Tag Archives: Tampa Bay Lightning

Jake DeBrusk fight along the boards

Making The Case: Jake DeBrusk To Lead Bruins In Points This Season

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Jake DeBrusk showed that he was a star in the making during his rookie season. As the season progressed, his game evolved and his impact was felt almost every night. He proved to mesh well with David Krejci and was not afraid of sacrificing his body. In the playoffs, the former first round pick brought his game to the next level. Next season, the expectations will be higher for the second line winger. DeBrusk has the talent to be an elite scorer and will lead the Bruins in points next season. You heard it here first.

Offensive ability

In his first season, DeBrusk had 16 goals and 23 assists. He finished sixth in points on the team – only one point behind Krejci and four behind fellow rookie Danton Heinen. However, DeBrusk played in seven games fewer than Heinen due to injuries and there’s no debating that he has more offensive upside.

There are multiple reasons why the former first-round pick can lead this team in scoring. Last season, he played in nine games in which he amassed more than one point. On the powerplay, DeBrusk was as efficient as they come, netting two goals and collecting nine points. He also possesses a tremendous shot and displayed the ability to create his own scoring chances.

But it’s the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet that really set DeBrusk apart. The film doesn’t lie; he is always looking  for the puck and when he doesn’t have it, he is viciously fighting for it. It’s all heart with this kid, a rare and unteachable trait in many rookies.

DeBrusk

Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk . (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Excellence in The Playoffs

The former first-round pick truly broke out in the playoffs. In the first round, he torched the opposition with five goals and seven total points. DeBrusk continued to impress on the powerplay, as four of his seven points came on the man advantage. In Game Seven against Toronto, DeBrusk showed just how far he had come. The left winger scored two goals, including the game-winning wrister in which he took advantage of an out-of-position Toronto defenseman and beat Frederik Andersen through the five-hole.

In six of those seven games, he recorded at least one point. He was one of the main reasons the Bruins advanced to the second round.

DeBrusk

Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper- USA TODAY Sports

The Future is Only Brighter

In the second round, the Bruins were eliminated by Tampa Bay in disappointing fashion. Their playoff exit will serve as motivation for next season, and DeBrusk will be ready to roll. He went from being a rookie to arguably one of the Bruins most important pieces in less than a full season.

Next year, he will surprise everybody and lead the team in points. With a year of experience under his belt, the sophomore campaign will be an exciting sequel. This past season, Brad Marchand had the most points on the team. In the 2018-2019 season, look for the second line winger to rise up among the ranks.

Game Two

Grading the Bruins’ Game Two Performance

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@demalia_lorenzo Game Two Grade

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

Game Two

Photo Credit: Eric Russo

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

Grade: D

@JamieGatlin1217 Game Two Grade

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

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

Game Two

Photo Credit: Douglas R. Clifford/ Tampa Bay Times

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

@Lizzie88 Game Two Grade

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

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

Game Two

Photo Credit: NHL. Com

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

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

 

Holden

Bruins Acquire Holden from Rangers

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Bruins Acquire Holden

Yesterday the Bruins acquired a defenseman from the New York Rangers, but his name is not Ryan McDonagh. The Bruins traded for Nick Holden from the Rangers in exchange for Rob O’Gara and a third-round pick in the 2018 draft. So far this season he has three goals and nine assists. O’Gara didn’t seem to have a future with the Bruins. He has spent the majority of the season in the AHL and has only appeared in eight games for the Bruins.

Holden

Photo Credit: Brad Penner- USA TODAY Sports

Rangers Fire Sale Begins

Holden is not the number one defenseman Bruins fans wanted. In a letter to fans the Rangers management hinted at a rebuild. They are expected to explore trades for some of their top players including Rick Nash and McDonagh. The Bruins were seen as a landing spot for McDonagh, but the cost would have included talented forward Jake Debrusk. By setting the market at a third-round pick for Holden the Rangers could get more for their other players. While Holden struggled in New York this year there is hope he could rebound in Boston.

Holden

Photo Credit: John Wilcox

How Holden Fits on the Bruins

In New York Holden was used as a top defenseman. In Boston he won’t be asked to fill that role, which could make him more effective. He is expected to be used on the third defensive unit. Last year Holden had a career year finishing with 11 goals and 23 assists.

The Bruins made this move to improve their depth. Last year the Bruins lost Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo to injuries at the end of the season. As a result they had to play Ottawa in the playoffs without two of their top four defensemen. Holden isn’t game changer, but he provides the Bruins with needed depth that they didn’t have last year.

Holden

Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/ Getty Images

What Else Will the Bruins Do?

With the NHL trade deadline five days away, teams will be busy. The Bruins have needs but will be reluctant to part with their young players. They shouldn’t be expected to make big moves but small ones to improve depth. In the offseason Sweeney trusted the youth. Now that the kids have arrived, and surpassed expectations Sweeney will be cautious to break up this team’s chemistry. The Bruins sit one point behind the Tampa Bay Lighting for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and won’t sacrifice the future for the present.

Bruins Interested in Ryan McDonagh

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The New York Rangers have made it clear to the other thirty NHL teams that they will be looking to sell at the deadline. Rick Nash has been the main focus of must trade rumors due to his expiring contract. However, over the weekend Elliot Freedman reported that the Bruins may be in on Ryan McDonagh. The 28 year old defenseman has one year remaining on his contract, and by far is the biggest name on the block right now.

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Should the B’s Be Interested?

This question is genuinely laughable. Of course they should be! Outside of Hank Lundqvist, McDonagh is the Rangers’ best player. The Rangers captain is one of the best and most dependable defensive defenseman in the NHL. In more than half of his NHL seasons, the veteran defenseman has received Norris consideration (five out of eight). In his eight seasons McDonagh has never had a negative plus minus and has never finished with anything below a +11. Any team who looks at themselves and genuinely believes they have a shot at a title should be blowing up the Rangers’ phone. At the young age of 28 McDonagh is the exact type of player a contending team needs. A tough grind-it-out defenseman with offensive capabilities and great leadership qualities.

What Is It Going to Take?

Now the real question about Ryan McDonagh is what is the price to land him. It has been reported that the Rangers would be willing to trade their captain but at the right cost. From what I have been hearing the Rangers are going to have to be blown away by a team. Which means at minimum a first round pick, a high level prospect, and some cap compensation can be expected to make the money work. For the Bruins that would be roughly their upcoming first rounder, and a player like Jake Debrusk to get the deal done. Someone like Adam McQuaid would probably go in the deal to balance some of the money. As well as clear a spot on the backend for McDonagh. Unlike most players who are traded at the deadline.

McDonagh is signed for another year after this one which makes him a very valuable asset for a contending team. The Tampa Bay Lightning are expected to make a very strong push for the veteran defenseman. The Lightning are all in and may be more willing to pay the lofty price. It is going to be up to Sweeney to try to compete with the Lightning both on and off the ice in this case.

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Verdict

Don Sweeney should call and get a feel for what the Rangers are doing. They may be asking high but will be expected to accept less. But Tampa Bay has shown great interest, and there seems to be some traction there. So it seems unlikely the B’s are going to be able to get McDonagh for anything less than full price. In that case I want nothing to do with that deal. The cost is just too much for a team in the B’s that still has some growing to do. Plus another defenseman would be nice, but is not a necessity. I would lean towards the smaller trades such as Patrick Maroon, who seems to be the guy right now out of Edmonton. Sweeney needs to realize that the plan is the next five years, not five months.

State of the Boston Bruins Heading into the Bye Week

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The Boston Bruins have played excellent hockey heading into the bye week. Even with the hiccup in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, the Bruins have not lost a game in regulation since mid December. In their last 23 games the Bruins are 17-3-3 and have moved all the way into second place in the Atlantic Division. Now with five days off ahead of them and three games in hand on the third place Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins are firmly cemented into a playoff spot.

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Offensive Emergence

Coming into the season the Bruins’ roster posed several questions. One of the big concerns focused on the depth, considering most of the unknown young players. After a slow couple of months plagued by injuries, the roster has developed into one of the most formidable in the NHL. Offensively, the Bruins have rapidly evolved into one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Not because of overall talent.  They have plenty of that.  But rather their performance as a team. Currently the Bruins are averaging 3.28 goals per game. This ranks sixth in the NHL and third in the Eastern Conference.

Led by the dynamic trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastranak, the Bruins have one of the best top lines in the entire NHL. However, the depth of the Bruins allows Bruce Cassidy to keep his forwards fresh by rotating through four productive lines. Outside of Brad Marchand, who averages 20:01 TOI per game, no other forward on the Bruins plays more than 20 minutes a game. This has been the key to the Bruins’ recent emergence in the standings. They are getting contributions from places that many people, including opponents, would not expect. Lately, the fourth line has developed more of a scoring touch while Riley Nash has provided an offensive jolt. Even Ryan Spooner is starting to play to his potential offensively.

 

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Impressive Defense

The story does not end with the offense.  The Bruins rank third in the NHL in goals allowed per game, giving up a mere 2.55.  This also ranks second in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Lighting.  Like the Bruins offense, the defensive production has not been from a singular player.  It’s a group contribution. Only one defenseman in the Bruins starting six has a minus rating. That defender is Torey Krug, who is only a minus one and  whose playing has improved. The other five: Charlie McAvoy +14, Zdeno Chara +20, Brandon Carlo +8, Kevin Miller +10, and Matt Grzelcyk +13, combine for an impressive +65 rating.

On top of that, the B’s have found themselves a very versatile set of blue liners. Chara and Miller provide some veteran experience and toughness to the back end. McAvoy, Krug, and Grzelcyk provide an offensive threat that true contenders need. Lastly, Carlo adds some needed defensive responsibility to the young group of defensemen. While not perfect, the Bruins defense core has made a complete 180.   They’ve moved from one of the worst in the NHL only a few years ago to one of the most reliable. Don Sweeney deserves a lot of credit for that one.

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Tuukka Rask

As Tuukka Rask put it so eloquently last night against the Penguins, in a playoff-like game he played like “horses–t”. This hiccup in Pittsburgh snapped a personal six-game winning streak for the Finland native in which he had posted an otherworldly .963 save percentage.  Tuukka did make some eye-opening saves to get the Bruins into the extra period.  But he got beat on shots that he admits should have stopped.

Even with the poor performance last night Tuukka Rask has been the best goaltender in the NHL for the past month. In Rask’s last 13 starts the Bruins have earned at least one point, going 11-0-2. This extends the longest streak of Tuukka’s career. In December, the Bruins earned 22 points in 14 games.  This pushed them into contention for a top spot in the East led by Rask. During December, Rask has nine wins and two shutouts, along with a .955 save percentage and a video game like 1.22 goals allowed average.

Benched for longtime backup Anton Khudobin earlier in the season, Rask is the reason for the Bruins recent emergence to contenders. Every player needs a kick sometimes to get motivated. Bruce Cassidy knew just how to get the message through to Rask.  If he can play at the same level as in December, then Boston has a chance against Tampa in a seven-game series. There is still plenty of hockey to be played in the long season. Up to this point everyone has been wrong about Boston. No one could have predicted that they would be this good. Lets see how far the rejuvenated Bruins can go.