Less could be more in terms of ice time for Bruins’ Recchi
Recchi/By S. Bradley
VANCOUVER – Despite the continued futility of the Bruins’ power play, and his role in its ineffectiveness, forward Mark Recchi wants the team’s coaching staff to stick with the players it rolled out in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday for Game 2 Saturday.
“I think they were fine. I think the groups were good [Wednesday],” said Recchi, who has now gone eight games without a point. “We had a lot of opportunities and I don’t know where you’re going with this right now, but whatever. That’s up to the coaches to decide. I liked the way it worked and we’ll see what happens come Saturday.”
To his credit, Recchi had the best power-play scoring chance when his shot from the bottom of the right circle either hit the post or was stopped by goaltender Roberto Luongo (depending on who you ask).
But the power play still failed on all six of its opportunities Wednesday to run the Bruins’ ugly postseason totals to 5-for-67.
And can you remember the last time you saw the future Hall-of-Famer tip a puck like he’s done so many times over the course of his two-decade-long career?
On a power play that sports several weak links, Recchi ist one of he weakest right now. And he’s not exactly tearing it up 5-on-5 either. Although he was most effective in Game 7 against Tampa Bay while playing a tad more than 12 minutes, Recchi’s minutes surpassed 15 in the Game 1 loss to Vancouver and his effectiveness waned.
“I feel great. I feel good,” said Recchi about how he’s holding up at 43 years old and with 100 games under his belt this season.
“[I] had lots of energy last night and I expect the same throughout the whole series.”
That Recchi’s still winning the mental battle is great. It’s unlikely, however, that he’ll be able to turn that positivity into production without having some responsibilities lifted off his shoulders.
The Bruins would be wise to keep Recchi feeling “great” by preventing exposure. A couple fewer shifts trying to help Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand chase down Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and maybe even a power-play shift on the bench, could go a long way toward making him a helpful player as this series unfolds.
change his power play line, Frank.
Said it before game 1. I think you have to sit Rex in favor of Thorton. I young physical presence that can hurry the D with a heavy forcheck and wear them down. If anything was missing from the Bs game in game 1 – it was energy. Get the energy line back together. Mix Seguin and Peverly and Ryder on line 2 to see what clicks and go from there.
Mark: ”that decision is nipping the Bruins in the butt now”? mg: ”a coaching change might help the team”?
Jeeeeez: we’re in the Stanley Cup Finals!!! Wake up! 28 teams are dreaming of being where we are now. I can’t imagine what you would’ve said if the Bruins had lost that 1st round 7th game! I don’t agree with Rex being on the PP neither but I’m objective enough to give credit to the coach when it’s due! As far as I know, only 1 game has been played & our defense was rock solid. All hopes are still alive. Go Bruins!
It’s a good thing they rolled Recchi out there for 81 games this regular season, just to be 4th on the all-time games played list and not 5th…by a whopping one game.
The guy’s going to the HOF whether he’s 4th, 5th, or 10th. That foolish decision is really nipping them in the butt now…when the season really counts.
It’s funny how more than a month ago there were a few people here posting Recchi needed to have his minutes reduced and that he was too slow. Now it’s a topic of discussion all over the hockey blog universe.
Less time on the ice for Rex,we need younger legs out there and with that comes speed and open ice….
I think Recchi is out of gas. I don’t think we should sit him (i think he can contribute more than Thornton although I like Thornton). I think his minutes should be shortened. I like the way Julien shortened them against Tampa-Peverly skated the 2nd line about every other shift and that worked well. Recchi was able to contribute without running out of gas.
I still think Recchi isn’t all that good on the PP, but they also don’t have him where he should be-butt in goalie’s face.
Recchi will come through in the clutch! Has before, will again. Leave him out there and pay attention to all the little things he does out there that helps out his teammates. He had the best chances the other night, out of EVERYBODY, else out there sans Lucic, and some want to sit him?
The coach will not change, even if it might help the team.
I like Recchi the veteran and I think he is a great veteran to have in the locker room and on the bench.
I think Recchi gets too much ice time. I think Peverly should be skating on that second line and I think Seguin should be getting some power play time-especially when it is a 5 on 3.
If Recchi is on the power play his spot should be his butt in Luongo’s face. If that isn’t the play they are running then his butt should be on the bench.
Recchi gives everything he has, and his leadership is very important. But I think Peverly should get more of his minutes. I think Recchi is…..snake bitten…..sorry just keeping up with the media’s biting jokes.
Rex is obviously the last one to know where you’re going with this Matt. Typical of him. Selfishness in its most quintessential manifestation. Ignoring that there are team mates worthy of a trial, wow!!
The experiment with Rex is a failure on PP, ES and PK.
Don’t you dare CJ, don’t you dare do something to Rex.
He needs to sit about half of the Bergeron line’s shifts. Play him 7-8 minutes a game. I’d like to see Peverly get some time on that line; and Seguin get the overall increase in minutes, especially on the power play.