I hear what your saying hux. The Patriots haven't made it easy either. I mean, I love the Red Sox and the Patriots but the Bruins are my #1 Boston team and I want them to enjoy the same success. It kills me to see them this way after all those years when the Bruins and Celtics were the toast of Boston. The Celtics are back but they're my least favorite sport.
I see good things coming for the Bruins as early as next year though. Patrice Bergeron will be back and they'll probably make a play for Marian Hossa. That will make a big difference next year.
It just sucks to see them hold a playoff spot all year just to choke it away with 2 weeks to go in the season. Hopefully something dramatic happens the rest of this game or the rest of the season and they still make it.
YES! We finally get a point off of them!!
NOW GET THE OTHER POINT !!!
I don't know about you guy but I think Julien just cost us a point right there. Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman for the shootout? Come on. You finally get your first opportunity to beat your biggest nemesis and you put 2 defensmen out there? That was stupid. You put Marco Sturm or Chuck Kobasew out there. Or even Glen Murray or David Krecji. Not friggin Wideman! Chara I can see but Wideman? Just stupid. How about Marc Savard even?
I'm totally siked that we at least got a point but I really question the shootout players.
The Bruins play their asses off to get a point and then their coach goes and makes a stupid decision like that.
But still. That point was huge for them.
We play home and home games against the Maple Leafs, Sabres, and Senators. and one other at the Devils to finish off the season.
I still think they can do it. The games against the Maple Leafs and Sabres will be big games to win.
Not sure how anyone can rip you when the numbers, or lack thereof, say it all. We had to give Phil Kessel the benefit out the doubt after his experience with cancer but he hasn't shown the heart like he did last year. If he's hit, he's out of the play completely. He can't juke anyone he's up against. He if were good defensively, it would make up for some of it, but he's not.
Hey Hux...its sure been awhile. I had a bad accident and havent been around. Well it looks like its going to come down to the two games the leafs play your Bruins next week. I hope this message finds you and your family well. Take care bud...Go Leafs
Atlas
Well gentlemen the rumours of my demise have been great exaggerated.
The Bruins on the other hand can't seem to put the fire out, or maybe it's get one lit I don't know.
To Claude Julien - "You're Killin' me SMALLS!!"
People can say what they want about Kessel I am done defending his game, but he's going to be a Bruin for awhile, and with 9 shoot out winners in the last two years. Well the kid has shown you he can score in a shoot out. Your best shooters aren't necesarily your best players. I mean San Jose's Joe Pavelski that is 7 for 11 in shootouts with 33 pts this year, a rookie sure but seriously, what about Cheechoo, Marleau and Thornton? Sorry to bring the last one up, but Letang, not Crosby or Malkin is the guy on the Pens that is 5 for 8. So I don't by the Kessel is bad in a shoot out arguement. The league average is approx a 31% success rate for the year, and even with his miss last night Kessel is 5 for 13, a slight above average shooter.
As for the defensemen, Wideman and Chara? I can't believe we did that last night. Quite possibly the stupidest shootout line up I've seen since 1998 when Marc Crawford and Bob Clarke conspired to let Theoren Fleury, Ray Bourque, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros and Brendan Shanahan shoot instead of Wayne Gretzky, and Steve Yzerman. Sometimes coaches play hunches I get it. But the truth of the matter is, you have to know who your best shooters are an let it fly. It might not always be your top point guy, but for crying out loud a defensemen? I'm going to put my Cam Neely jersey on and head to church on this easter weekend. Normally I wouldn't do this, but at this point I am not sure where else to turn.
I guess it puts a whole new spin on "YOU GOTTA BELIEVE"
If the New York Post can write a letter to Virginia and tell her there is a Santa Claus, why can't I get Bob Ryan or Shaugnessy(Sp?) to tell me the B's are going to make the playoffs, and believe it? Both seems like just as large a stretch at the moment.
Well 7 to go and 2 point lead. Man I love/hate this!!!!
not sure if any of you cats are watching the calgary / minnesota game, but that phaneuf goal was just incredible. he goes the length of the ice and ends up beating a four-on-one situation to score! why the F can't any of our D-men be that incredible??? I'd pack Wideman's bags for him if we could get someone with half the talent of Dionne Phaneuf!
9 ot out 10 skaters in NHL can stick handle like this and go end to end. Some are obvioulsy better than others. It's really up to the D to make sure this doesn't happen. Cause you can't go end to end when you have a big shoulder or hip going into your body.
I totally dis-agree with Chara taking a penality shot. I didn't see it but sounds as if he took a slapper. Worst shot in hockey. Usually goalie is standing still and has most of net blocked. Goalie is standing still because unless you are 1 timing (C button) from a pass you are standing still as well or going straight to the net. Either way you are not making the goalie move before you shoot. With a snap or wrist shot you can make a quick move to get goalie moving. Certainly on a breakaway a slap shot is less than ideal. Deke or snap shot is much better.
Bottom Line: These goalies are so good that unless you can deceive them or they cannot see the puck because someone is in front of them it is very difficult to score in the NHL.
The Bruins still need 9 more points to make it to the the playoffs. My magic # is 93.
Ha ha. The Bruins definitely play mind games. In January, first place in the conference wouldn't have been a stretch, and now.... the Capitals and Sabres are signalling to pass. I think it is well past due for any player to step up and provide offense.... this team just doesn't have the talent. I wish they did, but I hope they squeak into the playoffs, but then I don't know what that would accomplish either....
Julien has coached them to play way above their heads to this point, but some of the players have to simply play better, or find someone else who can get the scoring done. Bergeron will help when he comes back, but man, they really need a sparkplug or something right now to turn this around.
Oh and a little congrats to Sergei Samsonov for turning his game around... he was almost in limbo until the Hurricanes picked him up.... he would have been nice in a B again.
