Thomas/By S. Bradley
You can call it a Carolina hat trick for Tim Thomas.
The Bruins goaltender stopped 25 of 27 shots tonight to follow up his All-Star Game victory from Sunday in Raleigh with another victory — one that actually counts — tonight in that same RBC Center, 3-2, over the Hurricanes.
Combined with a 3-2 road win over the Hurricanes Jan. 18, Thomas earned three victories on RBC Center ice this season. His save percentage in the two regular-season contests was an astounding .944 (68-for-72). He also beat Carolina three out of four times in the season series.
Thomas’ All-Star rival Cam Ward made 30 saves on 33 shots for Carolina.
Here’s a glance at the rest of the box score:
•Boston’s offense came from Nathan Horton, Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron. Horton snapped a 10-game goal drought, while Paille scored his first goal of the season (24 games played).
•Defenseman Zdeno Chara led the Bruins with eight shots on goal. He recorded two assists, was plus-1 and helped keep Carolina star Eric Staal off the score sheet.
•Former Bruins winger Sergei Samsonov recorded two assists for the ‘Canes.
•Tyler Seguin skated just one third-period shift and eight for the entire game for a total of 6:37 of ice time.
So far Seguins performance looks like his Dunkin Donuts comercial: weak! I like the kid and I am hoping for a Stamkos kind of guy out of him. But still he hasn´t show much lately. I wish he could start trowing his weight around maybe a couple of explosive shifts for once could change his pace and turn things around. For now I am not very concerned but we will need 4 lines in the playoffs.
Give credit where it is due. The comments got significantly better since my last post.
Smaha, I agree with the point you are making, but come on, at 18/19 he just isn’t physically capable of taking the beating yet, that being first on the puck dictates. I think an injury at this point in his career mortgages his future more then being forced (either mentally or by the Claude) to learn the defensive ropes first.
Agreed on the 3rd man high system….but it’s not happenstance that every other center on the team rarely assumes the F3 role. If his forte isn’t defense to begin with, might as well play to your strength and be first guy in. And you are correct we should not consider the Carolina game as he was shuffled around and only played what seemed like 2 shifts at center / 5 or so on wing.
I’m not saying to give Seguin more time just don’t bench him. He has to learn and the best way is on the ice… not sitting watching the game. His 11-13 minutes was fine just don’t bench him. Watching is different than doing. Practice makes perfect even if the practice is during a real game.
Smaha, part of it has to do with his positioning, but most of it has to do with the 3rd man high system. If he’s not going into the corners, or deep to dig out pucks (F1), or to support that player (F2), then he’s the F3, who takes a defensive/high slot position, or at least higher in the offensive zone trying to create a triangle. Now could he be more aggressive in that role? Yes, but with all the instruction he’s been getting, not to mention getting benched, he’s most likely taking the safe route/being hyper vigilant to not get himself out of defensive positioning.
Plus, I think he was playing wing last night, not center, that’s going to change his positioning a bit too…
Funny KDC- I found the piece, thanks. While I don’t doubt some opponents aren’t willing to drop the gloves, I too think he has lost some of his edge. He does hit, but he doesn’t crush people anymore and I think his hands are made out of glass. He also seems a bit disinterested, perhaps he’s in love.
Angie-Kalman did an article on the 30th answering the mailbag where he had a couple of valid points regarding Lucic’s style of play. Still Lucic seems to have lost some of his edge. He doesn’t seem as physical in front of the net. It could be do to maturing or it could be that opposing players, like Kalman said, don’t want to give Looch the chance because they know he’ll take it. Or, maybe he became a Jehovah Witness and isn’t allowed to raise his fists in anger.
Seguin is a year younger than skinner. From 19 to 20 an athlete can gain tons of size and strength. Let’s save those comparisons for when Seguin is 20. As for his play : he looks like a 19 year old who is learning the NHL game right now. Get off his back we won and we are in first place, the experience he is getting even in limited minutes is invaluable.
Just have to laugh at most of these comments.
I’m going to just shake my head and not repeat myself.
The issue I have with Seguin isn’t confidence, it’s poor positioning. Centers are most effective when they assume a “point guard” approach and drive to the puck. I’m not sure why, but Seguin plays high in the defensive zone while the other centers (Bergeron and Krejci especially) circle way back and fight along the boards to help out the D and start the rush by making the outlet pass to the wing or skating it out / dumping the puck. In the offensive zone…same thing. Seguin plays high while the other centers are down low trying to get the puck on their sticks so they can drive the play and feed their linemates.
A center’s job is to geturnouver puck, direct traffic and make plays.
Having Seguin play between the tops of the circle in both zones is more of a power play position for a center and prevents him for doing what a center needs to do. He’s like a ghost out there where he does this. Half the time, the tv cameras don’t even have him in picture, whereas a guy like Bergeron is always in the middle of the play along the boards. Is Seguin being told to do this? If he doesn’t have the ability yet to create turnovers, get the puck on his stick and make plays, might as well play him at wing where he can at least take an outlet pass, use some speed and get himself into shoting lanes. Am I missing something?
GR90, that’s a bit harsh. Seguin just turned 19 years old. Besides his game is different than Skinners or Deuchene’s. Those guys are more finishers than playmakers and Seguin’s game is more about playmaking. Its going to take him some time, it may not even happen for him this year. Patience is a virtue.
It must suck to see your former teammate from the minors embarrass you in terms of production, poise, and toughness when you were drafted before him. I want to feel bad for Seguin, and to cheer for him when he succeeds, but there is no excuse for being a wimp in the NHL. No excuse. You get paid to make things happen, they simply aren’t handed to you. Good thing this isn’t ten years ago, when he would have to see Scott Stevens four times a year… or even last year, when he would have to see Andy Sutton six times. Seguin might crap his pants. He needs to find a sense of solidarity and confidence from within, and I know it might come with maturity, but right now it seems like he’s caving himself in because people aren’t gratifying him like last year in junior’s.
KDC – What mail bag article? I’ve been wondering the same thing about Looch this year.
Forget about the Lucic question. I just read the mailbag article.
It was a good win for the Bruins. They went into Carolina and took two points from a team who needs them more. I think Seguin should get more minutes, but the kid isn’t giving you anything. No physical game, no speed through the neutral zone, and no skill to carry the puck over the blue line and deep in the zone. I don’t see any confidence in his game right now.
On a side note, does anyone know what’s up with Lucic? He dropped the gloves last night but looked like he didn’t want to fight. Is he trying to find his place in the game? I know it took Neely a bit to find balance between scoring and fighting, but Lucic looks to be someone totally different. Definitely not the same player who beat up a Canadian in center ice who then looked at his bench and the crowd and got everyone pumped.
Jim, I agree. Based on Seguin’s game last night, he deserved to be stapled to the bench. It may be a confidence issue, but force feeding ice time to a guy whose handling the puck like a hand grenade while nursing a one goal lead in the 3rd period isn’t the time to use the kid gloves.
Skinner was good, and the consensus is right, he plays with a tonne more confidence than Seguin. Its up to Seguin to find it and earn his ice time, which I’m confident he will.
I don’t have issues with how Julien is handling the situation at all.
I don’t know what game you were watching, I thought tha Skinner had a strong game. He may not have scored but he displayed his speed and skill on a number of occasions.
I hope that people don’t misunderstand my comments because I like Seguin and expect him to be a fine player. But, at what point do we stop blaming the coach? Its Julien’s job to put the player that give him the best chance to wine in a position to win. Seguin has to earn his minutes.
skinner wasnt anything special last night.. but he atleast gets in there and gets physical.. im thinking boston is wishing they let seguin play one more year in juniors so that he learned how to be physical.. because as of right now he is not progressing and claude doesnt seem to want to try and help
failers color guy is giving timmah his hart trophy vote.
segzy has to earn the ice time. too bad he ain’t playing like skinner.
What is important here is that the Bruins came away with a nice win. Another solid effort by Thomas. Its good to see Krecji making plays and the d-men as a corps played well. Chara as always but Ferrence and Siedenberg were also strong.
Because of Seguin’s age he can’t be sent to the AHL. He either plays for the Bruins or goes back to his Junior team.
I disagree with the concept that Seguin should be automaticaly be given more ice time. While I would like to see him play more, he is going to have to earn those minutes.
Darn k!
Julien is slowly jamming the dagger into Seguins confidence. Play the boy! No excuses… play him! I know it’s about learning to play but you can’t get that experience on the bench. Put him on the power play (when we get one). Put him in when the game is on the line and we are up by one. Put him on when we are tied. Just put him in coach! If he maes a mistae let him live with the consequences of letting the team and fans down. It will only make him into a better person and player. Loosen the leash! Please.
I was saying the same thing. If the rest of the forwards were doing a great job I could somewhat understand placing him on the bench, but they weren’t. They are killing his development. I’ll be having nightmares tonight of Seguin leaving town after his entry level deal is up just like Kessel.
6:37 of ice time is horrible. If the rest of the forwards were playing great hockey I could understand. If you’re not gonna play the kid send him to Providence so he can actually play hockey.