Tag Archives: Hockey

Bruins Vs. Blues | Stanley Cup Game 5 Preview

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Two steps forward, one step back. That’s how the Stanley Cup Finals have gone for the Boston Bruins. They won Game 1 with a four-unanswered-goal comeback, taking it 4-2. They dominated Game 3 scoring four power play goals and winning 7-2. Unfortunately, Game 4 played similarly to Game 2. The Bruins couldn’t maintain the puck in the offensive zone, couldn’t keep it out of their own, and committed far too many turnovers. They lost Game 2 in overtime 3-2, then lost Game 4 by a score of 4-2. Both losses also came with injuries to the Bruins defense. In Game 2 Matt Grzelcyk was hit by Oskar Sundqvist and hasn’t played since due to a concussion. In Game 4 Zdeno Chara deflected the puck into his face and it’s reported that he has a broken jaw.

Tie Breaker

Tied at 2, the series is now a best-of-three. Game 5 is in Boston, as well as Game 7 if necessary. The Bruins will look to utilize the home crowd and light up the scoreboard early. They’ll need to establish and maintain offensive zone time and shoot at the net every chance they get. In both losses the Bruins had significantly fewer shots on goal than the Blues. Tuukka Rask has been amazing throughout the playoffs, but he’s going to need more offensive help to win the Stanley Cup.

(Associated Press)

Utilizing the Power Play

The Bruins haven’t been as productive during 5-on-5 play lately, so the key will be drawing penalties. They’ve been lethal on the power play and that can jump-start the full-strength offense. The Blues have been physical with several borderline (and a few egregious) hits, so getting a few calls should be inevitable. If the Bruins can capitalize on those chances and get something going, maintain puck possession, and cut down on turnovers, they’ll have a great chance of winning.

Defensive Woes

The defensive situation is a big question. Matt Grzelcyk was at practice on Wednesday, which is good news. But he was wearing the red, “no-contact”, jersey. So whether or not he plays in Game 5 remains to be seen. Chara is another question mark. There still hasn’t been any official word on him or his availability, but he wasn’t at practice on Wednesday. He’s consistently led the Bruins in ice time, so if he can’t play that leaves the Bruins with a large defensive hole. The current speculation is that Coach Bruce Cassidy will dress seven defensemen, instead of the usual five, to fill that void.

(Photo by Billy Hurst)

The Bruins had to win Game 3, and to do so they would have to play their best game of the season. They did. This time even more is on the line and they’ll have to play just as tough. They can’t allow the Blues to win Game 5 in Boston and go back to St. Louis to potentially win it all. Game 5 is an absolute must-win for the Bruins, and they’ll need all four lines showing up in force to do so. The series, the season, and the Stanley Cup is on the line.

Who Will Be the Next Bruins Banner Captain?

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Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals is set for Thursday, June 6th at TD Garden in Boston. It’s a pivotal and important game for both teams with the series tied at 2. The Blues will be riding momentum after beating the Bruins 4-2 in Game 4. The Bruins, however, have shown they have the resilience to fight back after coming back from a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 and winning 4-2. They’ve also shown they can completely dominate by winning Game 3 in St. Louis 7-2. The Bruins will need the hometown crowd to participate, getting as loud and supportive as possible. One of the keys to their Game 3 win was scoring early and taking the St. Louis crowd out of the game. They weren’t so lucky in Game 4.

Crowd Involvement

The crowd needs to get into the game early. In fact, they need to get loud and rowdy before the puck drops. That’s a job for the Banner Captain. The role of the Banner Captain is to wave the Bruins flag shortly before puck drop to get the crowd going. For Game 1 it was a position mutually held by the 2011 Stanley Cup-Winning Bruins team. In Game 2 it was New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. So who should wave the flag as Banner Captain before the pivotal Game 5?

(Photo by Associated Press)

Could it be Brady?

The rumor mill is churning with heavy force in that regard. The overwhelming prediction is Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Brady doesn’t usually participate in other Boston sporting events due to his rigorous schedule. That said, if the G.O.A.T. showed up waving the flag the crowd would erupt on an epic scale. Brady’s already assisted Captain Zdeno Chara in a hype video before Game 1, and has actively participated in support of the Bruins via social media. If he were at the game in person it wouldn’t just be the fans with electric energy, it’d be the Bruins themselves. In the company of greatness a competitor always wants to push just a bit harder and execute just a bit better. One of the greatest players in the history of the NFL showing up at the Garden to represent the Bruins would be dangerous for the Blues.

(Photo by Bruce Bennett)

Orr Someone Else?

If Tom Brady is unavailable the second most likely choice is Bruins legend Bobby Orr. Yes, he was already a Banner Captain during the series against the Carolina Hurricanes, but there are two things to keep in mind. First, let’s be honest, the Boston faithful never get tired of Mr. Orr. Second, in such an important game, tied against the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals, an ideal choice would be the man that scored the game winning goal against them in 1970. History and Bruins royalty make an electric combination.

There’s always the chance they go with another Boston sports icon. Rob Gronkowski, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez… frankly, the list could go on and on. But the Bruins will likely be looking to make a big splash with this one and, for the record, Tom Brady is currently participating in Patriots Mini Camp right down the road. Imagine him waving the flag while yelling his inspirational catchphrase, “LET’S GO!”

Game 3 Stanley Cup Final | Boston Bruins VS St. Louis Blues

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Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals didn’t go Boston’s way. After trading goals back and forth with St. Louis, the first period ended tied at 2. Despite goals from Charlie Coyle and Joakim Nordstrom, the Bruins attack soon fell flat. The second and third periods were defensive battles that resulted in no scores, forcing overtime. Just 3:51 into that overtime period with a delayed call against the Bruins, Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson scored to tie the series 1-1.

A Physical Game

The Blues played with a physical ferocity that the Bruins couldn’t keep up with. A hit by Blues center Oskar Sundqvist on Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk resulted in a two minute penalty and Grzelcyk leaving the game. He’s now in concussion protocol, will miss at least Game 3 and likely Game 4. Sundqvist was given a one-game suspension. Once again, goalie Tuukka Rask was outstanding, but in the second and third periods the Bruins seemed sluggish. Whether there’s still some rust or they were just tired from the physical play, the Bruins didn’t look like themselves. The first line of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak was separated, moving Pasta to the second line and bumping up Danton Heinen.  They never got into a rhythm and the team suffered for it.

Photo by Matt Stone

“I know we haven’t played our best yet,” Center Charlie Coyle said after the game. “Our starts have been off for whatever reason. So we just have to look at some things and go over some things… We have to be on time in this league.”

Bringing the Battle to St. Louis

Game 3 will be an uphill battle. The Blues will be riding the momentum of their win and they’ll be feeding off the energy of the St. Louis home crowd. Boston will have to play their best game of the season. That said, in Game 2 the Bruins looked completely off their game and the Blues played their hearts out. Despite that, it still took an OT delayed call for the Blues to win.

The Bruins have everything they need to take Game 3. In Game 2 they couldn’t keep the puck in the zone, they gave up too many turnovers, and they couldn’t capitalize on power plays. They’ll need to be more productive on the power play, establish offensive zone time, and shoot more instead of attempting as many unnecessary passes that resulted in turnovers. This series is still early. There’s a lot of time left for the first line to get into their groove and lead the way.

Photo by Bruce Bennett

Defenseman Torey Krug had this to say about that first, “Perfection Line”, “That’s kind of been the way the playoffs have gone for them, right? In every series, you give them enough time and enough reps against a certain matchup, they’re smart enough hockey players, they know what’s going to be open and they’ll find a way to break through.”

How To Win

It’s going to be a physical and punishing game. The Big Bad Bruins will need to be just that and dish it out just as much as they get it. The Blues think they found a chink in Boston’s armor and they’ll be on the attack. The Bruins will need to be just as physical, if not more so. Clean hits and staying out of the box will be key. Tuukka Rask will keep them in the game, the first and fourth lines (the best lines thus far) will need to step up and take the game away. Coach Bruce Cassidy said that in Matt Grzelcyk’s absence, defenseman John Moore will likely take his place. Moore could just be the fresh spark the Bruins need.

McAvoy

Charlie McAvoy: What’s Next?

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The 2018-2019 NHL season is rapidly coming to a close. The Boston Bruins have clinched the Eastern Conference and are four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup. This would be their first time in eight years and the seventh time in franchise history. The Cup is close to coming back to Boston. No matter what happens, the off-season is looming in the near-future, and with it contract negotiations.

Photo by Joshua Kloke

Contract Extension

One of the biggest off-season moves for the Bruins is extending defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of this year. McAvoy has been a reliable staple on the blue line lately, partnered with Zdeno Chara. He recently turned down a long-term offer by the Bruins, suspected to be due to recent offers to similar players such as defenseman Esa Lindell. Lindell was extended by the Dallas Stars on a 6 year, $34.8 million contract, giving him $5.8 million a year. He scored 11 goals this season and put up 32 points. Making that more enticing is his youth. Lindell is only 25. McAvoy wants a similar contract and why not? The kid’s young with plenty of potential that he’s sure to live up to.

Value

Charlie McAvoy was an integral part of the USA team in the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. He received the Player of the Game honor in their gold-medal game win. McAvoy’s also got youth on his side, at 21 years-old, and his stats are impressive this season. He’s missed 28 games due to a concussion, a lower-body injury, and a one-game suspension. Despite that, he has 8 goals and 35 points thus far. McAvoy has the ability to become a superstar on an already star-studded Bruins roster.

(Getty Images)

Salary Cap Era

Unfortunately, we live in the salary cap era. Dallas can afford to pay Lindell $34.8 million over 6 years because they have the cap space. The Bruins aren’t as fortunate. GM Don Sweeney is still filling the hole that was dug by former GM Peter Chiarelli. McAvoy would be in the upper-echelon pay scale of Bruins players with a contract similar to Lindell’s. He’s a great defenseman who looks to only get better, but is he worth paying as much or more than someone like David Pastrnak? More to the point, is he worth paying so much against the cap that the Bruins can’t afford to keep some of their other top-tier players for much longer? The Chicago Blackhawks did that a few seasons ago with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and it hurt the team.

What Can Be Done

One potential solution is extending the time on the contract. An amount such as $30 million over four years is unrealistic, but over six or seven years could be manageable. It comes down to McAvoy and what he’s willing to accept versus what he feels he’s worth. Would he be willing to take a pay cut to stay in Boston? Furthermore, what happens if the Bruins win the Stanley Cup? The way McAvoy plays combined with his ice time would be factors in that win, giving him a much larger bargaining chip. However, the salary cap is ruthless and inflexible. Only time will tell but this will certainly be an interesting and potentially exciting off-season.

Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers

Bruins Tame Panthers In Wild Win

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As Boston tied the game late in the third and with six seconds left, Saint Patrice would score the winning goal as the Bruins beat the Panthers 4-3, extending their game-point streak to 18 games (the second-longest in Bruins history).

Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers
(Photo Credits: Joe Mariski)

FALLING BEHIND AND GETTING BACK UP

After a scoreless first, Florida got on board in the second when Alexander Barkov scored on a power play at 2:48 in the second, with Brandon Carlo being called on a tripping penalty. Boston was once again down a player as Captain Zdeno Chara received a delay of game penalty. Unfortunately, Florida took advantage as Jonathan Huberdeau scored, making it 2-0.

Boston would get on board when David Krejci scored off a feed from Danton Heinen at 10: 29, making it 2-1 in the second. With the third underway, the Bruins once again found themselves in the penalty box, however Patrice Bergeron would net a short-handed goal, tieing the game at 2-2.

Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers
(Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

MOOUNTING A COMEBACK

With a Bruins mounting a comeback, Florida would momentarily throw a wrench into their plans when Jonathan Buberdeau found his puck in the back of the net, making the score 3-2 Florida. As minutes started winding down in the third period, Florida would be down a player. Matt Grzelcyk would tie the game at 19:23 on the power-play. In stunning fashion, Patrice Bergeron would net the winning goal seconds later, making the final score 4-3 and handing Florida their sixth straight loss.

Tuukka Rask made 22 saves in net, while Roberto Luongo made 24 saves for Florida. The Bruins are now 41-17-9 and are still second in the Atlantic Divison and in the league. With the loss, Florida is now 28-27-12. Boston will face the Ottawa Senators this Saturday at the TD Garden.

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Boston Bruins vs Edmonton Oilers

Game preview: Boston Bruins vs Edmonton Oilers

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The Boston Bruins arrive in Edmonton after losing last night to the Calgary Flames, snapping a four game winning streak. Tonight marks the first home game for the Oilers as they play at the Rogers Place. Edmonton is coming off an exciting comeback win when they defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 this past Tuesday. Oilers captain Connor McDavid set an NHL record as he registered a point in the Oilers nine goals so far this season.

This past Tuesday, he was instrumental in the OT win over the Jets. However, McDavid will be tasked to shut down one of the NHL’s top lines-the BMP line.

boston bruins vs oilers 2018

(Photo Credits: Matt Stone/ Boston Herald)

The Oilers are looking for a win against the B’s after their 4-1 loss to Boston on October 11th. They have won their last two games as they’re coming off a three-game road trip in the US. McDavid leads the team with nine points with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins not far behind with six points.

Connor McDavid

(Photo Credits: NHL.com)

The Boston Bruins top first line has been on fire, producing and leading the team in assist and goals. So far, the BMP line has netted 15 of the 24 goals Boston has posted. Patrice Bergeron, who is the current NHL First Star of the Week, leads the line with six goals and seven assists. Brad Marchand has two goals and nine assist while David Pastrnak has seven goals with three assists.

So far in 17 games against  Edmonton, all three players from the top line have a total of five goals and seven assists.

boston bruins vs oilers 2018

(Photo Credits: AP Photo)

Coach Bruce Cassidy has also been looking towards other lines to drive more to the net as lack of production from the rest of the team has been a bit concerning. After last night’s game, one of the remaining issues is the amount of turnovers happening on the ice. Defensive issue and puck giveaway seems to be a problem that has plagued the team.

“We now we have a line that’s going to deliver that every night. We went home and we did get some of that much better balance. You hope that continues. It didn’t tonight”-Coach Bruce Cassidy

Tonight, back-up goalie Jaroslav Halak will be in net tonight as he posted a win against the Oilers last week. Halak had a 25-save effort previously against Edmonton. Halak has turned 73 of 76 shots. Tuukka Rask made 23 saves last night against Calgary and is 0-3-1 against his last five starts against Edmonton. Since his last four games played, his record is 2-2-0 with a .875 save percentage.

PUCK DROP: Tonight at 9:00pm EST.

WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, 98.5 RADIO

Patrice Bergeron Could Miss the Start of the Season

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The Boston Bruins could be without their best player to start the year. Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston reported that Bergeron is “a little behind” after getting groin surgery in June. Bergeron seemed frustrated about having to undergo surgery so late in the offseason, and expressed his thoughts on it:

“I’m starting to feel better on the ice now, and I’m starting to increase the workload in the gym as well. Slowly, but surely, I’m feeling good. The fact that the surgery was done in June set me back a little bit…Pretty much all of July I was rehabbing and all that, so I’m a little bit behind. But I’m still shooting to be ready for Game 1 of the season on opening night. That’s the goal right now.”

Bergeron is in many people’s eyes the best player on the Bruins. Many were saying he would have a legit shot at the Hart Trophy before he went down with injury. Even though he only played in 64 games last year, he still had his third-highest total in goals with 30. He also had 33 assists, and 63 points last year. Bergy also tacked on 16 points in the 11 games he played in the playoffs ,which included 6 goals and 10 assists.

Patrice Bergeron has racked up quite a bit of accomplishments over his 14 year career. He is a two-time all-star, four-time Selke winner (award for best defensive forward), and is a Stanley Cup Champion. Bergeron is a candidate for the Hart Trophy this year if he plays at the level he did last year and stays healthy.

Bergeron will not be on the trip with the Bruins to China this month. He will continue to rehab his injury. The Bruins start their season off against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Not having him for games like that could have some impact for home ice in the playoffs. Bergeron missed 18 games last year in the regular season, and 1 game in the playoffs.

2015 draft

Looking Back at the Bruins 2015 Draft

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In the 2015 NHL draft the Boston Bruins had three picks in the first round .They held the rights to the 13th,14th, and 15th overall picks. With those three picks they selected Jakob Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn. DeBrusk, made his NHL debut last year and is the currently the only one of the three to have made it to the NHL. The other two are close and could contribute to the Bruins soon. They still need more time in Providence but will be given plenty of opportunities. With the NHL season approaching each will play a different role this season as they look to fulfill their draft day expectations of being a 1st round selection.

2015 Draft Picks Review

DeBrusk had an impressive rookie campaign last season. He appeared in 70 games scoring 16 goals while adding 27 assists. He was a force to be reckoned with on the powerplay where he had nine points including two goals. In the playoffs he elevated his game and was not fazed by the increased pressure. In 12 postseason games DeBrusk had 6 six goals tying him for most on the team with Bergeron and Pastrnak. With the season on the line in game 7 against Toronto he had a game to remember. DeBrusk scored the Bruins’ first goal and netted the game winner. The former first round pick was not just a fan favorite because of his performance but because of the passion he showed on the ice. It was a very promising beginning to what could be a special career.

2015 draft

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Jakub Zboril

With the 13th pick in the 2015 draft the Bruins took defenseman Jakob Zboril. Unlike Debrusk, Zboril’s career has not gotten off to an easy start. At his first training camp he seemed lost and was still battling a knee injury. After a rocky start Zboril has begun to show the tools that made him a first round pick. Zboril does not have the offensive ceiling of Charlie McAvoy or Torey Krug. That being said he does possess good skating skills and is not afraid to sacrifice his body. He is also excellent on the powerplay. Despite his progress it is unlikely he will make the team out of camp as the Bruins already have eight defenseman under contract. Early on it seemed like Zboril may turn into a bust but he has silenced that notion. With Chara likely retiring sooner rather than later the Bruins will need a top defenseman alongside McAvoy and the Bruins are hoping it’s Zboril.

2015 draft

Photo Credit: Dobber Prospects

Zach Senyshyn

The Bruins took Senyshyn 15th overall with their final pick in the first round. In Senyshyn’s two years with the Sault Marie Greyhounds he had back to back 65 point seasons. In his first year in Providence last season he had only 26 points. He is known for his speed and scoring touch but was streaky last season in Providence. Even when he struggled he did not let that detract from the other areas of his game. There is a significant amount of pressure on Senyshyn as he is the centerpiece of the Dougie Hamilton trade. Like Zboril he will need another year in Providence before he is ready. Senyshyn is still adjusting to the pro game and will need to be less streaky. The talent is there and he could be a fixture on the Bruins top lines for years to come.

2015 draft

Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper- USA Today Sports

Judging The Bruins’ 2015 Draft

With Zboril and Senyshyn likely to start this season in Providence it is still too early to judge them. DeBrusk was the exception and showed that he has the potential necessary to make a major impact moving forward. If Zboril and Senyshyn can live up to the expectations of being a first round pick then Sweeney will look like a genius. Watching these two develop this season will be a storyline to keep an eye on. They both could very well be centerpieces of the roster for years to come.

Czech Mates David Krecji and David Pastrnak

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.”

Team USA C

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.

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:

The Under Appreciation of Tuukka Rask- By the Numbers

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It’s no secret that fans of Boston sports have become spoiled over the years. Our four teams have collectively won ten championships since 2001 and Boston is the winningest sports city of the 21st century. It’s a great label to have, but these consistent banners have led to fans expecting nearly unattainable results. High expectations are nothing new in Boston, but Tuukka Rask shouldn’t be under any scrutiny.

A DEPENDABLE ASSET

Rask has a .922 career save percentage to go with a 2.26 goals-against average. Anybody would admit that these are solid numbers, but most don’t realize just how impressive they really are. According to www.quanthockey.com, Rask leads all active NHL goalies in both categories. He beats out Lundqvist, Schneider, Quick and all the other superstar goalies in the NHL. Fans might want to consider this before begging for someone else.

He’s also yet to have his first statistically “bad” NHL season. The league average for save percentage typically hovers around .915, which is the lowest Rask has ever gone in a single season. This essentially means that even in his worst season, he was still average in comparison to the other goalies around the league.

His goals-against average is just as impressive.  The league average spiked 7% this season but it usually hovers around 2.6. Rask’s career low is 2.67, and this speaks volumes to his consistency.  Even in an off year, he’ll still allow less than three goals per game.  That’s the kind of dependability teams need to be successful.

His play in the postseason, believe it or not, is even better.  He has a career goals-against average of 2.25 and a .924 save percentage, both of which top his career regular season stats.  Goalies are under an even bigger microscope in the playoffs, but this is a guy you can win a cup with.

A FLAWED PERCEPTION

The reality is that Bruins fans have been spoiled by both Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask.  Even the backups have been reliable.  It’s been so steady between the pipes that some fans have forgotten what bad goaltending is actually like.

Rask has been a victim of high expectations, and the Bruins are incredibly lucky to have him signed through 2021.