BOSTON — Guy Boucher’s mind games apparently have become much more.
The Tampa Bay coach had Mike Smith lead his team out to the ice for warm-ups for tonight’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final with the Bruins at the TD Garden.
Smith has not made a start in the postseason and has made just two relief appearances — both in this series. He has stopped 29 of 29 shots.
The Bruins look like they’re keeping the same lines and D pairs for their attempt to beat Smith and grab the lead in this series.
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi
Ryder-Kelly-Seguin
Paille-Campbell-Peverley
Chara-Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
Kaberle-McQuaid
Here are the Lightning’s lines and D pairs as per warm-ups:
Purcell-Lecavalier-St. Louis
Gagne-Stamkos-Malone
Bergenheim-Moore-Downie
B. Jones-Thompson-Hall
Brewer-Ohlund
Hedman-Clark
Lundin-M. Bergeron
By all rights we should’ve lost this game. We were out played from start to finish. Take advantage of this and finish this series off in Tampa. Go Bruins!!!
Smith reminds me of Brodeur with the puck handling skills. We know that sometimes goalies like that can have some strange things happen when they handle thepuck so much. Didn’t Seidenberg score from 1/2 ice on Smith this year?
Here’s what I think:
- How much do you LOVE playoff hockey?!
- Pardon me Mr. Kalman, but was that Seguin showing Stamkos his rightful place? You don’t happen to have a clip of that so I can make sure, do you?
- Carlton Fisk, make room for Timmahhhhhhh… Oh my God – that was without question, the most beautiful save, I’ve ever seen. Name me one better!
Coach’s Keys to Victory:
-Quick shots on the power play
-More forechecking pressure, no laying back in the neutral zone
-Give up a few breakaways early to get Timmy in the game
Even if Smith is in goal – we will win! For sure! LET´S GO BRUINS!
Stupid move and a slap in the face to the guy who got them this far. Roloson has played fantastic since the Lightning acquired him. One poor period and they lose faith in him?
Roloson over the years has shown he is a bounce back goaltender. He can let in a week goal early in the game and shut the door, same goes for a poor game – he has often come back and took the team on his shoulders.
Utterly stupid.