Recchi/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — As has been his choice more often then not during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bruins forward Mark Recchi did not take the morning skate with his teammates tonight in preparation for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay.
With zero points and a minus-5 rating through the first six games of the series, some would say Recchi has taken most of the Bruins’ games off as well. He explained his situation this morning after the skate.
“I think the first game I wasn’t good. I think after that I’ve been OK,” said the future Hall-of-Fame forward. “I haven’t been good, I haven’t been bad. You know what? That’s all washed away in one game now tonight. You lay it out on the line and go out and have fun with this and get back to the Stanley Cup Final. We’ve been together all year. And obviously you like to have an impact. But at the same time, teammates, that’s why we’re here for each other.
“I think earlier in the playoffs our line was terrific and carried a lot of the burden of the team. Other guys have stepped up and been terrific now. Now it’s one game and let’s all do it together. That’s the important thing is we all have one opportunity to get to the Stanley Cup Final and we’ll do it together.”
For the 17 playoff games this season, Recchi has put up 2-5-7 totals and a plus-4 rating.
Should the Bruins lose, this could be Recchi’s last game in the NHL. So you better believe that even if he’s been non-existent through the first six games, Recchi will make his presence felt in the grand finale.
I was saying as early as mid-year they should start sitting this old fart for 5-game spells or this exact thing would happen. Now’s he’s worthless when we need him most.
come on Recchi, get to the front of the net and tip some shots, pick up some garbage, set up some screens. that’s what you do best.
43. fourth line and no powerplay time, unless he is replacing Chara in front of the net.
[...] Mark Recchi admits that he hasn’t been very good in this series, but plans “lay it out on the line” tonight in Game [...]
4′th line, 4′th line, 4′th line!!!!!!!!!!!
Its where he belongs and would be most productive. Asking a 42 year old to play 2′nd line minutes with faster players isnt fair to anyone.
The years are piling on. He’s still doing his job, he’s just not a scorer for the team anymore.
Should Recchi score tonite, there will be people praising both him and Julien. Sigh..
Ice time management and coherence goes hand in hand from a player’s standpoint. If you’re not coherent with the way you manage your player’s individual ice time, you hit the very spot where you lose your players’ respect. The players then don’t play for the coach, they play for themselves.
Unless… Unless there is a very strong group of guys taking care of leadership in the dressing room behind closed doors, then some kind of magic may fill the air.
IMO, Julien has killed the dressing room by miss managing ice time to a point of no return, coherence wise. Would the Bruins have done better with or without him, regardless of tonite’s outcome? What’s his demonstrated input in this year’s playoff run?
Sorry guys, the beer tap is empty. The Bruins will be stronger next year without Julien. I have a beer taste in my mouth already.
I want this guy to be better and help in winning this game. However, the fact remains he is now the weakest link, or has been. Who knows what tonight brings. I think he starts on his line, is given a couple of shifts, and if it doesn’t look good, Peverly moves up. Actually, Seguin would be a great fit up there, with Peverly to the 3d line.
This is no time for hurt feelings. I don’t think a professional like Recchi would complain if his ice time disappeared in this game if it needed to.
I will say, he should be on the power play and he should be in front of the net. He is EXCELLENT in front of the net. The best we got at that.