Bruins hoping new, innovative alignments aid ailing power play
If you ask me, it’s about time the Bruins came up with an outside-the-box plan to fix their power play. Marching out Horton, Johnny Boychuk and Blake Wheeler a million times, but in different alignments, doesn’t make a lot of sense when they’ve been given numerous opportunities to reward the coaching staff for its faith and failed to produce.
Even if this experiment goes awry (Recchi chasing down a 2-on-1 against could be dangerous), at least the staff is earning its pay with some innovation.
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Rex on the point? He skates like a mini 0ne-on-one! Put him where he belongs, as a target in front of the net. Notice though, Bergy is out there on this combination. He will have to UP his roll to cover for the old guy. Let’s hope Marchy and Soup strike it big on the PP!
Rex worked out on a couple PP goals by swapping out with Horton, cycling the puck. That is when Horton knew where the strings were.
They are way to predictable on the PP, 95% of the time, its a shot from the point, because nobodys skating creating screens on the goalie. Kinda scary that we now have to resort to Cambell on the PP, like his effort but really? over Seguin?
Seguin should definitely be out there. If Seguin’s problems are how he plays defensively, then the PP is the perfect fit. He would have ZERO defensive responsibilities. His speed, creativity, passing ability(which, I don’t know if anyone has noticed, is amazing) and terrific shot are just the thing for the Bs crapola PP
Ben, I don’t think Julien is killing his development. I don’t think anyone came in expecting him to score 25 goals. I would be happy if he finished with 10. He will probably finish with more than Wheeler.
I’m all for switching it up and being creative. But, when you have guys who can shoot like Horton and Seguin, they should be on the man advantage.
Hard shots are over-rated. Boychuk has either been hitting shins or plexy. You need guys who can receive and dish quick up top. The idea is to get the box moving and open a seam. A bomb is just an added bonus. Kampfer looks good when he’s not taking chances. Otherwise I like Bergy and not much else. Savard could stretch the box from just about anywhere – ain’t no one just gonna fill those shoes. The key for the Bs is having guys skate in, out and through the box (Marchand could be really good at this) – other wise they don’t have too many guys who can stretch it with the pass.
DCL- Yeah Boychuk brings the bomb, but he seems to have had problems getting the shot off, or on net this season.
BoiseBruin. I like ur combos. Boychuk on the point as well. He has just as hard a shot / if not harder than Chara.
Def need help on the blur line pp. I think Kaberle is too old.Brent Burns from Minnesota?
If I had the power…
PP1 Lucic Krejci Seguin
Chara Kampfer
PP2 Marchand Campbell Recchi
Seidenberg Bergeron
I don’t think Campbell is a perimeter player. He has a pretty good nose for the net. I bet all 7 of his goals have been score around the blue paint.
Ugh Rex on the point, I guess the good news is that the 2nd powerplay unit isn’t likely to get scored on.
Powerplay works best when the Bs are skating. It sucks when they start standing. Simple as that – I can see a call for grit in front of the net, but Campbell and Marchand a more perimeter players. They may not be as skilled as some – but those two never stop moving. I don’t think that combo will score any goals, but hopefully it will impact the rest of the club just through watching them work so hard.
Agreed MCK! Why not???? He would have more room to work his magic and the other experienced players will allow him to show us what he’s got. Julien is killing his development!
The best addition might just be Seguin, good shot , quick release. Earlier we have seen what happens when Recchi and Chara fumble the puck.
No one can explain to me why Seguin isnt on the PP
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folks earning pp time? crazy!
I like this switch, and I’m glad they are rewarding some of the grittier players and giving them a chance to overwhelm the other teams PK with energy and gritty play.
oof. rex looked pretty… bad at the point earlier this season. he doesn’t have a heavy shot and is not great at keeping the puck in the zone, and doesn’t seem to have the quickness on the backend to prevent odd man shorthanded rushes. He’s great up front on the PP, though.
Boychuk has not played very well this season (I’m a little surprised he hasn’t been the 7th man more often and sharing scratches with Stuart) but his shot is still killer. Giving him some PP time might help give him confidence in his game.
I love the changes up front, but Recchi and Chara looks like a seriously dangerous combination. Those aren’t fast guys. Even leaving aside the risk of shorthanded breakaways, just skating back to recover the puck off of a dump in will cost this team serious power play time!