 24, 2017

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Boston’s playoff run has been talked about, analyzed and dissected. No matter which way you look at it, this Bruins team will be quite the force this coming season. For Matt Grzelcyk, the Tampa series was one to reflect on, particularly the third game. For the defenseman, an unfortunate puck “hop” led to an opening goal by Tampa Bay. Grzelyck had the puck at his feet, however, because of that hop, he found himself spinning back towards the blue line. The puck, still bouncing, was fed to Tampa’s Ondrej Palat who was able to beat Rask on his high blocker side, sending it into the back of the net. A rough start in a tough series, but Grizz made no excuses:

“Yeah, just trying to gap up, [and] the puck kind of felt like it backspun on me on the ice. I thought it maybe went behind me. I just took my eye off the puck I guess and they capitalized because they’re a good team..Obviously not the way you want to start the game and that was just tough bouncing back after that.’’

NEW SEASON, NEW START

As GM Don Sweeney continues to make some key decisions affecting the Bruins roster, there’s was that question: would he bring back Grzelcyk? After all, he was going to be an RFA at the end of the season. Then came the good news: the Bruins re-signed Grzelcyk for two more years. Boston is continuing its focus on the youth movement by keeping Grizz. It’s always good to see a Boston native play for their home team, and fans alike see #48 at the Garden for a little longer.

Welcome back, Kid

Providence Bruins- Getting to Know Connor Clifton

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In the leading months the NHL regular season, the Bruins have been positioning themselves into becoming a dominant force in 2018. And to become a contender, you have to not only look at your current roster, but also develop your AHL prospects. In a league where every player is competing for a spot in the big leagues, how do you make a big enough impact for the NHL to take notice? For New Jersey native Connor Clifton, making that impact has been an improving steady climb.

BACKGROUND

The 23-year-old defenseman recently played for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. Drafted in 2013 by the Arizona Coyotes, Clifton wasn’t able to make much of an impact and ultimately parted ways with the team. The Bruins quickly signed him in 2017, and he’s played in Providence since then. He continues to improve steadily, so much so that the Bruins recently signed him to a two-year NHL deal worth $725,000 per year.

Prior to signing with the Bruins, he joined the U.S. National Development Team in 2011. He was later invited back to the team where he played alongside Frank Vatrano and Anders Bjork. He was also teammates with a young Jack Eichel and Dylan Larkin.

BOBCATS

In 2013, Clifton attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where he played alongside his brother, Tim. During his freshman year, he posted five goals with four assists in 36 games. The 43rd captain in Bobcats history played in 43 games and potted seven goals and 21 assists. During Quinnipiac’s run in the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four playoffs, Clifton nicely showed his defensive presence as he laid out North Dakota forward Austin Pogorski in a clean shoulder to shoulder hit:

https://vine.co/v/iTqe2vFu5jv

That year was he received ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team honors and was awarded Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. He was also named to the 2016 NCAA East All-Frozen Four Team and named Quinnipiac’s Male Athlete of the Month. He ended his college career totaling 19 goals, 37 assists and 56 points in 156 NCAA games. Bobcats’ head coach Rand Pecknold had this to say about Clifton:

“Connor was the heart and soul of our team. His character and commitment to excellence is outstanding. We wish him all the best as he moves forward with his professional career.”

PROVIDENCE

In his first year with Providence, Clifton played in 54 games with four goals and nine assists and had a +11 plus/minus rating. On Dec 9^th, 2017 the young defenseman scored his first professional NHL goal:

Check out Connor Clifton's first pro goal!! #LetsGoBruins pic.twitter.com/DONr2icRG4

— Providence Bruins (@AHLBruins) December 10, 2017

Clifton ended the last 26 games left in the season with ten points and a +11 rating. Could he make an appearance in the NHL this season? There’s lots of competition with the likes of recently signed Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril, and Jeremy Lauzon. For someone like Connor, he’ll have to continue to make a name for himself down in Providence. With his rugged defensive playing skills, Clifton will no doubt be a player to watch out for.

TRADE RUMORS-BOSTON BRUINS

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GETTING A HEAD START

After the recent NHL combine that’s was held in Buffalo, NY, many prospective draft picks were closely monitored. The Boston Bruins interviewed close to 80 potential players, but one thing has been lurking on GM Don Sweeney’s mind: to get the first round pick back. As we near the June 22^nd NHL draft day, there’s been a lot of rumblings throughout the organization on possible trades for the upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at some of those rumors.

OPEN MARKET

For the Bruins, getting the higher draft pick position back will be difficult. Another question facing Boston: who should they keep? One name that’s being brought up is Rick Nash. He missed the last 12 regular season games and in the playoff run, recorded three goals and two assists on 39 shots. With limited internal options, Sweeney looks to re-sign Nash, perhaps on a deal that would be cap friendly:

“ Rick indicated when he came to Boston that he was excited about the opportunity. He wants to win… wants an opportunity to win. He felt badly and certainly he’s not responsible for this, because he got injured. It took away a little juice from him..I think..from a size and puck protection standpoint, he gave us something that was maybe missing in that regard.”

ELSEWHERE

Austin Czarnik, who spent most of his career in AHL with Providence , is starting to look elsewhere. But the Bruins are still open in talks with the young center.

“ We certainly haven’t closed the door. I don’t think he has as well, but I would be surprise if he doesn’t get to at least see what may present itself as options for him”

And there’s the sticky situation with RFA’s Matt Grzelcyk and Sean Kuraly. Sweeney and the Bruins will try to avoid arbitration with the two players, who have had a pretty gritty 2017-2018 season.

WHAT’S UP WITH TOREY KRUG

There ‘s no question that Krug is a pretty good defenseman. He may be small in stature at 5”9, but STATS don’t lie. 52 goals in 398 games with 183 assists garnering a total of 235 career points. If the rumors are true, the Oilers are looking to trade Oscar Klefbom who, (when healthy) can add some much-needed even strength. Again, if you look at numbers, Klefbom has played 255 games and posted 24 goals garnering 94 points. Klefbom’s defense abilities and puck read were problematic this year so I’m not entirely convinced trading Krug for Klefbom would a great add to the Bruins roster. Now if the Bruins can somehow secure Carolina’s Noah Hanifin, that could potentially beef up their defense-something that Boston needs.

ALL ABOUT DEFENSE

At 6’3 , 205lbs, Boston Native Noah Hanifin would add the extra height for the Bruins defense. He had his best season in Carolina last year, scoring 10 goals with 22 assists. But if you’re going to go after top-notch talent, you ‘re going to have to give up something and for the Bruins that means letting some of their young talent go elsewhere. Right now, Boston has an enviable system where they have a flourishing amount of players coming up. But would that also include letting go of someone like Krug to sweeten the deal?

FROM NHL TO KHL BACK TO NHL

Lastly, another huge rumor involving the Bruins is the possible signing of left winger Ilya Kovalchuk. The 35 year old Russian native has spent a handful of years in the KHL and is looking to make the jump back in the NHL. recently, he has had talks with the San Jose Sharks and the LA Kings. Although, no one is expecting him to play the same way when he was with New Jersey, he did garner 63 points in 53 games, along with potting 31 goals. And at 6’3, 230 pounds, he could be the BIG body that the Krecji/DeBrusk line need. He can certainly work the net and skate well, but would signing a 35-year-old be worth it? If it was a short-term type of deal, it could be worth pursuing, but we’ll have to wait until July 1^st when he becomes available.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The bar is set pretty high for the 2018-2019 season and the Bruins need to make decisions. In a perfect setting, Boston would sign every single player they have, but as the story goes, it’s just not the reality. Every hockey analyst will be watching the NHL draft in Dallas next week and the Black and Gold will be looking making some important moves.

For more info, follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrll88

Bruins Prospects to Watch out For

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The 2018 season is over and the Boston Bruins are finally resting amid all the injuries they were playing with, GM Don Sweeney and Co. have been busy looking to make much-needed changes to the team‘s roster.

With rumors swirling about possible trades with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Bruins will be looking to help bolster their defense. The most exciting thing about this recent team was the important impact that the young prospects had. Even though the season ended shortly and, let’s be honest –exceeded everyone’s expectations, there’s no question that Sweeney and Neely will be faced with some tough decisions. They’ve made it no secret that they would love to keep everybody, however it’s just not reality. There’s a lot of young talent that’s being developed in Providence and they’ll be looking to earn a spot on the Bruins team. Let’s take a look at a few prospects that could very well shine through next season.

Photo courtesy of Ted Fitzgerald-Boston Herald

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins already have a promising group of young guys already in the lineup. Young superstars such as Jake Debrusk , Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Sean Kuraly, Ryan Donato, Brandon Carlo and, even though he’s not a first-year guy David Pastrnak, who had a breakthrough season. As Don Sweeney looks make some moves on who stays, there are quite a few prospects looking to break through and earn a spot on the Bruins’ roster.

RYAN DONATO

As the Bruins were poised to make a postseason run, they received great news. 22 year old Boston-native Ryan Donato would sign an entry-level contract with the Black and Gold. In his debut for the Bruins, he scored his first NHL goal. In the regular season, he ended with a respectable nine points in the 12 games he played. Donato knows how to score: he posted 26 goals and 43 points in 29 games for the Harvard Crimson. A natural scorer, he potted five goals in six games while competing in the 2018 Olympics for the U.S.. This young star will be looking to make a huge impact in the 2018-2019 season.

ANDERS BJORK

One player that’s started the beginning of this past season on the first line with Bergeron and Marchand is 21 year old Anders Bjork. He posted 12 points, and was sent back to Providence before having season ending shoulder surgery. With the successful pairing of Pastrnak /Krejci at the recent IIHF tournament , will we see a repeat of Bjork on the first line? For this writer, it probably would not be a bad idea see how Bjork does in training camp first and if need be, send the young winger back down to Providence. Will be interesting to see if Coach Cassidy will break up the first line and insert Bjork alongside with Bergeron.

TRENT FREDERIC

The young prospect is making a name for himself as an all-around player; the 20 year old can score. For the Wisconsin Badgers, he posted 65 points and 66 games and the recent World Junior Championship against the Czech Republic, Frederick potted four goals in a 9-3 victory. He can handle the puck and find passing lanes, making him a threat offensively.

JAKOB FORSBACKA KARLSSON

Selected in 2015 by the Bruins, the Swedish Center skated alongside McAvoy at BU. Playing for the Providence Bruins, JFK potted 32 points in 58 games. As he gains more consistency in his play, JFK will be an effective center offensively. He plays with intensity, turning plays into scoring chances. As the young 21 year old continues to develop, there could a real chance he would get the call and replace Riley Nash when he becomes a free agent this July.

IN THE NAME OF DEFENSE

JEREMY LAUZON

In an effort in bolstering their defense, the Bruins will be looking at 21 year old Jeremy Lauzon. What the Bruins need is someone that can not only defend but move the puck. But if you look at his recent record in Providence last season in 52 games he only managed one goal and six assists. A slow start, but if he wants to play for the Black and Gold, he’ll need to work on more with the coaches as he continues to develop.

URHO VAAKANAINEN

Another defensive prospect is 19 year old Urho Vaakanainen. Drafted in the 2017, he’s been playing solid in the Finnish League, garnering 11 points in 43 games. The young Finn isn’t a splashy player, however he’s a safe bet; calm and steady with a few years of playing pro under his belt. As the Bruins defense make necessary transitions, you’ll need a composed player like Vaakanainen, especially on the blue line.

JAKUB ZBORIL

And lastly another star in the making is 21 year old Czech Jakub Zboril. Drafted in 2015, Zboril plays a solid game; his first season with the Providence Bruins posted 19 points and 68 games. Not the biggest body on ice (6 feet , 201lbs), however, he plays smart especially in the neutral zone. A two-way defenseman, Zboril will need to work hard and gain more experience playing professionally. He’ll be one to watch.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With harsh realities facing the management in regards to who stays and who goes (those Krug rumors won’t go away), every one will be gunning for a spot on the Bruins team. With recent trades that didn’t exactly pan out, Sweeney will have his work cut out for him; the lackluster performance of Rick Nash hasn’t gone unnoticed. The bar is set even higher for next season. The Bruins will need to keep some veterans to help the upcoming prospects. And let’s not forget, they need to make room to keep the young talent. In 2020, many will become restricted free agents. With tough decisions lingering on their minds, there’s no doubt the new season will bring new excitement as the Bruins work hard in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

Follow Liz Rizzo St Pierre on Twitter @pastagrl88

Why Re-signing Khudobin Is Key

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The Bruins will have many tough decisions this offseason. A few players entering free agency are Riley Nash, Rick Nash, Anton Khudobin, and Tim Schaller. Of all these players, the most valuable is Khudobin. Before last season the Bruins struggled to find a good goalie to back up Rask. This cost them late in the season as they tried to make the postseason. After struggling in 2016-2017, Khudobin had a bounce back year. He proved this past season why resigning him will be key for the Bruins.

Khudobin by the Numbers

This past season Khudobin statistically had his best season since 2013-2014, when he was in Carolina. He recorded sixteen wins, which was three short of his career high. He had the third lowest Goal Against average of his career. Khudobin stabilized a position that has been a glaring weakness for the Bruins. He proved that he was able to handle the increased responsibility as he played the third most minutes of his career. He also recorded his first shutout since 2015-2016 when he was with the Ducks.

Picture Credit: John Tlumacki/ Globe Staff

Beyond the Statline

Khudobin’s impact was not just reflected in his numbers but the impact he had on the team. Early on in the season when Rask was struggling, his backup pushed him to improve. When it seemed like Rask may lose his job as the number one goalie to Khudobin, he played much better. The backups in recent years had never put that type of pressure on Rask. Khudobin’s play allowed the Bruins to rest Rask throughout the season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Every night it seemed like the Bruins had a chance to win regardless of who was in net once Rask got on a roll. This was key for the Bruins as they have many young defenseman.

Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

Will the Bruins Re-sign Their Backup ?

Resigning Khudobin will not be easy. The Bruins do not have much cap space to work with. They have to think of the future as Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Ryan Donato will all be restricted free agents after next season and Jake DeBrusk the year after. All those players will command large contracts and replacing them isn’t a simple task. The Bruins have no goaltender in the minors that is NHL ready. Bringing back Khudobin will be key for this team if the two sides can find common ground. A one year will deal may be best as it solves a present need while giving the Bruins flexibility in the future.

Bruins Players Shine Overseas at the 2018 IIHF

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HEADING TO THE WORLDS

As the annual break up day came to a close, a quick decision was made by some of the Bruins players to opt to continue to play overseas. Czech mates David Pastrnak and David Krejci continued on and represent their home country of the Czech Republic; a few days later Charlie McAvoy flew over to Copenhagen, Denmark to represent the USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). They say no rest for the weary, and not even jet lag would keep both Krejci and Pastrnak from dazzling at a recent game against Russia. Charlie McAvoy represented the USA in a stellar performance , garnering two goals and two assists in his first game playing against Korea.

“It was a long day, got here a couple hours ago,” McAvoy said. “We have such a good team. It was a great opportunity for me to go out there and just feel the puck and get ready for the rest of tournament.”

KEEPING THEIR LEGS MOVING

Yesterday’s game against France saw Pastrnak scoring two quick goals as the Czech Republic defeated France 6-0. Along with Dmitrij Jaskin, both Davids are seeing success playing on the same line; Krejci has thus far recorded a point in every game in the Worlds.

#FRAvsCVZE A face-off in front of @hockey_FRA's net bests Quemener and Pastrknak has @narodnitym's first goal of the game! #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/y8IPLjgHaq

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 13, 2018

NO MATCH FOR THEIR OPPONENTS

Meanwhile, as the Czech Republic continues to seek their first gold since 2010, Team USA routed Norway yesterday in a 9-3 defeat. Once again, Charlie McAvoy, (whose knee seems to be getting better) got a goal and an assist. The United States are now in first for Group B with 16 points, three more than Finland, while the Czech republic is third in their group behind team Russia.

Team USA will have a tough opponent on Tuesday as they face Finland. The Czechs will face Austria on Monday. As the trio of Bruins players continue to find success overseas, fans will look to see that success translate back home in Boston when the new season starts. Check out the highlights of Team USA vs Team Norway:

Looking Ahead for the Boston Bruins

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TOUGH ENDING FOR THIS SPECIAL TEAM

It’s been a few days since the second round exit of the Bostons Bruins, and things are settling down. As with any team that has been eliminated, everyone has their take on what happened: what went wrong, and was it all on Rask?, Marchand’s “lick gate” antics, what can be improved, lack of defense, etc. When it comes right down to it, Tampa was faster and better at clearing the zone. The Bruins couldn’t adjust and found themselves playing from behind. The officiating was extremely frustrating (to put it nicely), but there’s no question; we need better defense. Despite the loss, this team did a lot. If you think about it, they weren’t even projected to make it in, never mind being mixed in the playoff conversation. Things looked tough in the beginning of the season, but the season turned around and Boston fans got to see some really great hockey.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

In the beginning of the 2017-2018 season, the Black and Gold knew they would be in the rebuilding phase, which is why the Bruins weren’t expected come out as they did. Boston had many first year guys, mixed with a few veterans, with no playoff experience. Let’s not forget, Bruce Cassidy was in his first full season as head coach of the Bruin. He had his work cut for him. In the preseason, the Bruins looked pretty good, but things had to improve. As the regular season rolled around, the Black and Gold had a tough start. Injures started and some of the new guys started to pick up some slack. The cohesiveness wasn’t there yet. and after a trip out west, the Bruins started winning games. They gelled. They became that special team.

MANY FIRSTS

Fans were able to witness many first NHL goals for many of the young guys- seven to be exact. The youth movement was in full swing. But injuries were plaguing this team. As we saw, the Bruins showed not only the rest of the NHL, but themselves that nothing would stop them. As one guy went down, another stepped up and every line contributed. The Bruins steamrolled through their opponents and became that team no one wanted to face. Our first line alone was one of the best in the NHL. But even in this series, they were having a hard time producing any offense, despite combining 23 points over five games.

The mentality and strong resiliency did not go unnoticed by their opponents. As Jon Cooper, head coach of Tampa stated,

“All right, I’ll tell you — I guess I can say it now. Boston set the bar for us. And we played them three times late in the year, and the first two times we played them, they literally manhandled us. The scores were tight, the first one was 3-2 and then they beat us here, and it was men amongst boys. And we knew if we were going to go anywhere when we made the playoffs — or if we made the playoffs — that we had to be as good as Boston. And it happened. We beat them 4-0 (in the final regular-season meeting), and that gave us a bit of confidence. Well, it gave us a lot of confidence. But they set a bar for us to better our team. And ultimately, we carried that through into this playoffs round.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Admittedly, it’ll be sad not to write about the Bruins doing the improbable: a team in their rebuild phase winning the cup. It’s about exciting as having a team like Vegas making into the playoffs in their inaugural year. Winning the Stanley Cup is one of the hardest trophies to win, and hockey isn’t for the weak. It’s a tough sport with tough athletes. They give their bodies for this sport, playing through a car wreck of injures. This year’s Bruins team won as a team and they lost as a team. For fans, understand this year’s Bruins were a treat. There were lots of ups/downs and Don Sweeney will no doubt look make some moves. They made it in with a bunch of young, fresh-faced players who will now have the experience needed for the new season.

CLOSING QUOTE

Captain Zdeno Chara had some great insight:

“If we’re gonna look back throughout the whole season, I think there is a lot that we can be proud of. There’s a lot that we can take from this and use as a positive. A lot of people didn’t expect us to be a playoff team. A lot of people didn’t expect us to be a 50-win team. And we were fighting for the first position in our conference.

“We went through some challenges and obstacles this season and we handled it very well. There’s a lot to be proud of and a lot to be looking forward to next season.”

For this writer, October can’t come soon enough.

To the Boston Bruins, thank you for one hell of a season.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter: @pastagrl88

Grading the Bruins’ Game Two Performance

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@demalia_lorenzo Game Two Grade

Much has been made about the officiating after the Bruins dropped game two. Most of that criticism is justified, as the Bruins were on the wrong side of some bad calls all night. But even if the officials did not stink up the place the Bruins were not the better team that night. Tampa took it to them all game long and out worked them in every aspect of the game. The Bruins did not have a shot on goal for most of the first period and were out shot 31-20 on the night. They were also playing on their heels far too much, not making enough plays through the neutral zone and getting quality second chances.

Photo Credit: Eric Russo

The Bruins just could not handle the pressure the Lightning put on them all game. But it was not just the Lightning, it was the Bruins’ sloppy play that cost them the game. The B’s turned the puck over 13 times and Tampa had eight takeaways. Both are far too many against a team of Tampa’s stature. The Bruins were also noticeable less physical than the Lightning, as they got out hit 42-24. Overall, everyone will take a split in Tampa heading back to Boston for Game 3. But if the Bruins want to get back on track, they need to tighten things up through the neutral zone and clean up the turnovers.

Grade: D

@JamieGatlin1217 Game Two Grade

The Bruins knew Tampa Bay would come into Game 2 highly motivated after being dominated on their home ice in Game 1. The Bruins struggled offensively in the beginning, as they were unable to record a shot on net in the first thirteen minutes of the game. They fell behind early as Tampa scored the game’s first goal eleven minutes in. The Bruins gained some momentum later in the first period, as Charlie McAvoy scored his first goal of the postseason to tie the game at one.

Tampa Bay scored the next two goals while the Bruins struggled with their puck management. Rask played well in this game, but turnovers hurt the Bruins and led to good scoring opportunities that Tampa Bay capitalized on. In the third period Torey Krug cut Tampa’s lead to one. The Bruins seemed poised to tie it after Marchand got a breakaway that was broken up after he was clearly slashed on the hands by Anton Stralman. This was one of the many controversial calls by the officials that changed the momentum of the game. Tampa put the game out of reach with an empty net goal that made it 4-2 with less than thirty seconds left.

Photo Credit: Douglas R. Clifford/ Tampa Bay Times

Overall Grade C: In Game 3 they will need to put the puck in the net. They will have to tighten up on defense as stretch passes and turnovers have hurt them all year. They will need to be more physical and help Rask. If they can do this then Game 3 could end very differently than Game 2.

@Lizzie88 Game Two Grade

The Bruins knew Tampa was going to come out strong after losing 6-3 on home ice. The Bolts hit back, and Boston just couldn’t catch up. In the first 13 minutes, the Bruins were held without a shot on net. The Black and Gold fell behind, and for once it wasn’t all on Rask. The Bruins were a bit sloppy at times before changing the momentum after Charlie McAvoy tied the game up in the first period. But the night belonged to Tampa. One thing stood out in this game and continues to be a problem throughout the league: the inconsistent officiating in the NHL. Not to use it as an excuse for how disjointed the Bruins looked, but blatant missed calls can change the play of the game.

After Krug brought the B’s within one goal in the third, Brad Marchand was poised to tie the game on a breakaway. However a head scratcher non call stopped the B’s momentum as Marchand was clearly slashed on his hands by Anton Stralman. The interesting part is Torey Krug got called on a “slash”–a love tap up against the pad that did not interfere with any play. Other non calls included a clear cross check to David Pastrnak against the boards. And for the refs, an even more frustrating aspect is the continued shifting of players during the face off. As a fan of the game, just drop the puck.

Photo Credit: NHL. Com

The Bruins need to play better, hit better, and just shoot the puck on net. This series is expected to be chippy and exhausting. The B’s will be bringing the series back to Boston tonight, and with home ice advantage, the Garden will be vibrating. Let’s hope the boys will feed off the crowd and win these next two games. As Marchand puts it:
“We have home ice advantage now, we’ll go home. This games’ over, it’s done with and we’ll move on”

OVERALL GRADE: C- The Bruins need to stop with those turnovers. It’s been their issue all season long. Top line is allowed one off night. Tighten up the D, help Rask out more and get more physical. This series won’t be easy. Stay out of the penalty box, hoping the refs will call a better game.

Keys for the Bruins Ahead of Game 2 in Tampa

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The Bruins hope to take Game 2 tonight in the same fashion they took Game 1: by dominating one of the best teams in hockey in all three zones. Heading into this series the Bruins were considered the underdog, with many expecting the Lightning to handle them. But the B’s took it right to the number one seed in the conference, playing their best game of the playoffs. Now let’s take a look at what it’s going to take for the Bruins to take a commanding 2-0 heading back to Boston.

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The Perfection Line Must Be Perfect

En route to a 6-2 beat down of the Bolts, “the perfection line” was, well, perfect. The Marchand/Bergeron/Pastranak line reminded the Bolts why they are the best line in hockey. The Lightning’s top line of J.T. Miller, Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Kucherov gives the team an edge against just about any other line in hockey. Except for the fact that on the other end Bergeron is heading a historically good line. In Game 1, the trio combined for 11 points, torching the Bolts in all facets of the game. Marchand scored and added three assists, Bergeron potted two goals and added a helper, while Pastranak dished out four assists continuing his phenomenal start to the postseason.

This was the best way for the Bruins to play defense against J.T. Miller, Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Kucherov. The Bolts’ top line was a minus -4 with only seven shots on goal. The Bolts are going to come out with a lot of passion in Game 2, and the Bruins have to be mindful of the elite talent of Stamkos and Kucherov. Let’s see if the Lightning can find an answer to a problem no other team has been able to.

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Tuukka Rask Must Continue to Play with Passion

It’s amazing how much can change from game to game in hockey. In Game 7, when the Bruins were down 4-3, people were calling for Tuukka Rask to never start another game for the B’s. Now less than a week later, Rask just played one of his more impressive games of the season. That’s how fine the line is when you have a goalie like Rask. He needs to be engaged into every single play fighting for every single puck. When Rask is emotionally engaged he never misses an angle and makes it look effortless.

Maybe the most promising thing from Rask was after he lost his skate blade. Rask was noticeably furious throwing his broken blade against the boards. This is exactly what we need to see from Rask: some fire and fight to his game. Do not be fooled by Game 1; Tampa can flat out score and Tuukka needs to play like an elite goaltender for the B’s to win the series.

In Game 2, the Lightning are going to come out firing on all cylinders in the first period. The Bruins are going to have to weather the storm in Tampa. Rask is going to have to be ready to be able to make some big time saves tonight. The question is which Rask is going show up: Game 7 Tuukka or Game 1 Tuukka?

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The Bruins Must Feed Rick Nash

Throughout his career Rick Nash has been snake bit in the playoffs. Nash only put up two points in round one against Toronto. In Game 1, Nash matched his point production from the first round, scoring two goals, and was one of the best players on the ice. Nash is one of the keys to this series. Everyone knows how good the top line is, but the Bruins need their second line to be dominant. On Saturday, everyone saw why it is so important that this line produces. Now that Nash has some confidence going and has put a couple past a Vezina candidate, the B’s must continue to feed the awoken giant. Nash can tip the balance in this series. All eyes will be on him in Game 2.

In the third period Jake Debrusk showed why this Bruins team has made it this far. He took a high hit, got right back up blocked a shot. Then, he out hustled everyone on the ice to make a diving clear of the puck. Seeing Debrusk hobble back to the bench showed what this kid and this team is made of. Later in the period Debrusk was rewarded with his sixth goal of the postseason. That is what it’s going to take to win the Stanley Cup.