Boston Bruins

[WJenness]

Next round will certainly be interesting... no matter which PA opponent the B's get.

The Flyers got some OUTSTANDING goaltending from Boucher in the first round against the Devils, and they have some injuries (Gagne, Carter) to their top scorers, so if it's BOS - PHI, we may see another crazy low-scoring goalie deciding round...

The Pens on the other hand, have some amazing scoring talent, the obvious ones: Crosby and Malkin, but also Guerin, Gonchar, Staal, Ponikarovski and more... But their goaltending and defense isn't as strong as what the B's just saw with Buffalo. They'll never win a track meet with PIT, but if they can keep their PP hot and not spend too much time in the box (PIT will not go 0 for 22 on the PP), they may be able to make it interesting...

If they play PIT, I'd think PIT in 5 or 6 (but would LOVE to be wrong)... but if they manage to get PHI, I could see the B's winning in 5 if they can keep playing with the energy they played with last night.

-w

 

[mondeo]

The Pens on the other hand, have some amazing scoring talent, the obvious ones: Crosby and Malkin, but also Guerin, Gonchar, Staal, Ponikarovski and more... But their goaltending and defense isn't as strong as what the B's just saw with Buffalo. They'll never win a track meet with PIT, but if they can keep their PP hot and not spend too much time in the box (PIT will not go 0 for 22 on the PP), they may be able to make it interesting...

-w

So the Pittsburgh defense involves actively helping the other team, instead of just standing around waiting for your goalie to bail you out?

 

[Johnskiismore]

WELCOME BACK SAVARD!!!! That was awesome!!!!!

:beer::beer:

 

[smitty77]

WELCOME BACK SAVARD!!!! That was awesome!!!!!

:beer::beer:

That was awesome. But it never should have gone to OT. The last two goals Philly scored were the result of some shoddy defense. They keep playing like that and they won't go far.

Rask was HUGE in that game, and big props to Recchi who looked like a player half his age.

Hopefully they can come out firing again and take two games before they go on the road.

 

[WJenness]

That was awesome. But it never should have gone to OT. The last two goals Philly scored were the result of some shoddy defense. They keep playing like that and they won't go far.

Rask was HUGE in that game, and big props to Recchi who looked like a player half his age.

Hopefully they can come out firing again and take two games before they go on the road.

Agreed.

I was surprised with the defensive lapses that lead to the Philly goals.

They looked more like the B's of early season than the B's of the Sabres series.

I hope they pick it up.

Recchi was going at Pronger all night... and while I appreciate the tenacity and encourage the enthusiasm with which he was playing, If he makes Pronger snap, it may not be pretty for him...

Someone recently said to me that they expect when all is said and done, that Rask will have had more of an impact in hockey than Tom Brady will have had in football. I'd love it if he ends up being right because we all know what impact Tom Brady has had during his tenure... I think it's a bit of a crazy statement to make at this time, but only time can tell if he ends up being right.

I'm glad they were able to score another goal on the PP, as it appears that they've found some answers there to a situation that was sorely lacking in the latter half of the regular season, but 6 PPG against the Sabres and 1 today is a very positive thing. PHI seemed much more aggressive on the PK than Buffalo did, and I think they adjusted well to that.

Hopefully they can get their PK on lock down after allowing 2 PPGs to the Flyers today... I didn't expect them to shut out the Flyers like they did the Sabres, but allowing two per game is something they can't do.

Such a fitting end to have Savard score the game winner. I'm really glad he's back.

The Sturm injury has me worried... It looks like he could have done something disastrous to his knee, I hope I'm wrong.

I'm looking forward to Monday's game (especially so because I have tickets ), hopefully the level of energy is similar to today's game.

GO B'S!

-w

 

[smitty77]

Majorly jealous that you're going. I entered Mistress Carrie's contest Friday on WAAF for tix to game 1 but didn't win. This team is starting to get me excited to be a B's fan again. I'm a die hard, but man it was getting hard to get my hopes up for postseason success.

I'm cautiously optimistic regarding Rask. He looks like the real deal, but we heard and saw much of the same with Andrew Raycroft, who won rookie of the year in 03-04 but has been mediocre at best since. I want to see what he does in years 2,3, and 4. And Tim Thomas certainly lost some of last year's magic. Looking back, I wonder if they gave him such a sweet deal thinking Rask might take 3 or 4 years to develop. Me-thinks they might be looking to move Thomas in the off season. If this kid goes far in the playoffs I don't see him too anxious to play backup, nor do I see Thomas being willing to ride the pine for the next 2 or 3 years.

I saw news reports that Sturm is done for the season and while he was playing well, I don't think he's irreplaceable.

And the biggest surprise (for me) has been the penalty killing unit. Aside from being just effective, they are downright dangerous on the ice. It sucks for the other team to have to game plan for scoring threats when you have the man advantage. But Bergeron and Recchi showed they could generate consistent pressure in the offensive zone which really seemed to upset any kind of smooth breakout by the opposition. Now if the defense can take car of business down low we should do okay.

 

[gorgonzola]

brieres game tying goal exposed all the b's flaws from one end of the ice to the other - hopefully the fly guys will capitalize more on those tonight and come home even!

 

[Johnskiismore]

:evil:

We'll see.......

 

[Johnskiismore]

NICE!! Up two games, don't think I took a breath for the last sixty seconds!

 

[deadheadskier]

incredible play by Pronger to save that open netter.

For a team that played like dead man skating all season long, the playoffs have been a huge and very pleasant surprise!

 

[gorgonzola]

bite THIS finger!
great game though, flyers looked out of gas after those two big pk's...

 

[smitty77]

Is anyone else tired of how great the announcers portray Briere to be. Sure he can score goals, but I haven't seen a bigger defensive liability since Gretzky. And this kid is no Wayne Gretzky on offense.

I really loved the segment on how he didn't let the defensive miscues get him down and stepped up to tie the game for his team. Without those "miscues" (my grandma could have played better D) his team would have been up by 1 or 2 goals. He looks absolutely lost inside his own blue line. The 7 y/o kids I coach in street hockey do a better job of back-checking.

 

[gorgonzola]

hey, he and richards have had a great series, we need a few more to step up though. tonight his HUGE, we'll see if home ice is the ticket to this one

 

[gorgonzola]

well, guess not :sad: just goes to show how far good goaltending, d and the pk can get ya

 

[4aprice]

well, guess not :sad: just goes to show how far good goaltending, d and the pk can get ya

Gorgonzola:

Didn't see the game last night but read that there were many empty seats at Wachovia last night. Whats up with that? Philly fans have always been hardcore and filled the place even in the worst of times. I can't imagine its because they gave up on the team after 2 games. I know hockey tickets are super $ but still thats not like Flyer fans at all.

Even with the injuries I'm surprised its 3-0.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[WJenness]

Krejci is out for the rest of the series and probably season with a broken wrist :-(.

Not good for the B's.

Losing both Sturm and Krejci really sucks.

-w

 

[gorgonzola]

Gorgonzola:

Didn't see the game last night but read that there were many empty seats at Wachovia last night. Whats up with that? Philly fans have always been hardcore and filled the place even in the worst of times. I can't imagine its because they gave up on the team after 2 games. I know hockey tickets are super $ but still thats not like Flyer fans at all.

Even with the injuries I'm surprised its 3-0.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I heard that too - seems strange. I know the building was pretty quiet but then after hearing the noise up in montreal earlier this week everywhere seems quiet! the phillies were playing and had like their 54th straight sellout so that may have had something to do with it.

edit: i checked attendance -19,688 which is just shy of the 20K+ max, not real sure what the versus folks were talking about (again) maybe they thought all the orange crush shirts were seats...

its funny the series lead of 3-0 and last nights 4-1 score are in no way indicitive of the matchup and level of play on either side - just the way the puck bounces. i want to see this thing go at least 6 games :smash:

 

[Johnskiismore]

Tomorrow, all day and night off from work, my B-day, Bruins can seal the deal, that's a present!

:beer:

 

[smitty77]

well, guess not :sad: just goes to show how far good goaltending, d and the pk can get ya

The Bruins had no business winning that game (note: I am a diehard Bruins fan) the way Philly was taking it to them, especially in the 2nd period. But Rask was HUGE in that net. The playoffs are all about goaltending and team defense. The Vs announcer said it best late in the 3rd: "The Bruins are putting on a clinic on how to shutdown the neutral zone." To do deep in the post season you need a goaltender who can carry the team by himself and steal a game for you - I dare say we saw Rask do just that in game 3.

I don't see this being a sweep, Philly has too much pride to let that happen in their own building. But I think the B's can wrap it up in 5 games on home ice.

 

[gorgonzola]

gonna go at least 6 mebbe 7 if boucher doesn't let in any more softees!