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Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Preview

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Reilly Smith Game winning goal vs. MontrealGame 1 & 2 Recap: The Split

How is it that the Bruins could have won the game where they were at their worst and lost the game when they played great? Bad bounces in Game 1 and grit and determination in Game 2. The Boston Bruins lost Game 1 to the Canadiens because of some bad bounces and terrible penalty killing. The Bruins were only 2-4 on the penalty kill and they have yet to score a power play goal against Montreal. As I wrote going into this series, I thought special teams was going to be the biggest advantage for the Bruins. Now it appears that P.K. Subban is going to continue to kill the Bruins with his slappers from the point and the Boston power play has lost their rhythm.

Period 3 in Game 2 will go down as one of the greatest Bruins vs. Canadiens periods ever played by the Bruins. The Bruins were down and out, completely flustered, and had just lost Shawn Thornton (who would later return). The stage was set for an epic comeback of 4 goals on Carey Price in under 10 minutes to come from behind and beat Montreal 5-3 with the empty netter from Lucic tacked on.  The Bruins need to play with that intensity throughout all periods and reduce turnovers in the neutral zone.

Game 3 Preview

I am already preparing myself to get very angry and frustrated watching these games in Montreal. If the officials were calling bench minors and Montreal diving penalties on the Bruins in Boston there is no telling what they could do up in Montreal. That being said, the Bruins appeared to slow down the Montreal power play in Game 2 and, hopefully, they can neutralize that weapon moving forward. All the Bruins have to do is ride out the initial wave of energy from Montreal to start the game, start dictating, and pour it on Montreal.  I am surprisingly confident going into this game, and I see the Bruins winning it in regulation 3-1.

As always please follow me on twitter for all Boston Bruins news and Lets Go Bs!

2013 Bruins Off-Season: Tyler Seguin, Loui Eriksson, & Jerome Iginla

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The Trade

tyler-seguin-partying1Well, the Tyler Seguin era in Boston is done and whether it is due to his hard partying ways (see above photo) or his playoff performance (or lack there of) I like this trade. Will Tyler Seguin go on to score 40 goals in the Western Conference for a team with little to no media scrutiny? More than likely, yes; however, that does not mean he would have put up those numbers under the intense microscope that is Boston and in the more physical Eastern Conference. His playoff sample size is more than enough to warrant judgement now. He has scored 6 playoff goals in 42 games which is half a seasons worth of games. And let’s not forget 3 of those goals came during a 2 game span in the Eastern Conference Finals his rookie season. Bottom line, he was not going to live up to his contract, or expectations here in Boston, but he may for the Dallas Stars. Don’t focus on the numbers in this trade. Focus on Seguin’s lack of play during the postseason and his immaturity issues off the ice as the reasons for the move.

The centerpiece of the trade coming back to the Bruins is Loui Eriksson. This is a guy who will fit in perfectly with the Bruins system. He is a big body who will win battles in the corners and get in front of the net, something Seguin has shown he was unwilling to do. He is also a terrific defensive forward who had a leadership role in Dallas. He will look great on the Bergeron line, which could be one of the best shut down lines in hockey.

Free Agency

It should not be overlooked that the Tyler Seguin trade opened up valuable cap space for the Bruins to go out and make a splash for a right winger. While many names were floated around, Michael Ryder and Daniel Alfredsson in particular, most of Day 1 was uneventful and dissapointing. Finally, after making Bruins fans wait most of the day on the first day of free agency, the Boston Bruins made their move and signed Jerome Iginla to a 1 year 6 million dollar contract. Money that was freed up from the Tyler Seguin trade (and possibly dipping into the Marc Savard money) made it happen. It looks like Iginla came around to the idea that David Krejci is a much better player than he once thought when he went elsewhere for the postseason. Welcome to the Bruins Jerome, we will try and forget this ever happened.

The Bruins top 2 lines are pretty solid and I like them a lot. Lucic-Krejci-Iginla and Marchand-Bergeron-Eriksson, that is a top couple of lines that perfectly fit the system the Bruins have installed that has lead them to a Stanley Cup Championship and 4 periods from another. Good times are ahead, we will figure out that whole 3rd line thing later. Welcome Jerome, and let’s go B’s!

Bruins Penguins Eastern Conference Finals Game Series Preview

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Bruins.vs.Penguins If you haven’t watched the Penguins yet this season you will soon join them with the same level of hatred we feel towards teams like Montréal and Tampa. They play very similarly and will be taking dives to get on the power play every chance they get. For the first time this postseason the Bruins will be the underdogs. Milan Lucic has already likened the Penguins to “the Miami Heat of the NHL.”

Bruins vs Penguins, Special Teams:

This Penguins team is deadly on the power play and even though the Bruins have one of the top ranked shorthanded units the Penguins will still be deadly. The Bruins need to be cautious with their bullying tactics because staying out of the box is a must. Hopefully, Bruins pests like Brad Marchand, Shawn Thornton, and Milan Lucic continue to be tough but smart.

The Bruins power-play has been hot recently, but can this trend continue against a team that won’t take many penalties? The good news is the Penguins penalty kill is nothing special. We can look forward  to the B’s  having more power play success than in their 2011 Stanley Cup, which isn’t saying much. Playoff Advantage: Pittsburgh

Bruins vs Penguins, Goaltending:

Goaltending has been strong for the Bruins all year. Pittsburgh however, has had trouble. Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in the first round series against the Islanders this year that demonstrated he cannot be relied on as a starting goaltender in the playoffs despite his previous Stanley Cup run. Tomas Vokoun has been starting since and has had some success. He’s a vet but with barely any playoff experience in his 14 year career. By no means does he have the numbers, talent, or the ability to stand on his head like Tuukka Rask. Expect Rask to be a stud. He will have to be for the Bruins to have a shot against the incredibly talented Pittsburgh attack.  Playoff Advantage: Boston

Bruins vs Penguins Defenseman:

Outside of Kris Letang Pittsburgh struggles defensively. The Bruins forwards should not have a problem getting the puck deep against them and creating scoring opportunities.

The Bruins have a clear advantage on the defensive side with Captain Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg reunited. Look for them to be matched up against either the Crosby line or Malkin line.

Some are speculating it will be against the Malkin line, but I believe Coach Claude Julien will match them up against the Crosby line. The Bruins have deep D pairs. In fact, I expect Torey Krug will start the series and be a huge factor on the power play. Andrew Ference, returning from injury, will be a big boost of veteran depth and leadership.  Playoff Advantage: Boston

Bruins vs. Penguins Forwards:

This isn’t even a fair fight. Pittsburgh will have the advantage as they are stacked on their top three lines, with a majority being current or former All-Stars. The addition of Jerome Iginla will be an X factor in this series especially when being played in Boston. He will provide them with veteran leadership and steadiness as he looks for his first ring. The Bruins defense will have their hands full.

The only good news for the Boston forwards is that as previously mentioned, they’re playing a weak Pittsburgh defense. The Boston forwards will outsize and outmuscle this Pittsburgh defense. The Bruins need use their size to their advantage crashing the net and picking up dirty goals. Hopefully Jaromir Jagr’s return to Pittsburgh will spark him to start putting pucks in the net. Playoff Advantage: Pittsburgh

Bruins vs. Penguins Coaching:

I see neither Dan Bylsma nor Claude Julien having a distinct advantage over the other. Julien has the tougher lineup decisions to make with the Bruins veteran defenseman coming back. I believe he will go with veterans over rookies except for Torey Krug. In his case, you have to stick with the hot hand. Julien and Bylsma will be locked in a chess match trying to outwit each other with Chara and Seidenberg against the Crosby line. Having the last line change will be huge for the Bruins and will be the deciding factor in the Bruins home games.  Let’s not forget, both coaches have been through battles  but instead of scars, they have Stanley Cup rings. Playoff Advantage: Push

Other Playoff Hockey Factors:

The two players that will receive their fair share of fan hatred during this season from both sides is Jagr and Iginla. Both will be booed heavily when touching the puck away from home for similar reasons. When Jagr came back from the KHL prior to last season he had a choice: hometown Pittsburgh or Philly. A deal with Iginla was “done” and the B’s were sending Bartkowski and others to Calgary but then Iginla was presented a choice: Pittsburgh or Boston. Both disappointed the respective fan bases by choosing an instate rival in Jagr’s case, and taking the “easy road” in going the Miami Heat of hockey in Iginla’s case.

Also, don’t think for a second that hard core B’s fans have forgotten about the egregious, disgusting act committed by Matt Cooke ending the career of Marc Savard who lead the NHL in points at one time. And what is worse is former star player, now owner Mario Lemieux’s defensive response to it. This is the same guy who had Ulf Samuelsson as his winger who helped end a legendary Bruins career. I would say more about the fraud that is Mario Lemieux and his history of fondness for dirty wingers but Don Cherry said it best: “Mario Lemieux. One of the biggest phonies I’ve ever seen. He says, ‘we have to get rid of headshots,’ and [Pens president] Dave Morehouse says, ‘we have to get rid of headshots,’ and [general manager] Ray Shero, who I really like, says the same thing. What happens? They’ve got the [biggest] headshot guy of all time, they’re paying his paychecks. What a bunch of hypocrites, I’ll tell you.”.

Bruins vs Penguins Playoff Series Prediction:

Some are comparing this series to that of the Stanley Cup Final from two years ago against Vancouver. I disagree because Pittsburgh is physically much tougher team than that Vancouver team and won’t roll over to the Bruins bullying tactics like Vancouver did.  I have heard some “experts” say Pittsburgh should take the series easily in five games with their huge advantage on the offensive side. This believer knows this Bruins team will not go down without a fight. My belief isn’t blind faith: I see the series going to seven, but unfortunately, I don’t think Boston has enough offensive skill to offset the Pittsburgh Penguins. God, I hope I’m wrong.

Final Playoff Prediction: Pens in 7