Tag Archives: #BostonSportsExtra

Tom Brady Deserved the MVP Award

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On Saturday the Regular Season Most Valuable Player award was handed out. While there were a few players running, the award went to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. People will say that Brady’s late season skid should have made him unworthy of bringing home this year’s MVP. However, he’s easily been the best player in the league this season, and Tom Brady deserved the MVP.

Tom Brady Deserved the MVP Award

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Tom Brady had another season for the ages

Image credit: USA Today

September

After an ugly Week One performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady went on an absolute tear. The 40-year old threw for 1,399 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions over the first month of the season. All of those marks were league bests, despite the fact Brady didn’t throw a touchdown in Week One.

It’s how Brady was doing it that made it more impressive. He lost his best receiver, Julian Edelman, for the season and his defense was horrible in the first month. If Brady wasn’t perfect every single week, the Patriots wouldn’t stand a chance.

Brady was right in the thick of the MVP discussion. At the time, his biggest competitors were the Chiefs Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt. Kansas City was undefeated, and both players were in the midst of incredible runs.

October – November

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Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz was the biggest challenger for the MVP

Image credit: Philly.com

Kansas City went through a rough patch, losing six of seven. Smith and Hunt were no longer MVP candidates, while Brady was playing as good as ever. Enter Carson Wentz. The Philadelphia Eagles second-year quarterback had made great strides, and was playing like one of the best in the league.

Through November, the two were pretty evenly matched. Brady was slowing towards the end of November due to an Achilles injury, while Wentz was keeping his usual pace. With one month left, Wentz had the edge in team record and touchdown passes, while Brady had the lead in yards and points per game. It looked like the award would be granted to whoever had the strongest finish to the season.

Early December

Wentz tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Rams, ending his season and his odds at the MVP. Brady was fighting an Achilles injury while playing five of six games on the road. His stats slowed, but there was still no quarterback who was close to Brady. So, the next touted MVP candidate was the Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown.

Brown was in the midst of an incredible season of his own. He was playing above his normal lofty standards and was the main reason the Steelers were able to win so many of their close games. Brown was a worthy candidate, but it takes a lot for a receiver to match the productivity and value of a quarterback. Brady would need to continue his skid and Brown would need to play his best for him to pull off the upset.

Instead, he got injured. Brown suffered a calf injury against the Patriots in Week 14, ending his season and any chance he had at the MVP hardware. Once more, Brady seemed like the only candidate left to win the MVP.

Late December

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Rams running back Todd Gurley has the second highest odds of winning MVP

Image credit: Los Angeles Daily News

Following a Week 15 game where he single-handedly ran the Seattle Seahawks out of the playoffs, Rams running back Todd Gurley became the latest MVP candidate. Gurley had a great season, but prior to the injuries to Brown and Wentz, nobody was calling him MVP. That’s because Gurley didn’t earn it.

Historically, running backs only win the award when they have historical seasons and/or have to overcome an otherwise terrible offense. Gurley didn’t do either. Don’t get me wrong, running for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns is impressive, but not historic. Then-Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount put up similar numbers in 2016, yet he (rightfully) wasn’t receiving and MVP attention.

Throughout the entire NFL season, the MVP debate was Tom Brady versus somebody else. Whether it was Smith, Hunt, Wentz, Brown, or Gurley, Brady was always the player the rest were running against. While his production slowed in the final month, Tom Brady was the best player in the NFL from start to finish. Don’t overthink this one, Tom Brady deserved the MVP award.

 

Cover image courtesy of SI.com.

The Blake Griffin Trade from a Competition Point of View

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Earlier this week the Clippers sent shock waves throughout the NBA when they traded their star Blake Griffin to the Pistons. Our old pal Avery Bradley was also a part of the deal and will now be making LA his home after a minor stint in Detroit. The Clippers also received Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick. The Pistons received Willie Reed and Brice Johnson in addition to Griffin. I guess getting a max deal doesn’t mean ****.

Shaking Up the East

The Eastern Conference is already more competitive than it has been in recent years. But this desperate move by the Pistons to save this season has just made it more interesting, and I didn’t even think that was possible. On Tuesday night, they beat the Cavs to end an eight-game losing streak. They now sit in ninth behind the 76ers at 23-26. But I can see them sneaking into the top eight, and here’s why:

  • The Wizards are losing John Wall for the next two months due to a knee injury. This means that Beal will have to carry this team the rest of they way. I think it’ll be hard for the Wizards to win enough games to get where they want to be. I mean, they had a hard enough time when they had Wall AND the 4th easiest schedule. Now, they have one of the hardest schedules left and no Wall. Anything can happen.
  • Even though the Cavs sit in third, they still have some discord that needs to be harmonized. I know LeBron tried to fix it a bit by picking Kevin Love for his All-Star team, but I.T. is still feeling singled out. In addition, Love is now out with a broken hand for six to eight weeks. Bad luck all around; the Cavs need his scoring, especially since their defense is garbage.

Blake Griffin vs Celtics

When the Cs played the Clippers on January 24th, Blake Griffin had 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. His shooting wasn’t up to par, but he still found a way to put points on the board. Fortunately we won that game 113-102, but it wasn’t easy. And make no mistake — Griffin played a role. Now, the Cs must face him again when they play the Pistons on February 23rd. It was already a difficult match up when Detroit didn’t have a 5x All-Star, so imagine how it will be come the 23rd. The Pistons beat the Cs 118-108 in November, but then lost in December 91-81, splitting the series so far. Can a banged up Celtics team take the series from Detroit 2-1? Hopefully by then, everyone will be feeling close to 100% and if we’re lucky maybe Blake Griffin aggravates an old injury. Just saying!

Still Time for Things to Change?

I think the Pistons have caused a minor panic by trading for Griffin. Everyone knows he’s the real deal and can rejuvenate that team, so no one is taking this lightly. The Cavs have been talking about some possible trades, but the one that I heard could be a definite is the George Hill trade. Unfortunately, analysts have said this wouldn’t help their defensive woes, which should be their #1 priority right now. But the Celtics and Danny Ainge NEED to do something with the DPE they received for the Hayward injury. I think they need someone who can come in and be a consistent secondary scorer and who is also top-notch on defense. And they need this someone ASAP.

The East has outdone the West in competition thus far. Fresh faces in the playoff race. Bring it!

Don Sweeney Defined by Moves He Never Made

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It’s hard to criticize a team with a 29-10-8 record, but Don Sweeney has left room for improvement. The Boston Bruins have been a winning machine as of late going 14-0-4 heading into Tuesday’s match-up against the Anaheim Ducks. That is the team’s longest point streak since 1968-1969. Yet even the recent run of success cannot hide what could potentially be an all time mistake by Bruins GM Don Sweeney.

2015 NHL Draft

Hours before the 2015 NHL Draft the Boston Bruins held the 13th, 14th, and 15th overall picks. These picks were acquired by trading away Milan Lucic and Martin Jones to the Kings and Sharks respectively. Everyone covering the team was adamant that Sweeney had plans to move multiple, if not all, of those picks. It turned out Sweeney planned to move up in the draft to take defenseman Noah Hannifin out of Boston College. However, due to lack of execution and a last-minute change of mind Sweeney’s plan fell through.

As a result Sweeney decided to use all three of those draft picks due to the dismay of Bruins fans. Don Sweeney selected defenseman Jacob Zboril, left wing Jake Debrusk, and right wing Zachary Senyshyn. Only Jake Debrusk has made an impact at the NHL level. In a solid rookie campaign so far he has posted 11 goals and 25 points. Meanwhile Zboril and Senyshyn have not been able to get a sniff at the NHL level. Senyshyn has had struggles even cracking the Providence lineup. The Bruins’ entire rebuild has and will continue to be centered around that draft. If only one of those picks turns into a real player then Sweeney is going to feel the heat for it.

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Matthew Barzal

The bigger story from that draft is what could have been. At 16th overall the New York Islanders selected center Matthew Barzal out of the WHL. If you do not know who that is, Barzal is currently leading all rookies in scoring and is in contention for the Calder Trophy. Barzal has been opening eyes around the league scoring 51 points in 52 games and is on pace to finish with 84 points. Barzal also currently has more points than anyone on the Bruins team to add some salt to an already sensitive wound. With Bergeon, and Krejci both on the wrong side of thirty it would have been nice to have an elite offensive center in the Bruins organization. Instead Sweeney decided to reach for Zboril and Senyshyn, who have provided nothing for the Bruins.

Brock Boeser

Another member of the 2015 Draft who is tearing up the league is Brock Boeser. He went 23rd overall to the Vancouver Canucks out of the USHL. Boeser just made a name for himself nationally at the NHL All Star game by winning the MVP over some of the league’s best players. True hockey fans have known who Boeser is for months. The rookie right wing has been lighting the lamp all over the ice with 28 goals and 48 points. The shot this kid has is absolutely insane. He can pick a corner from any spot on the ice. While the Bruins have some good offensive players none of them have the potential that Boeser has. He may have the highest offensive potential of any rookie in the NHL. The scary part is the rookie can only get better going forward which should have Bruins fans furious.

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What Could Have Been

Think about it like this: if Sweeney was a better evaluator the Bruins could have had a line of Debrusk/Barzal/Boeser. Anyone who would not want to see that is insane. Maybe Zboril and Senyshyn will turn into legit players, or maybe they will not. But Barzal and Boeser have already proven they are going to be superstars. While the Bruins are a good team they could have been a great team. The two picks that never happened could define Sweeney’s legacy when it’s all said and done.

 

Cover image courtesy of CBS Boston.

New England’s Changing Talent

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The New England Patriots are once again in the midst of an incredible stretch of success. They’ve won two of the previously three Super Bowls, and are looking to make it three of four next Sunday. Historically, there is a core group of players responsible for this level of success. The 1970’s Steelers boasted an endless group of Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball. The 1990’s Cowboys had the trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.

Even the Patriots teams of 2001-2004 had Tom Brady and Troy Brown on offense to compliment Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and Willie McGinest on defense in each Super Bowl. This iteration of the Patriots dynasty lacks that core group. There’s been an astonishing change in each Patriots team, which makes the success that more impressive. Different players keep coming through New England’s revolving door of talent, yet the success doesn’t stop.

New England’s Changing Talent

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The Patriots Best Weapons Have Struggled to Stay on the Field – Image credit NBC Boston

The Offensive Core

In theory, the Patriots offense would run through quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Julian Edelman, and tight end Rob Gronkowski. When all three are on the field together, they’re practically unstoppable. The problem is keeping all three on the field. Brady is an ironman, but injuries have plagued both Edelman and Gronkowski over the years.

The trio was able to stay healthy for the entirety of the 2014 season, and unsurprisingly it led to the Patriots finally getting the elusive fourth ring. Since then, keeping both on the field has been a challenge. Gronkowski only played in eight games in the 2016 season and missed the entire postseason. Nonetheless, the Patriots still went on to win the Super Bowl without the big tight end.

2017 could post the biggest challenge of them all. Edelman tore his ACL in the preseason, ending his season before it began. Gronkowski suffered a concussion in the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He seems likely to play in the Super Bowl, but it’s not certain yet. Obviously, Brady is the most important piece of the core, but the fact that the Patriots could win three Super Bowls with that trio only playing in one is nothing short of amazing.

The Defensive Core

New England Has Had to Look to Several Different Players for Big Plays – Image Credit USA Today

 

Offensively, the Patriots have struggled to keep the core on the field together. Defensively, the Patriots have constantly rotated the heart of their defense. In 2014, the defense was led by the ferocious linebacker duo of Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins, to go along with defensive linemen Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich. The secondary was held down by safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Darelle Revis.

Two years later, only Hightower, Ninkovich and McCourty remained from that defense. Collins was replaced by Kyle Van Noy, Revis was replaced by Malcolm Butler (who had a pretty big impact against Seattle), and Jones was replaced by Trey Flowers. All three replacements were able to adequately fill the shoes of their predecessors, and helped New England get ring number five.

Once more, 2017 could be even more of a challenge. Ninkovich retired in the offseason and Hightower went down in week seven. With these losses, Devin McCourty is likely to be the only major star to have played significant snaps in all three Super Bowls.

Offensive Role Players Stepping Up

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Receiver Danny Amendola Makes the Biggest Plays at the Biggest Moments – Image Credit Getty Images

With all of this turnover, how are the Patriots able to remain so successful? Having Bill Belichick as coach and Brady as quarterback obviously help, but they can’t do it alone. Each season, they have depended on their depth to step up. Each season, it’s been a different supporting cast stepping up.

In order to field this much success with that much star turnover, logic would dictate that the group of reserves would stay consistent. Logic would be wrong. Offensively, the only players outside of Brady to have seen all three Super Bowls are receiver Danny Amendola and left tackle Nate Solder.

The only running back left from the 2014 squad is James White, who wasn’t even active for Super Bowl 49. LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen starred against the Seahawks, while White stole the spotlight against Atlanta. This year, the backfield is likely to be headed by Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead.

Amendola has consistently served as Brady’s security blanket in the playoffs, but the pass catching depth around him has been constantly changing. Brandon LaFell was the guy in 2014 before Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell took over the outside roles in 2016. With Gronkowski sidelined, Martellus Bennett became the primary tight end in 2016. This year, the outside receivers are likely to be Hogan and Brandin Cooks. If Gronkowski can’t go, Dwayne Allen will become the top tight end on the depth chart.

Over the three Super Bowls, Brady is likely to lean on five separate running backs, six receivers, and possibly three tight ends. That averages out to a completely new starting cast every single season. No offense should be able to function at this level of efficiency with this much turnover. In spite of that, somehow the Patriots manage.

Defensive Role Players Stepping Up

The defense has gone through even more turnover. Hightower is the last player left in the front seven from the 2014 Super Bowl squad, and he’s missed the majority of the season. New England has completely redone its defensive front in four years, and still managed to put together a Super Bowl caliber unit.

The secondary has had relative consistency, but there’s still been moving parts. The safety trio of McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon have been a part of all three units. Butler’s been in all three Super Bowls, starting two. The opposite cornerback spot has constantly rotated. In 2014, it was Brandon Browner. In 2016, it was Logan Ryan. With Ryan’s free agent departure, Stephon Gilmore was signed to fill the role.

Success isn’t supposed to happen like this. Teams aren’t supposed to consistently dominate in the face of constant change. This ability to succeed in the face of a consistently different cast of players truly highlights what makes Brady and Belichick so special. It doesn’t matter who they put out there, as long as that duo is around, the Patriots will always be the team to beat.

 

Cover image courtesy of The Denver Post.

Despite Point Streak Bruins Still Have Plenty to Prove

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Yes the Boston Bruins have earned a point in eighteen straight games. But with thirty-five games left on the schedule the Bruins still chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are still a quite few hurdles for the B’s to clear. Up to this point the B’s have proved that they need to be taken seriously. However, let’s look at some concerns the team has even with this point streak.

Composure

This may seem like nitpicking, and it probably is. But could cockiness become a problem for such a young Bruins team? Maybe, while the Bruins have plenty of proven veteran leadership up and down the roster there is a cocky feel around this team. That is what a huge streak can do to a team. While having some swagger on your team is a good thing it can become flat-out arrogance if you let it. Especially when the puck starts bouncing the wrong way for you and all of a sudden you have lost three out of four. That is where Bruce Cassidy, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara are going to have to make their presence felt. It has not been a problem up to this point, but lets see what happens with the confidence of the young kids if the team starts to struggle, if that ever happens.

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Workload

This may be the biggest concern surrounding a complete team like the Bruins. Young and old players have different ways of handling a full 82 game schedule. The All-Star break is the last real lull for a hockey team during the grind that is the NHL regular season. With this being the first full season for players like Charlie McAvoy, Jake Debrusk, Anders Bjork, Matt Grezyleck, it will be interesting to see how their legs hold up down the stretch. Also the Bruins’ best defenseman from start to finish this year has been Zdeno Chara, who is forty years old. Chara is leading the Bruins in TOI with 23:26 minutes per game. That is a lot of pressure to keep on the veteran.

With the playoff run really starting to heat up teams are going to give their best every night. That means harder hitting, tougher puck battles, and more emphasis put on every single point. With the Bruins in a tight division race it will be interesting to see if the team can hold up under the pressure. Going on a point streak is one thing, but building off of it is something completely different.

Brad Marchand Needs to Stop Making Illegal Hits

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I loved every minute of watching Brad Marchand wreak havoc in the 2011 Stanley Cup final, but there’s a difference between now and then. In 2011 Marchand was a twenty-two year old rookie still trying to prove his worth in the NHL. But now, he’s a superstar that the Bruins need on the ice. As the team’s leader he can’t keep making dumb decisions like this.

Marchand shattered his career high in points during the 2016-17 season and is on pace to do just the same this year. Even with his missed time earlier in the season factored in with the recent suspension, he is still on pace to finish with ninety points. The 1.32 points per game that he’s produced this year leads the league and emphasizes his value in each and every game. He’s on the best line in the NHL. Their production is something that Bruins fans haven’t seen since the days of Marc Savard. The trio of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak have been white-hot since early December and have led the way during the B’s current eighteen game point streak. But thanks to his own stupidity, Marchand may have just tampered with the momentum of the entire team.

The Suspension

What it comes down to is that the hit was both stupid and selfish. I know it’s a split-second decision, but the well-being of the team should instinctively come first. Even in just that half-second he should’ve known what he was about to do would only hurt the team. Marchand was lucky enough to avoid a penalty on the ice, but the suspension is well deserved. He needs to realize that his style of play has put a target on his back. Because of his track record he is rarely going to be given the benefit of the doubt. He’s now been suspended six times for a total of seventeen in his career. Every offense that he makes from here on out will consequently be magnified.

Ryan Whitney said it perfectly on Friday’s episode of Spittin’ Chiclets. He explained that he doesn’t “think this will ever stop because he can’t just not play with this anger”, and that it’s “in his DNA”. Everybody in the hockey world would love to see Marchand smarten up. His antics benefit absolutely nobody. There’s no benefit for himself, the guy he’s hurting, the team, or the other guy’s team. But Ryan Whitney is spot on. It’s just part of the package with Brad Marchand and the Bruins are lucky to have him in the end.

 

Cover image courtesy of www.masslive.com.

Super Bowl LII Preview and Prediction

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Super Bowl LII

After all that developed during the 2017-2018 season, it will conclude with the two top-seeded teams squaring off in U.S. Bank Stadium. Fans and media have huddled around the drama, adversity and success (or lack thereof), of each NFL franchise since August. This year’s playoffs featured twelve teams which all had the potential to have their ticket to the Super Bowl punched. The Bills made their first playoff appearance in decades. Chiefs fans left Arrowhead Stadium disappointed after the Titans pulled off a comeback upset in the Wild Card. The Saints were one play away from advancing to the NFC Championship, until the Minneapolis Miracle happened. The postseason has been filled with surprises and highlights, but in the end, there can only be one victor.

On February 4th, the New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles, will battle to make history. All thirty-two teams in the NFL share a common goal: to win the Super Bowl. Every franchise grinds from August to January to earn a spot in the playoffs. The twenty that fail to make it plan accordingly to ensure that they will be present in January next season. The Super Bowl is the mecca of the football world, where sports and entertainment collide. Numbers, statistics and odds circle around the media in the two week break between the Championship games and the Super Bowl. This guide contains for betting on an array of props in the Super Bowl, ranging from points scored to the color of Gatorade poured on the winning coach.

Super Bowl LII- Patriots vs. Eagles: Three Things to Know

1. Experience is Key

Nick Foles will be making his first Super Bowl appearance, to add to his four postseason starts, in his six year career. Though impressive, it is a ninth of Tom Brady’s thirty-six starts in the playoffs. This will be Brady’s eighth Super Bowl appearance in his career, he has only lost in two of them. Coincidentally, the last time the Eagles appeared in the Super Bowl was in 2004, and they lost to none other than Tom Brady and the Pats. Fast forward fourteen years, both teams are completely different except for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady leading New England.

Brady and Belichick might have the upper edge with Super Bowl experience, but they have not faced the Eagles since 2015. Head coach, Doug Pederson, is a crafty play caller and defensive coordinator. Jim Schwartz coaches a young and hungry defense, that leads the league in defensive scoring. Nick Foles might be rattled in his first few drives in a Super Bowl environment, but the Eagles’ planning prior to kickoff could cause a few surprises.

2. Offensive Maestros

Nick Foles unexpectedly became a starter for the Eagles late into the season, after Carson Wentz suffered an ACL injury. He started out rusty the first few games, but was able to pull out a win in each of his starts, except for one. Foles is a talented veteran, and a scary backup, to have on a team. He picked up right where Wentz left off, with little turbulence.

Carson Wentz might have locked up the first seed in the playoffs for the Eagles, but it’s no fluke that Foles has gotten the team to the Super Bowl. In the NFC Championship, Foles tore apart the Vikings’ stingy defense. He posted 352 passing yards, and three touchdowns, in a blowout victory. The Eagles’ running back trio of Jay Ajayi, LaGarrette Blount, and Corey Clement, are all great weapons for Foles to utilize in the backfield as well. The Eagles’ boast a stacked receiving corp as well. Wrapping up the offense, Lane Johnson and his o-line, are one of the best in the league.

The opposing offense is extremely resilient. The Patriots are missing multiple starters to injury, but still cannot seem to lose. Dion Lewis is having a career year at the team’s primary running back position. Rob Gronkowski, whose availability is up in the air at the moment, can be a spark to the offense on every drive. Both Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola, are posting career numbers in the playoffs. Amendola has been a key receiver in the playoffs, and came in clutch on Sunday against the Jaguars.

However, only one team has Tom Brady. He has mounted a whopping eight postseason comebacks, upon a plethora more in the regular season. He completed an MVP-worthy season, without one of his best receivers, and an occasionally faulty offensive line. Only Brady could make a season like this look like a clinic.

3. Protect the Throne

Coming into this year, almost everyone expected the Patriots to make a deep playoff run. No one held the Eagles to the same standard. The Eagles are hungry for a Super Bowl trophy. Despite losing their starting quarterback, they came out swinging in every playoff match-up. They are not scared of Tom Brady, or the Patriots, but rather they are excited to dethrone them:

The Eagles want nothing more than to have a repeat of the beat-down they gave to the Vikings. Though they are the one seed in the NFC, they were written off in the Divisional Round. The Eagles embraced their underdog role, and played their hearts out throughout the playoffs. Now in the Super Bowl, the odds are against them once again. This time, however, they will battle one of the most methodical teams in the NFL. The Patriots are elite because of the preparation they put into each game. Their game-plan changes depending on what team they face. They have two weeks to study film, and see how the Eagles play. Bill Belichick is amazing at pointing out teams’ weaknesses, so it is safe to say the Patriots will be ready. We’ll all have to see how this match-up fares out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Prediction: 33-24 Patriots

 

Cover image courtesy of PennLive.com.

What Does McAvoy’s SVT Diagnosis Mean to the Bruins?

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Well life has a funny way of putting things into perspective for us sometimes. Imagine being Charlie McAvoy of the Bruins and recently being diagnosed with a heart condition called SVT. McAvoy is young, in great shape, and playing defense for one of the storied franchises in the NHL. Then pow.

In this article, I will tell fans of Bruin Nation what exactly is SVT. Also, I will tell you all about how it is treated and what is the prognosis for McAvoy and his hockey career.

(Via www.thehockeynews.com)

What Exactly is SVT?

The heart condition SVT, or supraventricular tachycardia, is where a person’s normal heart rate is accelerated and maintained at this level. An average person has a resting heart rate of about eighty beats per minute, whereas a person with SVT would have a resting rate of over one hundred. In many cases this is not a condition that can be easily detected. The signs and symptoms for it are pretty average for just not feeling well. Typically, a person suffering from SVT would experience: light-headedness, dizziness, fatigue, and general malaise. I believe in the case of the Bruins’ McAvoy, he was just a really lucky soul to find this when he did.

In more severe cases, it is possible for a person’s heart to stop beating temporarily and cause something called syncope. With the case of syncope a person would basically pass out and when they awake they would be quite disoriented. This would be a little bit like the case of the Stars’ Rich Peverley years ago, which turned out to be a little more serious.

SVT can be caused by a number of issues that are both in and out of the person’s control. Things such as heart disease, thyroid disorders, blood clots, and hardening of the arteries are some of the more serious causes of SVT. There are other causes such as drug abuse, caffeine intake, and smoking that can be controlled by the person.

How is it Detected?

As with most heart conditions, the person is usually given an ECG (electrocardiogram) to detect what the issue may be. In the case of SVT, the heart rate would be generally normal heart rhythm.  For short periods of time during the testing, the person’s heart rate would spike to the SVT level even without any change in activity. The amount of times that the SVT is detected and the severity of the spike can figure in the treatment.

Other methods of detection of SVT can include: an ultrasound, a stress test, and dye tests as well. It just depends on the doctors and there is no test that is superior but the ECG is definitely the most commonly used.

Treatment of SVT

Once the SVT is actually detected in a person like McAvoy, it is key to figure out if there has been damage suffered. Fortunately in the case of the Bruins’ D man, he has many factors working in his favour. McAvoy is young, in great shape, and had no previous history of any heart related issues. All of these things are nothing but bonuses for the young Bruins’ D man and his long-term future.

The main treatment after verifying the diagnosis of SVT is to make sure that the condition does not flare up. As serious as this condition can be in some people, I expect McAvoy to live a long healthy life. Detection in the early stages and not requiring any cardiac operative procedures will mean that McAvoy will be just fine.

The Bruins’ young defenseman will likely just have to take a couple of medications to control this condition. Most patients would take a medication called a beta-blocker to control heart rate and another to manage heart rhythm. All things considered, things will be just fine for the Bruins’ (and possibly the NHL’s) rookie of the year. Let’s bring that Cup home to where it belongs.

 

Cover image courtesy of ESPN.

Charlie McAvoy Expected to Miss Two Weeks with Heart Issue

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It came as a surprise to many when the Bruins released a statement that Charlie McAvoy underwent surgery to fix an irregular heartbeat. The Bruins were first notified about the issue after the Bruins game on November 26th. McAvoy informed team doctors that he experienced heart palpitations during the game. The Bruins’ official statement reads:

“Subsequently he underwent an evaluation, which diagnosed him with a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The type of SVT Charlie has is not considered to be dangerous to his health but can recur at any time and causes significant symptoms”.

McAvoy decided to have the surgery to correct the issue due to the likeliness of it reoccurring in the future. The twenty year old Calder candidate will stay overnight at Mass General and by all accounts should be back to good health quickly.

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Ramifications

Luckily for McAvoy and the Bruins the problem was taken care of early enough. With the recent tear the Bruins are on it is a punch to the gut. But with the All-Star break just around the corner McAvoy should not be out of the lineup for to many games. The surgery is taking place in late January signals that it cannot be too serious of an issue since it was originally reported in November. However it’s never a good sign when a professional athlete has a heart issue.

Losing McAvoy for a short amount of time will not derail the red-hot Bruins. However it is certainly something to keep an eye on going forward. The key to the next decade for the Bruins is the twenty year old defenseman. So lets hope this was a one time problem. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for McAvoy.

 

Cover photo courtesy of www.sportingnews.com.

Looking to the Future

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Boston, MA–The 2017-2018 Boston Bruins are playing impressive hockey lately, especially in the last two months. This is a feat that the NHL can no longer ignore; they are the real deal. They continue to pummel through their opponents to extend their streak to sixteen points against Montreal. Their surging success is quietly carrying over to their “freshman” team: the Providence Bruins. Currently in second place in the Atlantic division, P-Bruins are racking up impressive numbers. Case in point, Providence is 10-0-1 when rookie player Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson scores.

Next Man Up

The future of this club, or any club, relies on the young prospects that are coming up the pipes. The P-Bruins have a healthy blend of rookies and those that have already played a few games for the Bruins. Down in Providence, the key focus has always been on the development of young players, paving the way for many future superstars so that they earn that spot on the Bruins roster. Former coach of the P-Bruins, Bruce Cassidy recently stated:

“We look at the growth of our players here I think it speaks for itself, the growth of Danton and Jake down there last year I understand that JFK and Zach are playing well down there right now too”.


And for some players, Providence is the place to regain confidence as they look to develop their play. Playing in the AHL is exactly what Anders Bjork needed when his game play started to suffer in the NHL. The young Michigan native had three goals and six assists while playing his first sixteen games for the Boston Bruins. Bjork was reassigned to Providence after taking a tough ice hit that sidelined him. In his first three games in the AHL he netted two goals and had two assists. Let’s take a look at some of the players making noise in their rookie year.

HOT TAKES

It’s all about speed and youth when it comes to competing at a high level. The truth is not every player will end up playing for the Bruins, nor will they stay in Providence. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, or JFK, has been making a name for himself. A former player for the BU Terriers, he made a brief debut with the Bruins against Washington last season, playing a little over eight minutes on the ice. The 24-year-old rookie has been racking up some impressive points for the P-Bruins:  25 points in 39 games.

First linesman Kenny Agostino, along with Austin Czarnik, lead the P-Bruins in points. Czarnik so far has tallied up 34 points in his last 33 games as he heads to the AHL All Star Classic. Right wing  Jordan Szwarz is equally impressive. He recorded 24 points in 24 games for the AHL and garnered 3 assists in the ten games he played for in Boston. Rookie Zach Senyshyn has amounted 17 points with 11 assists in the 38 games he has played so far.

The Providence Bruins are sprinkled with young talent that have already made their first NHL appearance. Matt Grzelcyk highlights the list, earning fourteen minutes of ice time a game. There is no doubt the 23-year-old Charlestown native has been making his mark for the Bruins defensive blue line. Grzelcyk and fellow BU alum Charlie McAvoy reunited after Adam McQuaid was injured. Also like every line on the current Bruins roster, they continue to play on their toes.

PROSPECTS EVERYWHERE

As we look to Providence in developing the next wave of Bruins superstars, other upcoming prospects are showing their skills elsewhere. In his first few games playing for University of Maine,  Bruins prospect Jeremy Swayman has posted an impressive record. He is 5-0 for the University of Maine and 8-3 in the NCAA. The first year goalie also recently won a bronze medal at the World Juniors and ranks fifth in the nation in save percentage. He recently recorded his first career shutout winning 3-0 against Boston University.

19-year-old Urho Vaakanainen is another key player to keep an eye on. The Finnish defenseman is quickly progressing into a skilled player. He is playing for SaiPa in the Finnish Liiga to ready himself to debut for the Bruins next season.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This has been an impressive year for the Bruins and as one continues to watch the progression of the many young prospects this team is currently developing, a thought remains. Out of all the talented players this organization has who will be the next Bruins superstar? The future is shining bright for the black and gold.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88