Final score: Los Angeles 2, Bruins 0
Thomas' play went to waste/By S. Bradley
Regardless of how shy of his top form he has been so far this season, Marc Savard is still a major cog in the Bruins’ offense that is missed when he’s out.
That doesn’t give the Bruins any excuse for their lackluster performance tonight in Los Angeles.
It was appropriate that the Kings scored both of their goals from the top of the blue paint in the crease because that’s exactly where some of the Bruins’ biggest forwards should’ve been but weren’t throughout Boston’s 2-0 loss.
Three Bruins power plays came and went without a score, and at even strength the Bruins were mostly a one-and-done team against Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
The UMass product finished his fifth win in five tries against Boston with 34 saves.
Here’s a glance at the box score:
•Ryan Smyth and Andrei Loktionov scored the Los Angeles goals.
•Tim Thomas’ 32-save performance went to waste.
•Milan Lucic was the Bruins’ shots leader with five. Nathan Horton and Blake Wheeler, two forwards in major scoring slumps, fired one shot on net apiece.
As for Wheeler, we have to forget his first season. All we see is his decent break-out (it was decent, not staggering) and get all worried about his progression. That team was a phenomena and he wouldn’t be the first player to give a hint of what he brings before taking a step back to find his complete game.
Having said that, he is a far more rounded player now, starting to look like a bigger Bergeron (I’m not saying as good, just similar but bigger). He’s always had the skating ability and the shot. Now he’s added a great defensive element and just needs to find some confidence. Nothing new for a young big man.
Big men are generally slow starters. Being big was good enough alone to help them climb the ranks to the NHL, but finding ways to use your body at this level takes time.
I will compare him to my 2 favorite big men. Brooks Laich and Ryan Kesler.
Laich and Wheeler both entered the league at 22. In his third season, Laich had very comparable numbers to Wheeler. Wheeler is on pace for 36 points. Laich had 37.
As for Kesler, his numbers are also quite comparable. He also had 37 points in his 3rd season. For you astrologists out there, him and Wheeler are even born on the same day. Here’s hoping that weighs in eventually haha…
The biggest key to Wheeler for me is that he only comes at $2.2million. A steal in my opinion and having his contract expire at the end of this year is perfectly timed for us to get him again at an affordable price before his numbers start to climb like the big men I’ve just compared him to.
I agree Stu. Savard may not have been living up to what we expect from him, but he still is a player who forces the opposition to take notice every time he plays. Playing with Horton and Ryder, producing or not, they drew the top checking line of every team we played. This left the Krecji and Bergy line’s able to seize opportunities vs lesser opponents.
It also leaves us more vulnerable on the third line. Though much of the blame for the second goal should go to Ference thinking he was Dan Boyle, that line took the only minus of the night.
What’s the story with Wheller? Is he playing to potential? I feel like his big body is going to waste. Anyone else feel this way?
To all the people who think the savard loss is no big deal this game is the first exhibit to the contrary. It is all about match-ups. With Savvie in, even in semi-full condition (he was definitely getting better and better) he creates a lot more difficulty for opposing coaches. With Bergie, Krejci and Savard there are three talents which could legitimately justify top line checking from the other team. But with one of the two missing it makes it that much easier. Add to this the inconsistency of Krejci this year (which games he will show up for is a gamble) and it hurts a hell of a lot to have this guy out.
The powerplay will also suffer. It was a lot better lately (5 for 19 of something) but with savard out expect some frustrating moments and a lack of dynamism.
Further, Seguin doesnt seem ready, I suggest trying Wheeler at center again. But neither can make up for the loss even by half.
I can’t stand the dump and chase on the PP! It seems like such a wasted effort! The other team peels it off the boards and usually just dumps it out and the B’s have to constantly reset. And when they do get into formation, it’s like they’re waiting to make the perfect play that doesn’t happen. Matt, is there any way to see how they rank on PP shots to PP time? I’d be shocked if they weren’t in the bottom half of the league in that stat.
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