Julien turns Sunday into a work day for underperforming Bruins
Julien/By S. Bradley
I hesitated to use the term underperforming in the headline because if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I only expect slightly better from this Bruins team than what we’ve seen over the club’s recent 1-3-3 stretch.
Any team with an aggressive forecheck and/or a top-notch goaltender can pretty much dispose of these Bruins, considering their lack of creativity around the net, their lack of desire to go to the dirty areas of the rink and their corps blueliners that treat the puck like it’s on fire when it lands on their stick. More and more it looks like the Bruins needed to add more than just a power-play quarterback and a couple third-line forwards at the trade deadline.
Nonetheless, the Bruins and most of their fans believe there could be some championship mettle buried underneath this ugly shell, so hope is always worth selling. One guy that has to believe his team can perform like a “top-four” club is head coach Claude Julien, whose answer to his team’s recent lackluster play was to make the players report to Ristuccia Arena for a full practice today.
“If our overall game, if your team is playing well, you don’t mind giving days because it’s been a long grind and you’ve got to make sure they get their rest,” Julien said after his team went through a full-contact session at its practice rink. “But when their game isn’t where it should be, you don’t give days off. You work on finding your game.”
Maybe what the Bruins need is boot camp instead of hockey practice, considering the drop-off in their work ethic. Nonetheless, today’s lines lead you to believe that Michael Ryder could be headed back to the press box, where he was for one game before Brad Marchand’s suspension. Ryder skated with Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi on the second line. Marchand is now eligible to rejoin the lineup after sitting out two games.
If scratching Ryder doesn’t wake up some other slumping veterans, maybe it’ll be time to scratch some other high-priced would-be talent in the near future. There’s just 11 games left for Julien to get his message across. He might consider pulling out all the stops.
Otherwise, underperforming will be the wrong term and we’ll learn that this team’s last two weeks are more in line with what it’s capable of.
Its pretty funny how a Canadiens fan tries pretending to be a Bruins fan, but can’t because of the broken english typing
We’re waiting for disappointment again in this year’s playoffs before we burn him at the stake. Or just waiting for a better option.
i’m pretty surprised the pitchforks haven’t been aimed at Julien’s head yet….there is a precedent for firing this guy…look at his career stats
Montreal Canadiens 2002–03 77pts Missed playoffs
2003–04 93pts Lost in second round
2005–06 93pts FIRED
New Jersey Devils 2006–07 107pts Fired before playoffs
Boston Bruins 94pts Lost in first round
2008–09 116pts Lost in second round
2009–10 – 91pts Lost in second round
Seguin definitely earned another start over Ryder, though he was invisible at times. I found myself (while the score was 4-1) yelling at the screen CHECK HIM CHECK HIM!!!! while Seguin was standing right behind the play to grab the puck. At other times, he was doing just that, and getting his feet going for some nice chances and passes. He’s also done better getting to the front of the net. Gotta change Bergeron’s second winger, Recchi and Bergey are getting frustrated at this point, and there is no real reason for Ryder to be on such a hard working line. He only seems to get in the way. And How about that rush by McQuaid? 7th defenseman at the beginning of the season.
What?
man you guys are rong frist of all if claude julien was note the coach of the bruins we will be last place seconde of all we cant win all game we have too take it 1 game at the time and see if we are doying good or note and i am telling boston better beat MTL and the rest of the team and does game that are coming and specialy MTL BECAUSE THEY ARE A BIG UGLY CRY BABYS AND THEY CAN TAKE A HIT GOOOO BRUINS GOOO ALL THE WAY
Ever since Chara’s hit on Pacioretty the Bruins have all but stopped their physical play. This team needs to be physical and win the one-on-one battles EVERY NIGHT! They mostly have avoided getting dirty and fighting for the puck. The team is big enough and can be mean enough to win most battles which will translate into more goals for and less goals against. It will also make it bearable to watch again!
This team is streaky bottom line. I am convinced that there will be a lack of consitant play as long as there “system” is in place. At the end of the season a change is need from top office down. Cam Neely has to be close to being committed watching this club hit the ice every game. If this collective organization right now was in any of the new markets they would get 2000 attendance a game and be looking for a buyer. Would the Jacobs family be willing to sell to the Red sox owners, or Kraft they know what it takes to win the prize.
It looks like Claude has got into Thomas’ head by benching him in favor of Tukka and destoryed his confidence…
The carpet has worn thin, PC. Its time for a change. I was rooting for you Clode, but your team is in disarray just a few games from the tourney. You’re a defensive coach – the Defense is a mess!
Re-watch the Blue Jackets game where Columbus, and their rookie coaches, had about 50 scoring chances against the vaunted Clod Julien defensive system.
Then against Nashville there is the 3 tries goal where Rask freaks out afterward, as none of the forwards – mainly Recchi and Ryder – make any effort to get back into the play.
I love this team, but their terrible, un-able to adjust, coaching staff, and the lack of heart vibe – screams first round ouster!
How come we look so damn bad ?
I think the lines need to be changed around.Put Seguin on the Looch line.
The Bruins are a victim like so many teams in pro sports. Their fans over estimate their talent. Are they a good team? Yes. A very good team? Sometimes. An elite team? No. Name me an offensive all star player? They don’t have one. However, we all know hockey is a game where “team effort” means everything so they can challenge for the cup. As to Seguin. He earned another game. His game has gone up a notch…finally
I agree with TCL on ryder, seguin, and recchi. Recchi looks like the most skilled guy out there, catching horrible passes and making something out of nothing…if only he would rub off more on some of the other guys. He’s looked tired all season, that’s just how it is when your 43
Need to drop kelly to the 4th and sit paille. As much as Ryder doesn’t fight for the puck, he’s still got a better shot than any of the bottom 7 forwards, and could get open with peverly and seguin’s speed stretching things out
Claude was probably checking the schedule on the flight home to Boston and realized the next 6 games are going to be even tougher than the last 6. NJ, MTL, NYR,Philly,CHI, Toronto……this could be ugly if something doesn’t change.
I thought Ryder’s game last night was horrible. I think Seguin earned himself another game last night,
I would also like to see Recchi get a little bit of rest. He seems tired more than not trying. We will need him in top form for the play offs and he just looks tired.
Matt, who else could Claude scratch? Recchi? Kelly?Campbell and Thornton still provide energy even if they don’t produce. There doesn’t seem to be enough depth to tinker with the defense too much other than the usual McQuaid, Ference, Kampfer, Boychuk.
the one thing i just cant understand about these bruin’s is the enormous disparity between when they are on there game and when they are not. How can you be so good and yet so incredibly bad. Coaching?