Bruins back on right Seid of first place
Seidenberg/By S. Bradley
After 32 games dating back to last season without a goal, Dennis Seidenberg has now scored in consecutive games.
Tonight’s score by the veteran defenseman was the game-winner in overtime of a Bruins 2-1 victory at Phoenix.
The Bruins have now won seven in a row, and Tuukka Rask has now won four in a row. The young netminder is 8-1-1 in his last 10 outings. He had his shutout streak snapped at 170:26 late in the first period on a Ray Whitney goal.
David Krejci scored the Bruins’ other goal.
Boston is back in action Saturday night at Dallas.
To all fans of USA Hockey
I just watched the junior game between the US and the Czech Republic. The US out-played Czechs, but the goalie for the Czech team was outstanding. The one that really hurt the US junior team was the loss to Finland. I noticed that Jared Knight was not on the roster. I googled in a number of websites that said Jared, and the goalie for the London Knights, were a slam dunk to make the team but were left off because they chose to play in the CHL. One notable hockey writer said that Knight should be in their top six, Houser (London Knight goalie) should play over Campell, and at least four other players, playing in the CHL, should have made the US team.
The US has come a long way in its level of competition and number of players playing in the NHL. In some US states, hockey has become a major sport and its too bad if petty politics has left some good players off the team. The World Junior Tournament is an outstanding event that for some will be the best level they ever play at. US hockey fans can take some satisfaction in that the captain of Canada’s team attends a US college. In most years, there are at least three members of the Canadian team who are members of a US collegiate team.
To date, for the 2011 YEAR (including playoffs), TT’s record is: 49-21-5, 2.04GAA, .937SV% Conn Smythe, Vezina and Stanley Cup winner.
He’ll be going for his 50th ‘W’ of 2011 tomorrow night!
Get to see Ryder tomorrow night, I’m sure he’ll bury a wrister. For all his regular season gliding he was turned into a different player come playoff time.
The Bruins win last night was impressive in being that they stuck with their system and found a way to win.
Rask was their best player last night easily and he continues to impress me with his fundamentals as a butterfly goalie. When I watch Rask play this is what I notice that seems to make him so good:
-for a butterfly goalie he does not drop down into the butterfly until the last second in most cases, allowing him to have more lateral movement than some other goalies.
-Also when he does drop into the butterfly, the movement is smooth and very fast, making the natural five hole disappear quicker than other top butterfly goalies such as Luongo.
-Finally and maybe most importantly, Rask is really tall and he uses his size to his advantage. He keeps his upper body more vertical than most butterfly goalies, which helps to eliminate the natural weakness above the shoulders on butterfly goalies. All goalies with this playing style are susceptible to well placed shots at the glove and blocker side high, but Rask plays really tall when down in the butterfly taking this weakness away most of the time.
I think Rask is going to be a great goalie for the Bruins for many years to come. He is far better in terms of technique and skill than other young goalies that have come through the Bruins system in years past (Raycroft, Toivunen).
Finally, this Bruins team has improved their passing and transition game dramatically this year compared to last year at the same time. Even in the beginning of the year the team chemistry and passing game seemed to be naturally better thanks to them playing together. About 50% of the goals in the NHL come off transition play and that is where a majority of this years surplus goals have come from. It is a direct result of the Bruins being faster and better at passing this season compared to last. It has improved their breakout this season and makes their forecheck more viable because they are hitting the offensive zone with numbers and speed. If they can keep this up they are going to be hard to beat in the playoffs.
Go Bruins!!
Wasn’t Torres a Canuck last year? With more of his filthy ilk rather than timid guys Vancouver might have won.
Also… Does anyone here post over at the Globe’s forums?
who the hell is dave arnold?
3 points…
- darth quaider feeding torres was a long time coming.
- i don’t think the b’s had a 4 on 4 goal all last year until chia got kelly and pevs. now they’re a 4 on 4 goal machine. that’s team speed, right?
- when is dave arnold’s baby due? he looks pretty close to full term.
Damm I was a victum of a 9:00 start and the usual goal in the frist min then sand man time for me. Did Darth have a good fight last night no more champagne of bottled beers on left coast game nights!
Thought Z had an awful game, all in all. Seemed like the Yotes’ neutral zone play gave the B’s fits all night. Not the sharpest outing, but Tuukka put the team on his back and Quaider sent Raffi’s ugly mug into next week.
I think it was initially called a tip-in, but the replay showed the puck going off Morris’ stick and through the wickets on LaBarbera.
Not the most impressive game from the B’s… but Tuuk stood tall, and they got the 2 points. Also- glad to see Raffi got what was coming. That hit on Ference was a dirty move by a classless player.
Wait a minute – I haven’t seen the score sheet, but I saw the replay. That was Kelly’s goal. Am I wrong?