Krejci/By S. Bradley
It’s impossible to draw conclusions from a game featuring one team taking a playoff approach, because it’s desperate for every point in the standings, and one club that’s just fine tuning for the postseason.
But we can at least look at the Bruins’ 5-3 loss at New York today and see there are certain weaknesses in this Boston team that the Rangers were able to exploit and other teams might be able to take advantage of over the course of a best-of-seven series.
Here’s a quick rundown of the concerns the Bruins should have after squandering a 3-0 lead on Broadway:
•Nathan Horton scored his 25th goal of the season, and David Krejci and Milan Lucic both recorded an assist. But it looked like after Boston got up 3-0, its first line couldn’t wait to get on the charter back to the Hub. Lucic, who was hit by a puck in the warm-up and played stitched up above his right eye, didn’t record a shot on net all night and Krejci took two lazy stick penalties in the offensive zone. Horton finished with just two shots on net.
If an exhausted Marc Staal and Dan Girardi can take the Bruins’ top line out of a game like they did tonight, other top defense pairs might be able to do so as well — especially if Lucic, Krejci and Horton don’t give a 60-minute effort. Again, it’s understandably tough to focus at this time of year with little to play for, but the Bruins aren’t going anywhere without plenty of production and physical intimidation from the HuLK Line.
•The Bruins drew just one power play against a desperate Rangers team. That comes on the heels of earning just one man-advantage against Atlanta Saturday and none against Chicago last Tuesday (they picked up five chances against Toronto in between last Thursday). This has been a problem all season for the Bruins, and it’s all about generating more speed, especially through the neutral zone, and transitioning the puck from offense to defense quicker. The power play finally started to produce late last month. But it can’t do anything if it can’t get on the ice. Expecting to win playoff games with just 5-on-5 goals is a fool’s errand, so Boston has to apply itself better to draw more penalties.
•The third defense pair of Adam McQuaid and Andrew Ference isn’t supposed to be noticed on the ice because of its ability to keep things at their simplest, make almost no mistakes and then get off. Tonight they were atrocious and both had the minus-2 to show for it. Ference was outmuscled in the corners, and McQuaid was out-quicked along the walls and behind the net. Especially on the road, teams are going to be able to work out a favorable match-up against Boston’s bottom duo. Those two are going to have to bear down or the Bruins are going to have to considering shuffling its D pairs.
•If Tyler Seguin was still in the race to be in the Boston lineup for the postseason even after Shawn Thornton returns, he pretty much played his way out of it tonight. Head coach Claude Julien cut Seguin down to just 8:03 of ice time, and that was too much.
There’s no doubt Seguin has improved a ton over the last couple months and has a bright future. But he lost every battle in front of the nets and failed to enter the corners at any time against the Rangers. He’s just not strong enough to play in a tight-checking NHL playoff game, which this basically was from the Rangers’ perspective. Maybe against a finesse team like Montreal, the Bruins could get away with Seguin in there. But when they have more experienced players at their disposal, they probably shouldn’t take the chance.
The Bruins are still in great position heading into these playoffs as no worse than the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Their strengths outweigh their weaknesses. And again, they have to be given some benefit of the doubt for losing to the Rangers, considering what was (or wasn’t) at stake.
For their sake, however, the Bruins must take the next week to look at what the Rangers were able to do to them tonight and make the necessary adjustments to prevent another club — or maybe even the Rangers — from duplicating New York’s Bruins-beating performance once the second season starts.
I don’t realy get the CJ love. He has never been past the 2nd round – but for one AHL season. He has been out-coached in consecutive game 7s on home ice. As mentioned, Lou canned him right before the playoffs – citing a lack of playoff readiness. And finally, he has no reputation for developing talent (don’t give me Michael Glider). So really, what does he bring?
And for the love of god, rest some players already!
MCK I agree the blame for last night can’t be placed on Seguin. He played under 9 minutes. The rest of them should be held accountable. Seguin has never been a great defensive player (although strides have been made recently). Most of the team was there last year and know not to let up. It’s a team fault not just Seguin.
Seidenberg had his worst game so far. He needs a rest. I don´t get why not to call up some kids from Providence to give players a rest. Thomas needs a rest too.
I don´t know what it´s gonna happen in the playoofs because they might show something else, maybe some heart but I wish CJ is gone for next season.
Don’t really agree with all the hate on CJ. He might need to do a better job motivating his players from time to time, but he did do something about it last night. Timmah in goal was the right call. It makes sense to rest him, but you also want him to play in a high intensity game that simulates the experience of a playoff game which given the coming attractions for the B’s is why I’m sure they dressed their starters. Also, You would all be fools to think there will be no repercussions from that giant turd we left in MSG.
I also expect Matt is absolutely right about Seguin. Claude hasn’t “mishandled” the kid, he’s just given Seguin what he deserves, and what he deserves after that is a seat high above the ice (as do a number of bruins, but strangely Ryder is not really among them. Maybe CJ does know how to motivate his players).
I love also how if Seguin has a bad game, which I actually is being exaggerated with respect to last night, there is immediate chatter about sitting him down or benching him. Yet Julien keeps rolling losers like Ryder over the boards, keeps putting Seidenburg out there even though he was a joke, etc. Kid has had arguable 1 bad game in his last 10. There are only 2-3 Bruins that can probably say that.
I didn’t see anyone clammoring for Bergeron to sit even with his tape to tape pass to Lupul
nobody cared last night except for the fourth line.. i have been talking seguin up lately but last night was plain awful .. it actually got to the point where i just feel bad for rich peverly because he should have some serious stats but his linemates are a lost little boy and a guy that bust his ass with little skill .. peverly with wheeler would have been a great third line..
It looks Seidenberg needs a rest too. He was TERRIBLE last night. The first line took the night off too after the first period. Good call on that Matt. Krejci needs some help at the face off dot, he’s terrible.
Forgot to mention that this coach has consistently proven that his bend but don’t bread defensive system is fine for the regular season but breaks down and fails miserably in the playoffs – look at his career, there is a reason the best GM in Hockey canned him before the playoffs when he was in NJ even though the team was in first overall
Matt – at some point you need to at least point one critical finger at Julien. Once again you take shots at the players (at times appropriately) and not one single mention of the coaching staff decisions. Oh he was tough on Seguin?? Wow, that takes guts – maybe he’ll bench Marchand for a half period – great leadership. Maybe he’ll send Kampfer a message – give me a freaking break already – Boston is filled with Hall of Fame and HOF caliber coaches – Belicheck, Francona, Rivers….. why this guy is still employed is on PC and Neely – and on writers who fail to properly criticize decisions.
Speaking of resting players why in heavens name is Chara not being rested some. The guy plays 30 minutes a game against every teams best players. Set him in the press box for two or three games. If there are any other players that need a game or two for maintenance purposes set them out as well. WAKE THE HELL UP JULIEN!!
I have been a supporter of Julien from day one but those days are getting numbered. If the Bruins do not make it until atleast the eastern conference final (3rd round) then Julien should be sent packing.
I do not understand why Thomas is not being rested at least every other game if not more at this point in the season. Thomas looked tired last night, why is he being played so much? The B’s are already in the playoffs & have wrapped up the northeast, play Rask & rest Tim. This would not only benefit Thomas with rest but will also sharpen up Rask before the big dance begins. Starting with the last time we played the Leafs Rask should have been in the net almost every game until regular seasons end. FAIL-JULIEN
Honestly the whole team seemed to be phoning it in-except for maybe Paille and Paille is still fighting for a roster spot IMO.
I almost wonder what Julien told them going into the third, because that was the worst third period of hockey I have seen the Bruins play all year. They weren’t skating and even worse they just seemed to be standing around.
I know points wise the game didn’t mean anything-we aren’t going to finish worse than third and I don’t think the organization seems to be trying to move up in the standings to second or even first-they seem to be determined to stand pat at third, but the team at least could have showed up to play for the whole game.
I dread seeing what the next three games look like if the B’s couldn’t even try last night.
3-0 choke? we’ve seen this horror movie directed by claude before. never in over 600+ games / 80+ years have the rangers come back on the bruins after a 3-0 deficit.
i called the choke after the 1st ranger goal. last regular season game that means anything and they shut it down halfway through.
sides, af, mcquaid & timmah were awful.
They arent moving past the second round. They are lazy and stupid. Exhibit A last night. That’s not what a real team looks like a week before the playoffs.
I have almost decided that when the Bruins get up by a couple or more goals they stop playing hockey. Not sure if they get over confident or they are opting to protect the lead in favor of increasing it, but that last period they looked like they bought tickets to the game instead of playing it.
I have also decided that the absolute last team I want to see the Bruin’s face in the first round of the playoffs is New York. Even if the Bruins come out the victors they are going to come out beaten and bruised which will make the second round that much tougher.
Does anyone notice or know why Seguin is always parked in the high slot just waiting for a pass? He’s always covered and nobody ever passes it to him. If he’s going to be the ‘guy in front of the net’ then, well, he needs to be 15 feet closer to the goalie. I wouldn’t mind seeing some call ups from Providence to give some guys a game off if they dont feel like closing out a 3 goal lead against a team that exhausted it’s defenseman the night before.
“It’s impossible to draw conclusions from a game featuring one team taking a playoff approach, because it’s desperate for every point in the standings, and one club that’s just fine tuning for the postseason.”
Except.. actually, you can. These guys need the riot act read to them. There’s no passion in this team’s play at all. They are headed for a first round exit at this pace.
Seguin looked like a boy among men. I’m glad Claude benched him. Seidenberg had a tough game too. The B’s need to find a way around the hard forecheck because tonight the Rangers exposed that weakness.
It was a good game to let the players know what to expect in the coming weeks. Time bring up the intensity.
I know every game presents unique circumstances, but why do the B’s have to blow so many games when up by a couple or more goals? They’ve done this too many times to my liking–remember that MTL game in January?