Tag Archives: NHL Hockey

Stanley Cup Round 2- Bruins Meet Tampa

WELCOME TO ROUND 2

TAMPA- Boy, it was a hot one Saturday afternoon. The race to clinch the Atlantic Division bounced back and forth between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Throughout the regular season Tampa came out and dominated, leaving very little room for any other team to overtake first place. But when it comes to the playoffs, all bets are off and regular season stats go out the window. For the Boston Bruins, they have managed to once again get into the minds of the Lightning, as they clobbered their way to a 6-2 victory.

A GOOD START

The Bruins quickly came out strong with Rick Nash scoring on a power play in the first period. Patrice Bergeron scored another goal in the second. Forward Brad Marchand looked to score what would be their third goal, however it was waved off as a cross checking penalty on David Pastrnak was called prior. This is where things got a bit wild.

BOLTS STRIKE BACK WITH A BIT OF CONTROVERSY

As the Lightning were looking to gain momentum, Tuukka Rask had some wardrobe malfunction as a skate blade came off, limiting his movement in net. As he tried to get the attention of the refs, Tampa took advantage and Mikhail Sergachev scored cutting the goal deficit by one. To say he was frustrated was putting in mildly, but the referees made the right call. The NHL public relations quickly explained the rule #9.6:

“There is no goal for referees to stop play for a broken piece of equipment, regardless of whether the equipment belongs to a goaltender or a skater. the lone exception is when referees may stop play after a goaltender has lost his helmet.”

Tuukka has a wardrobe malfunction & the Bolts capitalize 🚨 pic.twitter.com/v88IUwgyP3

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) April 28, 2018

HUSTLE AND FLOW

The Marchand-Bergeron and Pastrnak line has produced a total of 12 goals and 41 points in their last five games. Rick Nash got the Bruins on board from an assist with David Pastrnak during a power play. Forty-two seconds into the second, once again, Pastrnak found Patrice Bergeron and got the Bruins on board, making the score 2-0. However, Tampa answered back as Dan Girardi got the Lightning on board two minutes into the second. A waved-off goal by Marchand and with Pastrnak in the penalty box, the Bruins were able to kill a power play off. Rick Nash quickly scored his second goal of the game, giving the Bruins a 3-1 lead.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE REFS?

After an interesting call on Jake DeBrusk for “interference” and the Rask blade controversy in the second, Tampa were looking to close that gap. But Boston kept control of the game. The Bruins shook off the remnants of wild second period and with goals from Marchand, Bergeron, and an empty netter by DeBrusk. Boston defeated Tampa 6-2.

lick at this i mean look at this goal from Brad Marchand!

Stream the #StanleyCup Playoffs here: https://t.co/ypEzC9zVuL pic.twitter.com/W96AkobGV9

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) April 28, 2018

SHINING IN NET

Tuukka Rask stopping a shot

After looking shaky in net in the last few games of the series, many will be looking to Tuukka Rask to have more confidence. There have been many narratives about Rask getting the start in net against Tampa. In Game 1 of this tough series, it’s easy to see that Tuukka was in the zone. He allowed only two goals throughout the game and stopped 34 shots on net. Pretty good numbers if you consider he was screened by his own defensemen and lost a blade on his left skate.

“These freaking skates nowadays, the blades come off. I was yelling at the ref for 10 seconds. He didn’t hear me. It sucks. I’m glad we won.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Tuukka Rask and Rick Nash were the stars of this game. Vasilevsky was shaky in net, but much like with Toronto, Boston will have to take it one game at a time. Rask needs to continue to shine in net. Offensively, the Bruins need to drive to the net full force and bring back that momentum when they return to Boston. The last time these two teams met was in 2011, and that series went to seven games (with Nathan Horton scoring the clinching goal at the Garden). And we all know how that year ended. This will be a tough series and will only get tougher as we head into June. Will the 2018 Boston Bruins see a repeat of what happened in 2011?

Let the best team win.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88

No Jack Adams for Bruce Cassidy?

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With little talk about being coach of the year, Coach Bruce Cassidy has helped rebuild the Boston Bruins.

When General Manager Don Sweeney announced last April that Bruce Cassidy would the 28^th head coach of the Boston Bruins, there was hope and excitement about the new direction this team was taking. Amid the plethora of young players coming in and the return of seasoned veterans, you could see that the Bruins were going to be contenders.

Then came the injuries.

OVERCOMING SOME ODDS

The B’s went through their ups and downs through the beginning of the season. Without making excuses, when you have a young injured team and a new head coach, there will be some growing pains. The big question was: will this team even make the Wild Card race? Fast forward to April 2018, and the Bruins have become that team that just won’t quit. Boston is the team that many do not want to face in the Stanley Cup finals. Don’t forget, the Bruins are severely short-handed and are now just getting back some key players.

ENTER CASSIDY

Boston has the talent and speed. And most importantly, they have an exceptional coach that knows his players and continues to make all the right changes. As the Bruins finish their last week of the regular season, it’s interesting to hear minimal talk about Cassidy becoming a recipient of the Jack Adams award. Although the only trophy any NHL coach wants it’s the big silver cup, it’s hard to ignore what Cassidy has done for this young team.

QUICK NOTES

And of course, you can’t gloss over what Gerard Gallant has done for the Vegas Golden Knights, who are full of players that have become the most successful team in its inaugural season. Gallant, for many fans and experts alike, seems to be shoe-in for the Adams award. Still, what if the Bruins win arguably one of the most difficult trophies in any sport? Would Cassidy get the recognition he deserves?

BY THE NUMBERS

Last season the Bruins, still under Claude Julien, were looking to miss the playoffs yet again. Something had to change and the time had come with Sweeney finally letting go of Boston’s long-tenured coach. Enter Bruce Cassidy, former head coach of the Providence Bruins. Cassidy had to coach a fragmented team that no longer responded to Julien while shifting to a new playing style that emphasized speed. No longer taking a slower approach and no more playing the dump and chase game-the Bruins would start to pick up their pace.

As the interim head coach for the Bruins’ final 33 regular and postseason games, he compiled an impressive an 18-8-1 regular season record. The Bruins would clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the 2013-14 season. And for some quick stats when Cassidy took over for Julien, the Bruins would: rank first in the NHL in goals per game (3.37), first in the NHL in fewest shots allowed (741), tied for second in the NHL in wins (18), tied for second in the NHL in power-play percentage (27.8%), tied for third in the NHL in goals allowed per game (2.30) (source: NHL).

BUTCH CASSIDY

With the title “Interim” being stripped away, Bruce Cassidy would step in as the official coach of the Boston Bruins. He would be tested however as the team began the season with injuries and with some tough losses and varied wins, many were unsure about how far this team would go. But as the story goes, you can never count the Black and Gold out. And with a successful trip out west in November, everything started to click. Chemistry was building amongst the players. Cassidy was learning to read his players and tweaking the lines as needed. With a team like the Bruins, every line has proved to be productive.

2017-2018 SEASON

The Bruins are in a good place right now and are poised to clinch the division title. Cassidy’s record so far with the Bruins since taking over is 67-26-13; Claude Julien was 26-23 before he was let go. No question that Cassidy has been an important proponent in rebuilding this team and continues to make smart decisions. With a few games left in the regular season, the Bruins will be pushing for a deep playoff run. Boston needs to continue to outperform their opponents and stay healthy. While there’s little chance that Cassidy will win the Jack Adams award this season, fans know he is one of the reasons this team has become a force to be reckoned with.

See you in June.

Follow Liz Rizzo on twitter @pastagrll88

David Pastrňák- Playing with Flash and Grit

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Young, talented, and fast, the 21-year-old right winger is making some important plays as the Bruins look to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The story has been writing itself for this year’s Boston Bruins. From a rocky start to becoming a dangerous team to play against, there’s no question that this team is special. From the explosion of youth to the “never give up” attitude this team has developed, there’s one particular line that’s leading the team. Prior to losing Patrice Bergeron, the first line consisted of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and a young Czech player named David Pastrňák. As Bergeron sits out while healing from a fractured foot, Marchand and Pastrňák have pushed more aggressively towards the net and are scoring goals. And even though he’s not new to the league, Pastrňák is right behind Marchand in goals, assists, and points. Did I mention he’s only 21 years old?

A QUICK CZECH

Credit: Adam Richins

From the 2014 draft class, David Pastrňák has proven to be one of the best NHL caliber players the Bruins have drafted. A quick look at his stats this season puts him at 70 points through 71 games, (42 in assists and 28 goals), making him almost a point-a-game player. The young winger also leads the 2014 draft with 87 goals ahead of the Oiler’s Leon Draisatl, who signed an expensive contract at eight years for $68 million. But just because you sign a hot rookie to an insane contract doesn’t guarantee a spot in the playoffs. The Oilers are struggling this season; the same can’t be said of the Boston Bruins.

PUTTING SOME SAUCE ON IT

Last year, fans got to see the young Czech enjoy his breakout career and under new coach Bruce Cassidy, things only started to flourish. As the Bruins were gearing up for the 2017-2018 season, Sweeney and Co. had yet to sign the young winger. Let’s just say, it was a bit tough to read reports that “Pasta” was still in Europe. And the rumors of playing in the KHL? Personally, that was a terrible threat with no credible backing. With training coming up, getting the news that Pastrňák was finally on his way to Boston made fans collectively breathe a sigh of relief.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

THE RIGHT CHANGE

By mid November, Cassidy had made a few changes and moved Pastrňák to play on the first line (a move that’s proving to be working for the Bruins). And while Pastrňák doesn’t score goals every night, (not many players can) he’s there assisting his linemates, Brad Marchand and Riley Nash. After a brief benching earlier this season, Pastrňák didn’t sulk; he came out ready to get back into the game. And with any young player, there’s always a period where you either get stuck in a sophomore slump or you take the advice from some tough love only to come out with a bang. The motivation hasn’t stopped there for Pastrňák.

A STAR THAT WON’T BURN OUT

As the Bruins continue to play with half their roster, it’s time for the entire roster to step up. And for Pastrňák, nothing could be sweeter than netting your first career hat trick. In a recent game against the Hurricanes, the Bruins were down a 4-1 deficit when the Black and Gold scored five unanswered goals in the 3rd. The young Czech player found the puck in the back of the net three times, lifting the B’s over Carolina for a stunning comeback win.

“We looked kind of tired and no energy, and then we get a couple of goals and all of a sudden everybody is flying. Everything clicks for us. I guess we all wished we knew how to turn it to click. I said I think a big part is we are a good team and we have a lot of good players.”

GROWING UP

At just 21 years old, Pastrňák now has the most game-winning goals in franchise history for a player prior to reaching their 22nd birthday. Not quite a veteran and no rookie by any means, Pastrňák has matured quickly and proven to be an incredibly valuable player for the Boston Bruins. And it shows he cares not only for the team but for the game. Earlier in the game against Carolina, a turn over by Pastrňák led to the ‘Canes to score their fourth goal. But as the story goes, you can’t count this team out and it was Pastrňák’s time for some late redemption. Cassidy had this to say:

“That’s a sign of maturity that he cares… He figures he let the team down. He has to go now do something to pick them up again and he certainly did that. Good for him. We need it. Let’s face it, your top guys have to be your top guys.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Dynamic is one of many words used to describe one of the Bruins most likable player. With seven of the team’s top hitting players out with injuries, it’s players like David Pastrňák that you count on while playing clutch. With his skilled shot on net and speed, the young Czech will continue to grind out goals, set up important plays and most importantly, continue to smile. And for fans, it seems the right winger is right at home in Boston.

“…This is where I started playing my NHL hockey and I want to spend as much time here as I could. I wish for my whole NHL career.”

Keep smiling David, ’cause we are.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrll88

The Bruins Are Making Some Moves

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The Bruins look to make a playoff push with the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching

Early Sunday morning, Don Sweeney made his move- a somewhat aggressive one. The Boston Bruins signed Rangers Rick Nash in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, a 1st round draft pick and a 7th round pick in 2019.

For some fans, this move is either great or terrible and judging from comments online, fans are split. I want to hate this trade, but in truth, I think it’s smart. Believe me, I’ve haven’t always been a Sweeney fan, but you have to give him credit. After all, he’s a big reason why the Bruins have so many young prospects. And in the NHL, that’s what you need in order to be competitive. The big thing for me is that he found a team willing to take on Belesky’s contract and letting Spooner go means that the Bruins will have some wiggle room in their salary cap, which is good news for Boston.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

It’s no secret that the Boston Bruins look like serious contenders for the Stanley Cup (even though a recent road trip is leaving a sour taste in their mouths). As we’re nearing the end of the NHL regular season, Sweeney and Co. had to add some missing pieces to help bolster their defense and give David Krejci what he needs: a big forward. The Bruins needed a power forward player and they now have that with Nash (along with David Backes). And in a post season run, Boston will absolutely need to be physical. At 6’4, 211 lbs, Nash can certainly make a big impact on the Krejci line. Coach Cassidy had this to say:

“Very dynamic. He’s hard to stop, contain one-on-one,” Cassidy said. “He’s got good speed. Protects the puck well. Gets to the net. Knows how to get to the net. Good hands around the net.”

BY THE NUMBERS

In addition, the Bruins would only have to retain 50% of Belesky’s contract. And yes, there are many fans who think trading Spooner and giving up a top prospect like Lindgren was too high of a price to pay. But think of it this way: realistically, Ryan Spooner didn’t have much time left on his contract and the Bruins more than likely wouldn’t resign him after he becomes a free agent. In all fairness, Spooner had started to play really well this season and put up some good numbers.

But let’s face some tough truths here- his career wasn’t really going anywhere in Boston. For the past few seasons, Matt Beleskey hasn’t exactly been stellar. However, finding a team to absorb his contract was a challenge. Luckily, the Rangers answered that call, which leads back to my original point of the Bruins now having some good wiggle room in their salary cap.

RETAINING THE YOUTH

Throughout this season, the message was clear. This Boston Bruins team is exceeding all expectations, despite some recent tough losses. In order to rebuild your team, you need to get some young players along with a coach that’s going to lead them to the playoffs. The Bruins have a good amount of young prospects that are playing their first year in the NHL and plenty that are being developed in the AHL and college level.

Players like Jake Debrusk, Danton Heinen, Sean Kuraly, Matt Grzelcyk, and Charlie McAvoy. They’re good. Like really good. And if you want them to continue to wear the spoked B, you need to pay the price. So for those thinking these recent trades are not going to work to the Bruins advantage, you have to look at the big picture. As a fan, I would rather see someone like McAvoy here in Boston for many seasons, even if it means losing someone like Spooner.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Don Sweeney was able to do something amazing in these recent trades. He was able to make good moves without giving up a lot. And yes, there was some early worry that Jake Debrusk would be traded for Ryan McDonough. I do have to admit again that I was a bit relieved when reports indicated that Sweeney wasn’t too interested in changing up the chemistry that this team has built. Even President Cam Neeley had some thoughts on the dynamic of this team:

“It’s a great group of guys, it really is,” said Neely. “They’re all pulling on the same rope. The chemistry seems to be really strong right now. It’s another thing we talk about is the chemistry of this group. Historically, you’ve seen things happen at the deadline where, maybe teams after the fact, say ‘We made too many moves and it disrupted the chemistry’. So that’s something we’re cautious about.”

The Rangers also got a pretty good deal that will help rebuild their team and the Bruins got a proven veteran player that can score. A perfect mixture of veteran and flourishing youth is what the Bruins have now. And they wouldn’t want it any other way.

. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrll88

It’s Crunch Time for the Bruins

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As teams continue to put pressure on the Boston Bruins, can the Black and Gold continue to tough it out?

I’ll be first to admit, I wasn’t sure if the Boston Bruins really needed to make a trade. But I had to take a hard look at their recent playing effort. The one thing about this team, which has been an issue these past few years, is the depth of their defense. As the trade deadline nears, most teams are looking to rebuild and that means making some changes. Recent rumbles throughout league would have the possibility of Jake DeBrusk going to Rangers in exchange for Ryan McDonough.

Yes, the Bruins need a top D-man, and Chara won’t be around forever. And yes, Carlo should be better than he is. Lacking that depth is being exposed in their recent road trip. We knew this was going to be tough test of just how good this team is and after a pretty bad showing against Vancouver, reality was starting to set in. If they want to be in the playoffs, they would have to play smarter, faster, and tougher.

Staff photo by John Wilcox/The Boston Herald

Quick Change

After losing 6-1 against a low standing Vancouver team, the Boston Bruins had to bounce back. A win against Calgary gave another shot of confidence that the team needed. The Bruins went back to the basics while working on what needed to be polished. Tuesday’s night game against the Oilers was another test. Edmonton hasn’t been playing great this year, yet somehow managed to find their pucks behind the Bruins’ net. A quick look at some stats and you’ll see that Boston plays under .500 when they are two goals behind. The black and gold found themselves in a hole, which they had to dig themselves out of. Something had to change and with a stroke of genius, Coach Bruce Cassidy led the charge. With the third period getting underway, the Bruins were set to make a dramatic comeback. And they did. David Krejci skated alongside David Backes and Danton Heinen. Backes retrieved the puck from Edmonton, passed to Heinen which set up Krejci to score the winning goal. Because of the stellar comeback win for the Bruins, the question of whether the B’s can play gritty was answered.

Production

The thing about this year’s Boston Bruins team is the production from their lines, particularly the 4^th line. While the 1^st line of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak has produced huge numbers for the team- let’s take a look at the 4^th line. With Tim Schaller, Noel Acciari, Sean Kuraly, this line has been very productive for this team. Cassidy put that line out in the crucial minutes of the third period and sure enough, that move worked. The Bruins scored. In a bold move, Cassidy switched up his center and Riley Nash played alongside Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Spooner. After some great puck movement, Charlie McAvoy’s shot hit off Nash, who beautifully back passed to Matt Grzelcyk and the Bruins tied the game.

Photo Credit/Getty Images

Coach Cassidy had this to say about the fourth line:

“Offensively, they’ve done a real good job chipping in.They’re over 20 goals even strength as a line. That’s pretty good for a fourth line that doesn’t see any power-play time. It was a big one by Noel tonight, typical goals. Again for Noel, going to the net, willing to pay the price, be around there. Very, very happy for those guys …I think they’re well liked by the group, so when they give you energy, it just gets the whole team going [and] they’ve done it more than once for us this year.”

Boston Bruins David Krecji scores game winning goal

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Looking Ahead

March is going to be a tough month for the Bruins. After finishing their Canadian road trip, they’ll be back home for the next five games. With the newly acquired Rangers defenseman Nick Holden, the Bruins are looking to add some jolt to their defense. The black and gold will need to work on their back-end, make smart trades (if needed) and keep pushing. Cassidy will have to switch up lines and the young guns will need to play through their growing pains. Boston hasn’t exactly made the greatest decisions when it comes to making trades however, fans will have to trust the process. This could possibly mean losing a young player and that can be hard to swallow, given the amount of talent this team has and the chemistry they’ve built.

Final Thoughts

The Boston Bruins need to stick to the basics, drive hard to net and continue to get pucks in. Other teams will be gunning for a spot in the playoffs and the pressure will be on. One thing is for sure, this team is and has been exciting to watch. Because of the comeback win in Edmonton, this team continues to prove once again just how special they are. Cassidy keeps making the right calls, the team has found their stride and Holden is someone we could use. If everything falls into place, the Bruins will get far into the playoffs. Finally, does this team need another player like a McDonough or even a Lucic? From this writer’s perspective, Boston doesn’t really need to make another trade, but I’ll leave that to the experts.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrll88

Hey Boston Sports Fans, It’s Time to Wake Up

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Since the Patriots’ devastating loss in Super Bowl LII on Sunday, Boston has been in a state of what I like to call “sports grief”. Numerous fans tune out all media and sports radio in order to avoid the heartbreaking reality. However, do not fret Boston- hope for another championship lives on. Allow me to introduce you to the Boston Bruins who are currently playing like the best team in the NHL.

What You Have Missed

It has probably been a bit of time since you last gave the Bruins your full attention. While the Patriots were dominating the sports news cycle, the Bruins have been quietly making a name for themselves. The Bruins are currently trailing the division-leading Lightning by one point with one game in hand. Their 74 points has them placed second in the entire NHL (33-11-8) and they have shown no signs of slowing up. Last night’s 6-1 dismantling of the New York Rangers marked the Bruins 18th win in their past 23 games.

On the second night of a back to back in two cities the Bruins played a complete game against a lackluster Rangers team. Boston is 27-4-4 in its last 35 contests. After back to back road wins the Bruins are a remarkable 10-0-2 in their last twelve road games. They have secured a ridiculous 22 out of 24 points away from the Garden and last lost on the road in early December.

How the Bruins Have Done It

How are the Bruins dominating the sport of hockey you may ask? That is the great part; it’s been a team effort. Defensively the Bruins are a well oiled machine. They allow only 2.31 goals per game, which leads the entire National Hockey League. This outstanding defense has the Bruins second in the NHL in goal differential with a +48.

They are led by Vezina candidate Tuukka Rask, who has been the best goaltender in the NHL for the past two months. Rask has not lost a game in regulation since November 26th and is riding a personal 21 game point streak (19-0-2). Rask is tied for sixth in the NHL in save percentage (.925%) with none other than Anton Khudobin. The Finland native is currently third in the NHL in GAA and tied for sixth in wins with 22. After being benched earlier in the season, Tuukka has responded with a bang leading the Bruins to the top of the NHL standings.

Leadership

Offensively the Bruins have been absolute juggernauts. The Bruins rank fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.27) and third in the Eastern Conference. Led by the Hart Trophy candidate Patrice Bergeron, who already has 24 goals on the season, and should be on pace to surpass his career high 32 goals. Nothing seems to slow this team down, whether it’s injuries, breaks, or suspensions. Whatever it is the Bruins just steam roll through it. Not many teams could lose their best offensive player to a five game suspension and go 4-1 in that stretch. Somehow someway the Bruins always come out on top and get the job done. They are playing like a true team mainly because of one of the best lead by example players in all of sports in Bergeron.

Relentless Nature

Maybe the stat of the year is the Bruins are 13-10-4 when allowing the opponent to score first. Including winning their past two contest against Detroit and New York where they trailed 1-0 in both games. It gets even crazier when being outshot by the opponent the Bruins are 12-3-4. In one goal games the Bruins have an insane .900 winning percentage (9-1-0). Even though the Bruins have a habit of getting of to slow starts they are still outscoring their opponents 48-39 in the first period. As the game goes on the B’s only get better. In the second and third periods the Bruins are outscoring their opponents 122-77, a plus 44 goal differential. Closing has not been a problem for the young players either. The Bruins have not lost in regulation when they lead after the second period (26-0-2).

The way this team has played the past few months it’s not unrealistic to expect them to win at least two rounds. Mainly because as of right now this team has no weaknesses. Wake up Boston sports fans, because the Boston Bruins are demanding your attention.

Should Boston Express Interest in Rick Nash?

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News has recently come out that Rick Nash being placed on the trading block. Earlier today it was reported that Nash submitted a list of twelve teams that he would approve a trade to. While Nash could still be potentially traded to any of the other eighteen teams he would have to waive his no trade clause. With the trade deadline coming up on the 26th of February you can expect quite a few teams to kick the tires on the 33 year old left wing. But should the surging Boston Bruins be one of the teams to make a call?

Embed from Getty Images

Track Record

Do the Bruins have a need for Rick Nash? Not particularly considering the production that they have been receiving up and down the lineup. However, adding a veteran forward with plenty of playoff experience under his belt is never a bad move. Nash is his 15th NHL season originally drafted number one overall in the 2002 NHL draft. The veteran left winger is one of the most respected players in hockey. This should make his transition to another team even a rival pretty smooth.

In 1041 career games Rick Nash has put up 431 goals and 736 points for Columbus and New York. In eight of those seasons Nash posted 30 or more goals. It is pretty safe to say the winger is capable of putting the puck in the net. His production began to fall off after a monstrous season in 2014-2015 where he netted 42 goals. In each of the past two seasons Nash has not been able to eclipse the 40 point mark. Even with Nash beginning to decline the veteran left winger still possess a special scoring touch.

Embed from Getty Images

Why the Bruins Should Look into a Trade

When you have a team that is as hot as the Bruins it can be tempting to leave things as they are. But Sweeney should still be looking into making a key trade to give the Bruins a better chance at a title this season. If the cost is right of course. Although the Bruins have a great mix of youth and experience on the roster, adding a player with Nash’s postseason experience could only benefit the team. Rick Nash has played in 77 postseason games and has posted a solid 41 points. His stats do not jump off the screen he is definitely battled tested.

Thanks to the excellence of the forward group if the Bruins were to acquire Nash he would be able to play with very little pressure. As the games get tighter and become more physical the young players may begin to struggle. Even if that does not happen the depth that Nash could provide matchup wise is very valuable. Of course this is all based on if Rick Nash would be willing to even come to Boston. If the cost is not to high this is definitely the type of player that could help the Bruins in May and June.

From Russia With Love- Anton Khudobin

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Every player on every line has so far stepped up and pushed through the many injuries that have plagued this team so far this season. For once in a very long time, this Bruins team has major depth on the bench. One of the biggest surprises this season for the Bruins is their newly found tenacity amongst personnel. For one particular player, this year has proven to be his shining moment. Enter Anton Khudobin, Russia’s import to the Boston Bruins.

ENTER THE DOBINATOR

Despite the loss on Tuesday night, Anton Khudobin has been on fire lately. Up until Tuesday’s game, Khudobin has not lost in regulation and is currently boasting a .924 save percentage (eighth on the leaderboard). The 31 year old Kazakhstan goalie has also done something equally impressive: giving competition to the Bruins’ number one goalie, Tuukka Rask. By mid-November, Boston started to get their team healthy again. Anton Khudobin was given the chance to finally play between the pipes. The Bruins enjoyed a four game winning streak and with Khudobin in net helped bolster the confidence of team. As for the fans, they got to see a goalie who was excited to play some good hockey. It was hard not to to notice how Anton’s energetic enthusiasm translated in his style of play. As Coach Bruce Cassidy puts it:

“Doby is always going to have a bit of energy, for lack of a better word, in there and more movement than most. You know, he’s not your typical technically robotic goaltender…”

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

For Tuukka Rask, watching Khudobin play those games has earned top praise from the Bruins goalie early on in the season, especially when Rask was struggling early on.

“Doby played a heck of a game. The results have been there. I haven’t been able to get wins in the past three starts. So it’s understandable. Obviously, we look at every game whether it’s a win or loss and take the positives and learn from the negatives.”

BEING THANKFUL

For a young Anton Khudobin, playing hockey was always the one thing he wanted to do. Playing for the home town team, the coach decided to move to a different city, far from Kazakhstan where the Khudobin’s lived. This meant leaving their life, giving up everything so that their son could play. Khudobin played for the Russian National team which beat the United States in the final. For the young goalie, the dream of playing in the NHL soon came true. After being drafted to the Minnesota Wild and playing for a Canadian Junior team, he came to Bruins in 2011. He became a free agent and ended up playing for the Hurricanes and the Ducks before returning to Boston.

With his contract set to expire at the end of this season, there’s a question on whether or not the Bruins resign Khudobin. No matter what happens, there’s no question about Anton’s love for playing and winning at the sport.

“The ‘W’ is always great. No matter what the score, whether it’s 8-6 or 9-7. If you win then you win. Nobody talks about losers. Everybody talks about winners, right?” … if you win, then you’re on the horse, and if you don’t then you’re under it. It’s great to get one …and so now hopefully it’s not going to roll like it did last year.”

Gear up Anton, you may get a cup soon enough.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter @pastagrl88

Zdeno Chara: Big Man on Ice

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With the sudden news of young superstar Charlie McAvoy recovering from an abnormality in his heart, the Bruins will once again be playing with one man down. The big difference with this year’s Bruins team is how much depth they have on the bench. With the tremendous amount of talent being developed at the NHL and AHL level, Coach Bruce Cassidy has smartly paired up veterans alongside the first year players. One of those veterans is Captain Zdeno Chara.

GUIDING LIGHT

A towering force at 6”9”, Zdeno Chara has secured the admiration of both teammates and the NHL as both an intimidating defenseman and role model. The amount of value and experience he shares with the younger players comes from playing in the NHL for the past two decades. Fellow teammates gain confidence when they have Big Z on their side. They see Chara as both a mentor and “big brother”. Back in April, McAvoy had this to say:

“.. To put a guy with less experience like myself, or a guy like Brandon Carlo, and put him with a guy like that [CHARA], who just has so much experience, has had such a storied career. It’s easy to see why they do that, to help that transition become easier for someone like myself. I’m just very thankful to have the opportunity today to be able to practice with him…He’s just such an amazing player and the leader of this team.”

For Chara, fulfilling that role of mentor is nothing new. Early on in his career with the B’s, he was paired up with veteran Dennis Seidenberg before playing alongside a nineteen year old fresh-faced Dougie Hamilton. Last season, Chara once again played along side a young rookie: Brandon Carlo. This season, BU alum Charlie McAvoy has been his new student.

2018 SEASON

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

One of the many talking points about this year’s Boston Bruins team is how every single line has been productive. The team’s penalty kill becomes instantly improved when Chara is on the ice. In other words, he’s gotten the Bruins out of a few jams. During a recent game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins saw them selves in a five on three situation. Being responsible for starting every penalty kill, Chara had already been on the ice for almost two minutes when both Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo put in the penalty box. And because of Chara’s toughness and skill the Canadiens never came close to scoring during the two power plays.

GOLDEN YEARS

For any New England fan, NFL QB Tom Brady is one of the greatest athletes of all time. And at forty years old, keeps defying odds and silencing his critics. But for any hockey fan, the Bruins have their own age-defying player. Being the biggest player to ever play in the NHL, forty year old Chara is still clocking an impressive amount of time on ice. He averages over twenty-three minutes each game. No workload is too heavy for the Slovakian native. He’s the guy that just loves to play hockey:

“..I love everything about it. I love the sacrifice. I love the pain that goes with it. Love playing with young guys. Love playing with older guys.”

And for Chara, this means no real timetable as to when he’ll retire from the organization. However one thing’s for sure- he’d like to retire a Bruin.

“I take a lot of pride in my offseason training and being ready for every season…I want to still be very effective, get better, improve, maintain my game, and keep adding to my game..it’s still beautiful to have players staying with one team and retiring with that team.”

Keep playing Big Z. Boston will miss you when you’re gone.

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter: @pastagrl88

Cover photo courtesy of AP Photo/Charles Krupa.

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.