Tag Archives: Stanley Cup

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins Silence Hurricanes; Rask Tremendous

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The Boston Bruins knew going into Tuesday night that they would be facing a desperate Hurricanes team. Up 2-0 in the series, Boston had to be ready. And if it weren’t for the outstanding performance by goaltender Tuukka Rask, things could’ve been a lot different.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

The ‘Canes were coming off a perfect 5-0 winning streak at home in the playoffs, and were looking to make a huge push from the get go. From the drop of the puck Carolina was all over Boston, as they drew the first penalty 55 seconds into the first. In the first of many penalties of the period, Rask mimicked a brick wall and shut down every Carolina shot. As more Black and Gold jerseys sat in the box (at one point they were down two players), Rask kept things alive. Boston was able to keep the Hurricanes scoreless in the first, with Carolina out-shooting the Bruins 20-6.

(Photo Credits: AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

RASK KEEPING IT IN

In the second period, the Bruins quickly found their legs as Chris Wagner opened up the scoring. And within a few moments Brad Marchand tallied one of his own, giving Boston a 2-0 lead. Carolina did not rest however, as they continued to shoot point-blank at Rask as their frustration continued to build. Rask kept the night rolling, allowing only one shot to get past him. A potential goal in the third by the Bruins would’ve seen the score 3-1, however after review by the officials, it was taken off the board due to goaltender interference.

Boston Bruins
(Photo Credits:AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The Boston Bruins are now up 3-0 in the series and have a chance this Thursday to sweep the Hurricanes to advance into the Stanley Cup Finals. With the emerging success of the fourth line, and the continued tremendous play by Tuukka Rask, the Bruins are this close to achieving that goal. Boston’s Head Coach Bruce Cassidy offered some insight about Rask’s performance last night:

“I think he was our best penalty killer for stretches there. What it does for the team, obviously, is it allows you to take a deep breath knowing you go into the first period intermission haven’t played our best, but it’s 0-0.”

Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy

Rask made 35 saves last night, and now boasts the second best goals-against-average in the post-season at 1.69. His save percentage is .939, and he leads the league with 11 wins.

“Being in the zone, nobody knows what that means. The way I usually want to play, I want to play calm and make myself look big and maybe even tough chances, try to make it look easy. If that’s in the zone then so be it. I just try to be focused and give us a chance.”

Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask

NOTES

As the Bruins gear up to face an even more desperate Hurricanes team on Thursday, there may be a possibility that Chris Wagner will be out. Late in the third period, he blocked a slap shot by Justin Faulk with his wrist. In obvious pain, Wagner was seen going down the tunnel. David Krejci played his 100th career playoff game, hitting a personal milestone.

NEXT GAME: Boston Bruins at Carolina Thursday May 14th.

WHERE TO WATCH: NBCSN with puck drop at 8:00 PM

Boston Bruins

Game 5 | Round 2: Boston Bruins vs Blue Jackets

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TD GARDEN, BOSTON–The Boston Bruins head home after a wildly frustrating game in Columbus that saw the Black and Gold winning 4-1, tying the series at two-a-piece. Tonight, the Jackets will be looking to take the series lead after a shaky Game 4.

FIRST LINE SPARK

Patrice Bergeron scored off of two power-play goals with an assist from David Pastrnak (who started things off scoring minutes into the first period). Ohio’s own Sean Kuraly scored in the third to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead. Columbus lone goal of the night came after a controversial play that saw the puck hitting the protective net. It was ruled that it was continuous play, with Artemi Panarin scoring.

HOT BETWEEN THE PIPES

Despite a love/hate relationship from the Boston Media, goaltender Tuukka Rask has been outstanding in this series, while Sergei Bobrovsky has been incredible in net for the Blue Jackets. Solving the Bobrovsky equation has been a sticky point for the Bruins team, however with the 4-1 win the Boston Bruins have shifted the momentum. Rask has two wins with a 1.80 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. Bobrovsky has a .934 save percentage with a 2.23 goals against average.

Boston Bruins
(Photo Credits: JAMIE SABAU/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES)

The Blue Jackets were hit with multiple penalties in Game 4 and will be looking to keep out of the box:

“We let our emotions get the best of us last game. We took a lot of dumb penalties. They’re going to try to get in our heads but we need to keep our composure.”

Columbus Forward Cam Atkinson

Both the goaltending and special teams have dominated the series so far, and both teams will be looking to take the lead. Boston has the advantage in the 5-on-5 offense, however, both teams need to up their game. The Bruins top line was key in Game 4 and will need to continue to overcome their postseason struggles.

“Hopefully that fuels them to get going and you keep it up…when your best players are your best players, we’re generally going to be a tougher team to beat.”

Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy

UPDATES

It was announced that Noel Acciari is a game-time decision. Chris Wagner may possibly play if Acciari can not.

WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:15 PM, TD Garden, Boston

WHERE TO WATCH: NBC

Keys for the Bruins Ahead of Game 2 in Tampa

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

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The Perfection Line Must Be Perfect

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

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

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Tuukka Rask Must Continue to Play with Passion

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

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

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

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The Bruins Must Feed Rick Nash

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

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

Bruce Cassidy

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 28th 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. 

Bruce Cassidy on the bench

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.

Bruce Cassidy

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 2018 Boston Bruins

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

Montreal Still Hasn’t Won a Legitimate Stanley Cup

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Montreal’s a beautiful city.  It’s one of my favorite places in the world, and the Bell Centre is absolutely breathtaking.  It’s a relatively modern arena but it’s packed with history, being highlighted by the 24 Stanley Cup banners that hang from the rafters.  This technically leads the NHL, but how many of these actually mean something?

Back in the Day

People so often forget that up until 1967 the NHL only had six teams.  In theory, this essentially means that the Bruins, Canadiens, Rangers, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Red wings each had a one in six chance of winning the cup every year. The Bruins weren’t near the caliber of Montreal but still managed to win three cups during that era.  With only six teams, everybody was bound to get their name etched on lord Stanley at some point.  Montreal won 14 out of their 24 cups during this time.

Although there were only six teams, Montreal did dominate- there’s no denying that.  Just look at the late 1950’s where they won a league record five consecutive cups.  This leads to one central question- what made them so good? The answer to this is that there was no draft.  Up until 1963, teams could scout out whoever they wanted regardless of their age.

Montreal literally invented hockey, playing the first game ever right at McGill University in 1875. Like anything, it took some time for hockey to become fully globalized.  This meant that for a while the Canadiens had the best players in the world right in their own backyard.  Look at the names of all their star players from back in the day. Geoffrion, Beliveau, Morenz, Plante, Lafleur- they were all French and natives of Quebec.  It’s like when you were a kid at recess.  There was always that kid who would invent his own game, play it with his buddies, and declare himself champion every time.

Since the end of the original six era, Montreal has won 10 cups.  These are more valid than the first 14, but the last time they won was in 1993.  At the time there were still only 24 teams, so to this day the Canadiens are yet to win with a full 30+teams in the league.  The 24 banners hanging from the rafters are a nice touch to the Bell Centre, but don’t take them at face value.

 

Cover image courtesy of Eyes on the Prize.

Changing of the Guards

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SHOWDOWN IN MONTREAL

The Boston Bruins face a tough schedule heading into to the second half of the season. There’s no doubt that there will be a lot of emotion on the ice in Wednesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins and Canadiens hold what is considered to be one of the NHL’s greatest rivalries. This also marks the first time that coach Claude Julien will return to Boston to face his former team. For the past decade, Julien sat behind the Bruins bench and coached a team that made two Stanley Cup appearances in 2011 and 2013. To say Julien didn’t have an impact on the Bruins organization would be foolish. Coming into the first of many meetings between the two clubs, there’s a level of respect from both the players and Coach Bruce Cassidy. For some, like Patrice Bergeron, playing against his former mentor will carry some extra emotion:

” It’s going to be special. He’s been great for my career and for the organization. It’s going to be a special moment”

    “..There’s a mutual respect for the player-coach relationship that they have..”

These last forty games are crucial for the Boston Bruins as they continue to push for a playoff spot. As for Montreal, a time for desperation calls for desperate play. Under Claude Julien, the Canadiens have been playing inconsistent and lackluster. They currently have a 2% chance of a clinching a playoff spot. There’s no question that the recent surge of young players has propelled the Bruins into second place with a +30 in the Atlantic division. Under Cassidy, there’s a great chance that the black and gold will emerge as one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup. In this week’s match-up against the Habs, all eyes will be on the bench as one curiosity arises. Just how would this young Bruins team be under Julien? Also, would he be able to put all his trust into a first-year player?

OLD SCHOOL

In the last few years, the NHL has morphed into a game more focused on speed and less on strength. Things change and to be competitive means adjusting to a different style. For the upper brass management (as well as fans), Claude Julien just wasn’t able to adapt productively. With personnel changes and the league’s expansion, the Bruins were two steps behind. Consequently rumors of tension between some players and Julien began to surface.

Both the media and Bruins fans were starting to believe this “myth” that Julien simply didn’t like the young players. It didn’t help that player Ryan Spooner made a remark that Claude didn’t like him. There were even whispers that Tuukka Rask didn’t exactly see eye to eye with Claude. If you take a look at the stats and what some of the young players had to say about Claude, you get a different story. Julien helped develop a lot of players such as Milan Lucic Patrice Bergeron, Dougie Hamilton, David Pastrnak, and Ryan Spooner. The difference between Cassidy and Julien is the way he developed them; you had to earn your ice time. The old school thought would have Julien put more pressure and trust onto a veteran rather than a first-year player.

So just how was Claude with his young players? If you break down some numbers of those coached by Julien, they aren’t as bad as many fans would remember. And keep in mind, many of these players were under the age of twenty-two. In his rookie year, Brad Marchand scored twenty goals. Pastrnak also scored twenty-two goals at the age of twenty years old. Also, as a 19-year-old, Tyler Seguin scored twenty-nine goals, and 22-year-old Milan Lucic netted thirty. Many of these players credit Julien for helping them develop their playing style. A young David Pastrnak had a breakout year while playing under Julien in 2016. At one point he was second in the league behind Sidney Crosby in goal scoring and garnered high praise from Claude:

“He’s been our best forward since the beginning of the year. He’s coming into his own..”

Interestingly enough, a lot of these young players worked closely with former Providence head coach Bruce Cassidy. For David Pastrnak, it was Cassidy and assistant coach Jay Pandolfo who  worked closely with the young Czech forward for three years. As a side note, Claude Julien coached in the AHL and was even a successful Junior coach.

While Julien and Cassidy may have similar backgrounds, their approach in working with young talent has produced different results. For Julien, limiting playing time for a young player was part of the learning curve and development process. However, Cassidy had a different plan; speed drills, picking up the pace and attacking the net more on the offensive end. As the NHL began to change and after the Bruins missed the playoffs in 2015 while under Julien, both general manager Don Sweeney and President of the Boston Bruins Cam Neely knew that it was time to move on and hire a new voice.

CHANGING OF THE GUARDS

The firing of the long-tenured coach drew a mixed response from players and the organization as well as hardcore fans. Many of whom immediately called for the firing of Neely and Sweeney. By the time Julien was let go from the Boston Bruins, the team record of 26-23 left them with little chance of clinching a playoff spot in the 2016-2017 season. As the interim head coach, Cassidy had his work cut out for him. At that point in the season, the Bruins were one point outside the Eastern Conference With a quick change-up in styles, the black and gold managed to clinch a spot. Cassidy’s playing style was what the Bruins needed as they headed into a playoff series against the Ottawa Senators.

Fans got the see a first glimpse of an astounding performance by first-year player Sean Kuraly and newly signed prospect Charlie McAvoy. Those who were unsure of how this team would be without Claude got to see a new resilient team that didn’t give up easily. In a hard-fought series, the Bruins made it difficult for the Senators to earn a spot in the playoffs. Even though the Boston lost, there was no question that given the short amount of time that Cassidy had coached the team there was something special about the upcoming group of “young guns”.

BUTCH CASSIDY AND HIS SUNDANCE KIDS

Bruce Cassidy had to deal with an onslaught of injuries affecting the team at the beginning of the season. With a tough task ahead of him, Cassidy continued to put trust in his young players while looking to his veterans for guidance. Sure, there have been a few hiccups and learning opportunities on the bench. However, the Bruins had managed to stay afloat in the standings. As the team started to become healthy, things started to rapidly change. For fans, one of the biggest stories in the NHL is how the recent youth movement propelled the Bruins into playoff contention.

Seeing this team jump twenty spots in the standings, one would have to think again how this team would fare Julien. In my opinion he would have a hard time extending his leash, continue his dump and chase game, with little emphasis on speed- a strategy that would not work for this year’s Bruins team. In order to be competitive in this sport you have to be willing to change. One look at the standings in the Atlantic Division, it’s not hard to tell which team will rise up to the top. Under Julien, the once powerful Canadiens are looking to miss the playoffs this year. With their recent 4-3 loss to the Bruins, Montreal continues to sputter down in the division, while the Bruins continue to shut down their opponents.

It’s clear Cassidy is the perfect fit for this young Boston team. He is currently 42-18-8 with the Bruins, keeping the focus on speed and puck control. Don Sweeney’s plan has come to full fruition. Signing young prospects, developing them in Providence and hiring a young coach that isn’t afraid to take chances. Sometimes change is good, and as the Bruins continue to be tested and pushed in the second half of the season, Cassidy and his Sundance Kids will no doubt be fighting to the end.

 

Follow Liz Rizzo on Twitter: @pastagrl88

Creating Depth: A New Era for the Boston Bruins

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Creating Depth on the Bruins’ Bench

It was a smile you don’t quite see often, but after Saturday night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, one could not blame Coach Cassidy. His Boston Bruins beat the ‘Canes 7-1; a blowout game that saw the black and gold score five goals in the first period alone. With all the recent buzz about the youth movement for the Bruins, it was the Bergeron line that reminded everyone just how dangerous they were. As the night went on, it was becoming clear that this team, and its players, are the real deal.

“They were fun to watch when they got puck possession.. It’s amazing to watch Bergy get a shot off from there. But if you’re at Warrior enough, you’ll see him working every morning skate to getting that quick release”.

As the schedule is nearing the halfway point, the Bruins will be looking to continue their recent winning streak. With Saturdays’ win, the black and gold continue to embarrass teams. They are outscoring their opponents 42-12, and are riding an eleven game point streak. The first line alone garnered twelve points from the Hurricanes game. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak produced five goals with seven assists. Bergeron, a future hall of fame inductee, scored four goals. He also nabbed his 700th career point-a personal reminder of how good he really is. The thing about this year’s Bruins team is that no matter which line is out on the ice, you know that you’re going to see some good hockey.

HAVING SOME FUN

The Boston Bruins have always prided themselves as being a blue-collar team; a team that was once the “Big Bad Bruins”. But as things change in the NHL, the Bruins also had to change. The days of using brute force are gone. The players today rely more on pure skill and working hard towards one goal: winning the Stanley Cup. But for the Bruins, there was panic early on. With every game came new injuries, and with new injuries Coach Bruce Cassidy had to make important roster changes; especially if he didn’t want his team to fall far behind. As the season wore on, the Bruins somehow managed to stay afloat and reached third or fourth in the Atlantic Division-something extraordinary if you think about how depleted this team was early in the season.

But then something happened. This team started to get their legs. You saw young players like Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Charlie McAvoy score their first NHL goals. The veterans were helping these young players, which in turn helped them with their gameplay. The Boston Bruins were finally becoming a healthy team, creating noise around the league. They were quickly becoming a bunch of guys that love playing with each other and connecting on and off the ice. With each win, the confidence of the Bruins continues to flourish. As Brad Marchand put it:

“ We are just confident right now.. you see the way that some young guys are stepping up, it just seems like everyone is connecting..we’ve got a great group of guys in the room and we all get along really well.”

RAISING THE BAR

Overcoming injuries early in the season created a problem for the Boston Bruins. With key veteran players such as Brad Marchand, David Backes, David Krejci and enforcer Adam McQuaid out, a call to Providence was imminent. For the defense, the Bruins once again looked to Charlie McAvoy. A hard-nosed first-year player, McAvoy is not only scoring winning goals, but has quickly become one of the leagues most formidable defensemen. As the young players began to find their identity on the ice, key players slowly started to emerge as unlikely superstars, especially Danton Heinen and Sean Kuraly. For Coach Bruce Cassidy, finding that right combination of players was proving to be a tough task. And for some veteran players, confidence was starting to wane.

PROTECTING THE NET

The Bruins’ starting goalie Tuukka Rask had a very shaky start. Analysts were starting to worry that the Vezina winner wouldn’t be able to bounce back. As losses piled up, Rask’s save percentage dipped down to .870, a far cry from his 2015 stat of .927. Consequently, Cassidy had to find a way to get his number one starter confident again: creating competition.

Enter Anton Khudobin. The 31-year-old Kazakhstan goalie would be given a chance to play between the pipes and perhaps give Rask a much-needed realization that if his numbers continued to suffer, so would his goaltending chances. With Khudobin in net, the tide started to slowly change for the Bruins. As a “goalie controversy” gained steam in the media, all eyes were on Khudobin. Questions were asked: would the Bruins trade Rask and how worried should the team be about their number one starter? With Anton in net, the Bruins would enjoy a  four-game winning streak.

Rask needed this motivation. Not only has the 30-year-old Finnish goalie begun winning games, the team that played in front of him were starting to gain some steam. Both Tuukka and Anton are currently boasting impressive numbers, with Rask 11-0-1 in his last twelve games, 1.20 GAA with a .962 save percentage. Khudobin, since Saturday’s win, is now boasting a .964 SV%. For Bruce Cassidy, no longer would he have to rely solely on Rask, he now has a solid back up goalie in Anton Khudobin.

HAVING DEPTH

With continued injuries plaguing the team, it was now time for the young players to step up. From recent efforts, the call to arms has been answered. Having players like David Krejci, Adam McQuaid and Ryan Spooner out, the lines had to be tweaked. At first the Bergeron line had himself, Marchand, and newcomer Anders Bjork. The second line saw the pairing of fellow Czech players David Krejci and newly signed superstar David Pastrnak. But as Krejci continued to sit out due to his nagging injury, the lines have, needless to say, changed. For this Bruins team, those changes have worked to their advantage. One impressive feat: in the last 38 games played, the Bergeron line has not given up a 5 on 5 goal.

The fourth line that sees Sean Kuraly, Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari finished with a combined 8 shots on goal, (2 of which were part of the 5 goals scored vs. the Islanders), and ended with a combined +5 rating. Jake DeBrusk, Ryan Spooner, and a now healthy David Krejci all posted goals when playing against the Senators. For the Heinen, Nash and Backes line, scoring has now become second nature; posting two goals during Tuesday’s game against the Islanders. As goaltender Tuukka Rask puts it,

“They give us energy. They’re just buzzing around and making hits, making plays. You need four lines in this league nowadays to contribute and lately, we’ve had that”.

THE ROAD AHEAD

With last night’s thrilling game against a well-rested Pittsburgh Penguins,  Bruins fans saw a team that had goals from each line. Players Ryan Spooner, Noel Acciari, David Backes, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak all scored to bring the Bruins up 5-3 during the second period. Despite the loss in overtime, one thing was clear: you can never count this team out. The Bruins have now become the “dark horse”, frustrating and breaking the spirits of their opponents. With each game comes the question; which line will be the one to shut their opponents down, shoot the puck and win faceoffs?

As teams head into their bye week, the Bruins to keep up the pace in the second half of the season. For the black and gold, clinching a spot in the playoffs is the ultimate goal. And having a team with so many skilled, hungry players has become a “luxury” for Coach Bruce Cassidy; a luxury that the fans have been waiting for.

A DIFFERENT FEEL FROM THE 2011 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS

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The start of the Bruins season has been an emotional drain on Boston hockey fans. Failing to scrounge up back-to-back wins at any point during the season, the Bruins have not looked how we hoped. They give us hope, only to let us down a few nights later. What’s the problem with this years team? Why don’t we see the same championship potential from a Bruins team, consisting of many whom actually played on the 2011 Stanley Cup championship team? Let’s break it down…

A LACK OF CHEMISTRY

One thing common among all championship teams, really for any sport, is a strong chemistry on the ice, field, etc.  When I was growing up near Chicago, I was blessed to be smothered with countless hockey championships, at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.  The trust between defensive pairing, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, was immense. It created a contagious chemistry across all red sweaters.  Although superstars themselves alone, combining offensive forces like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp, created a similar atmosphere on the other side of the puck.  With a prolific group of athletes constantly on the same page, winning championships was inevitable. This transitioned into an era of greatness for the city of Chicago, something unseen since the Michael Jordan Era.

Similarly, the Bruins Stanley Cup championship run of 2011, was crafted largely in part due to their chemistry on the ice. The Bruins were led that postseason by David Krjeci and Patrice Bergeron, both whom flirted with two dozen total postseason points, but more important was the supporting cast these two leaders were surrounded by on the ice. Guys like Nathan Horton and Michael Ryder complimented the bigger names, creating a swift and efficient play-style. This season, the Bruins have lacked the chemistry needed to compete at championship caliber. Guys like Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk need to contribute heavily in order to get point hoarders, like Marchand and David Pastrnak, more opportunities as the season continues.

FLUCTUATION BETWEEN THE PIPES

No one is expecting Tuukka Rask to put up the absurd numbers we saw from Tim Thomas during his Conn Smythe Trophy year.  The immaculate display from Thomas throughout both the regular and post-season, is something Bruins fans will never forget. Thomas led the league during the regular season, in both Goals Against Average (2.00) and Save Percentage (.938) (ESPN.com) He then went on to somehow improve those figures in the postseason (1.98) & (.940) respectively (ESPN.com.) Thomas was a vacuum cleaner for Boston, and played probably the biggest role in the B’s brining home their first Stanley Cup in nearly four decades.

This season Rask is not expected to, and will not, eclipse the level of play that Thomas did in the 2010-11 season. In order for the Bruins to contend in the Atlantic Division this season, he will need to improve.  Rask is currently 18th in Goals Against Average this season, with a mediocre 2.73 GAA (ESPN.com.) Rask has shown his ability this season on more than one occasion. He clearly has the power to prevail in net, he just needs to on a consistent basis. I appreciate that the defense has failed him time-to-time, and fortifying defensively is a priority moving forward. Hopefully, Rask can stay healthy, as the concussion earlier in the year was obviously a setback.

SPEAKING OF INJURIES…

They need to cease!  Injuries are part of the game and that’s just the way it is. In order to establish chemistry, and build any momentum, guys need to stay healthy. It seems everyday I wake up to an alert of a new player being out for a couple games or longer. Injuries play a huge role in the sport. With Marchand and Krejci both out for a bit, it’s going to be hard to collect points in the division. How the younger skaters deal with the injuries of the big name players determines a lot moving forward. Will they take the challenge, and prove their potential? Or drop the ball on an opportunity to show Boston fans what they’ve got? Only time will tell.

Stanley Cup champions are not built in the playoffs, they are built in the offseason. They grow from October, through the final puck drop in June. If the Bruins expect to be playing into the late spring, a lot of building blocks need to be put in place.