Call it the Cup hangover. Call it line shuffeling and lack of chemistry. Call it the first road trip. Call it whatever you would like to, but I am going to call it what it is. Lack of effort. No one can sit in front of their televisions or buy a ticket to these games and be happy with the brand of hockey we have seen so far. Is Carolina horrible, no. Is Cam Ward a great goaltender, yes. So if the B's lose a hard fought game then this is not the kind of reaction they get. However, when this team comes out flat, again, and gets throttled in the effort department, then yes, we get a little cranky. Ward made some really incredible saves, and an inch or two one way or the other the Bruins could have found themselves with a win. That being said, this team is losing almost every puck battle. Their possesion is awful, they are not dumping pucks in behind the defense and getting in on the forecheck. There power play continues to be stale and their entries and breakouts are missing more than connecting. There is one player hitting people, Benoit Pouliot. One player! On the big bad bruins, one guy! I do not know if it is because of the cup and all the hoopla sorrounding it, or if these guys really believe they are a better, flashier offensive team then they are, but they need to stop trying to be so pretty. This team is a bully, grinder type of team. Great goaltending, team defense, and that "we are going to hit everything that moves" mentatlity are the only reasons they won the cup last year, and the only style that will lend them success again. I hate to break it to Milan Lucic, as he is my favorite player, but he doesnt score 30 goals on most teams. He needs to park himself in front of the goalie, screen and bang and get some dirty goals. Where is Horton and who is wearing that 18 sweater? Now I know it is not all that first lines fault, and yes you must allow time to get used to playing together, but that line is not doing the little things right now that make them successful.
On that topic, Tyler Seguin needs off that line and Bergy needs to be moved up. That is not a dig at Tyler. He played and has played very good so far this year. I believe Lucic and Horton enjoy playing with a pass first guy, Krejci and Bergeron, as opposed to a guy who loves open ice, puts on the afterburners and fires on net. Quite honestly, there were a few times last night on the rush were Seg's had to shoot because he got on net so quick none of his line mates were there for support. Bergy would slow the game down and allow for more time in the zone. The only draw back to that change is the fact that Marchand and Bergy have some definite chemistry, and are the line doing most of the scoring this young season. Last year Marshy and Seg's did spend some time together on that 3rd line and looked pretty good. Hey Claude, put Seguin on the power play!
I touched on it briefly, but I have been thoroughly impressed with the play of Benoit Pouliot. I did not like him in Montreal (go figure) and thought there could be some issues in the locker room with him after the whole David Krejci situation last year. He has not only brought the physical play and looks to make solid body contact on every shift, but almost every scrum has had him right in the middle of the action. I can particularly remember him standing up for Marchand twice and Bergeron once, a sure way to gain respect from the guys in the room. It is also important to remember this guy was the #4 overall pick by the Wild back in 2005. He was a member of the 2006 World Junior Champion Canadian team. Pouliot has tremendous upside and may thrive in this physical play market. See Shawn Thornton. Thorty has been trying to engage some opposing players in fisticuffs, but no one has wanted to dance yet. I will give him a pass because it is obvious he is trying to play his role and is taking advantage of his limited ice time.
The Bruins will continue their road trip Saturday night in Chicago against the very talented Blackhawks. They will certainly need a full 60 minute effort and a strong defensive showing. The Blackhawks are deep and Big Z will have his work cut out for him trying to match up with Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Hossa all night. Chicago can role any combination of that line and supporting cast and give any NHL club nightmares. The Blackhawks are pretty good defensively as well, but showed they can get a bit flustered with a heavy dose of hard nosed forecheck repeatedly last year. For the Bruins to be successful, they need to dump and chase, get pucks deep and make Keith and Seabrook constantly look over their shoulders to see whose coming. Crawford has won the starting spot in net, but is certainly not a 60 game a year goalie. The Bruins need to put a lot of rubber on net, see if they can't chase Crawford and get to Turco, who does not have great career numbers against the B's. There has been no word on Adam McQuaid or update on Krejci. If McQuaid cannot go, Matt Bartkowski will play in his spot, which will be a big drop off in physicality, leaving a void to be filled. I expect a much better effort Saturday night and hope to see them come strong out of the gates and take it to Chicago like other teams have been taking it to them. This is a real measuring stick game as Chicago is a top 3 favorite coming out of the west in the hunt for the Cup again this year. Saturday night at 8:30 the puck drops, and lets hope we see the Bruins we love to root for.
First off, great blog...your doing a great job...I do agree that there is a lack of effort on the B's end, but one thing I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with is the chemistry aspect of your argument. The Bruins didn't make any overwhelming moves this off-season, and basically have the same core of players so chemistry shouldn't be an issue, i would say that they just haven't found their legs yet...they seem to be going through a cup hangover...I think if you give them time to find themselves again they'll be fine...but on a bright side Marchand and Seguin seem to be playing well and in time the rest will fall into place...although I'm not a Bruins fan, I do think they get it right...so no need to panic yet...give it time Boston...swig some gatorade and get a good night sleep and get rid of that hangover...they'll be okay.
ReplyDeleteThank you Captain Canada and welcome to the blog. I definitely see your point about no big off season moves. Last year our lines clicked so well, it was like a lot of times someone would pass without looking and someone else would be there in support. This year everyone looks out of sync, like they havent played together and do not know each others tendencies. Its weird given the fact they were all together last year, like you said. You are also correct it is not time to push the panic button and start calling for Juliens head. Thank you again for the support. Please join, comment, and post to discuss any topic you would like anytime. Who is your team captain canada?
ReplyDeleteThey definitely show a lack of energy except for Seguin, Marchand and Pouliot. Lucic plays as though he expects all of his shots to be goals and seems offended when they don't go in. He shows no follow through and has yet to have any big hits this year. Boychuk had a huge hit last night center ice but it was the only one that I actually remember form the whole night. When you have 34-28 shots on goal in favor of the Canes you know they don't have their act together yet. No panic yet just want to see them get it together because they are a much better team than this.
ReplyDeleteAgreed the lack of effort cannot be hidden, the talk that the Bruins were not the best team last year seems to be true. The reason we loved this team was they weren't the most talented but with effort and physical style they were the best team and deserving of Lord Stanley's Hardware. This is starting to look like a September effort from Fenway. The game in Detroit should give an indication if this team is going to start to get up for games or think they can skate through and make the playoffs. At this rate they won't be able to make the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteWell I think we all agree the effort, the compete factor, needs to improve in order for this team to make another run. I think we can also agree we are only four games into this campaign and shouldnt jump the gun. Marchand touched on it and I think may have given us a glimpse into the locker room. I really do not think these guys got up for Colorado or Carolina. They played hard for Philly and took it to Tampa. I think they expected coast mode to be enough for the "easy two" they were playing next and hopefully have gotten a wake up call.
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