2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup (Bruins edition)

[Kosikarzzz]

The Tbirds were just what the doctor ordered for the Seadogs. A 6 goal 2nd period outburst carried them to a 7 zip win. The team overall did play better however the TBirbs certainly helped make the job easier as they struggled yet again. The go home having given up 18 goals while scoring just 3 in three games. Tough, tough tournament for them.

JZ, like many Seadogs, was better tonight. He picked up an assist and was +4 on the night. They will play in Friday nights semi final against the loser of tomorrow nights final round robin game between the Otters and Knights. They have a little something to build on from tonight going into that game but will have to be better than tonight yet again to be a factor in what will definelty be the underdog role no matter who they may face.

Erie Otters vs Windsor Spitfires...Windsor hates London Knights like Bruins hate Habs. Erie is the team to beat...but Windsor has a chance

 

[reffree]

The Tbirds were just what the doctor ordered for the Seadogs. A 6 goal 2nd period outburst carried them to a 7 zip win. The team overall did play better however the TBirbs certainly helped make the job easier as they struggled yet again. The go home having given up 18 goals while scoring just 3 in three games. Tough, tough tournament for them.

JZ, like many Seadogs, was better tonight. He picked up an assist and was +4 on the night. They will play in Friday nights semi final against the loser of tomorrow nights final round robin game between the Otters and Knights. They have a little something to build on from tonight going into that game but will have to be better than tonight yet again to be a factor in what will definelty be the underdog role no matter who they may face.

I do think St-John can win against Windsor without any "if everything goes right", they seems more or less at the same level and it would be a 50/50 game. Erie would be another story, Booth would really need to stand on his head for them to win this.

Only saw the first two period tonight but Zboril played a better game, by far his best of the tournament so far. On a side note, as a fan of a Q team wanting them to win ... I thought Gauthier is a total ghost, lose battle in the corner easily, throw the puck arround without even looking and generally there's just nobody of his team 20-30ft arround where he did his no look pass. Was allready not a fan, but playing against better competition really is not suiting him well right now. Zboril might not look as good or dynamic than Chabot/Barzal/Strome and other high picks, but he still looks way better than Gauthier to me imho. Glad the Bruins didn't fell to his combo of size/speed/goal scoring ability in the 1st round last year.

 

[ODAAT]

The Tbirds were just what the doctor ordered for the Seadogs. A 6 goal 2nd period outburst carried them to a 7 zip win. The team overall did play better however the TBirbs certainly helped make the job easier as they struggled yet again. The go home having given up 18 goals while scoring just 3 in three games. Tough, tough tournament for them.

JZ, like many Seadogs, was better tonight. He picked up an assist and was +4 on the night. They will play in Friday nights semi final against the loser of tomorrow nights final round robin game between the Otters and Knights. They have a little something to build on from tonight going into that game but will have to be better than tonight yet again to be a factor in what will definelty be the underdog role no matter who they may face.

SJ sure looked more like the team we saw here all year and JZ played better, still needs to tighten up some of his puck decisions though. Let`s see if this game allows some of the players to stop gripping their sticks too tightly

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

I do think St-John can win against Windsor without any "if everything goes right", they seems more or less at the same level and it would be a 50/50 game. Erie would be another story, Booth would really need to stand on his head for them to win this.

Only saw the first two period tonight but Zboril played a better game, by far his best of the tournament so far. On a side note, as a fan of a Q team wanting them to win ... I thought Gauthier is a total ghost, lose battle in the corner easily, throw the puck arround without even looking and generally there's just nobody of his team 20-30ft arround where he did his no look pass. Was allready not a fan, but playing against better competition really is not suiting him well right now. Zboril might not look as good or dynamic than Chabot/Barzal/Strome and other high picks, but he still looks way better than Gauthier to me imho. Glad the Bruins didn't fell to his combo of size/speed/goal scoring ability in the 1st round last year.

Gauthier has been a non factor but he certainly is not alone. Go to players for them all year like Highmore, Smallwood and Imama, a combined 223 points including 107 goals in the regular season, have largely been non-factors. The one player who has stood out as being effective and on his game is Joseph. Veleno has showed improvement as the tournament has progressed. Should they fail to get more players going it will be an up hill struggle in the semi.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

SJ sure looked more like the team we saw here all year and JZ played better, still needs to tighten up some of his puck decisions though. Let`s see if this game allows some of the players to stop gripping their sticks too tightly

It is a head scratcher especially given how well they played in the Q play offs and particularly in the final. Losing a game(s) is one thing, especially seeing how well Erie and London haver played, but a complete seemly unexplained break down with individual and team play is another. A completely unrecognizable team arrived in London. Leaves one wondering if something may be going on beyond the scene. At a loss to explain otherwise.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

That's how I see it, Chabot came from a quiet good skating defensmen to an all star offensive dmen who control the play at will and play the most minute in the league. Zboril, still have lots of tool he can't seems to put toghter, his decision making is still bad and his hability with the puck still is very on and off every games. He'll do something great one shift just to do something terrible two shifts later and the great doesn't outnumber the terrible as much as we would like. For the pts, he plays on a power house with an offensive role, Bourque have the same role on offense (ok minutes + 2nd PP) and he outproduce Zboril and nobody will tell you Bourque as offensive upside at the next level imho.

Control the play at will? Chabot? I saw a very talented player, but one prone to mistakes in his own end and someone that doesn't play a lot of D. He doesn't just pinch when it's prudent, he pinches 95% of the time He creates a lot of offense, but makes a lot of mistakes, mistakes that will be magnified and capitalized on in the NHL.

I'm happy to say that your reports of Zboril's demise are greatly exaggerated.

With 6+ minutes to go in the 2nd period, there is a sequence that takes place where Zboril takes a puck carrier out along the boards with a heavy check and cycles the puck around the net. A delayed penalty gets called on SEA, Zboril joins the rush and end up setting up the second goal on a sweet feed.

He makes mistakes like any other player, but the ability is there. I look forward to seeing him develop in the Boston system.

 

[DKH]

Control the play at will? Chabot? I saw a very talented player, but one prone to mistakes in his own end and someone that doesn't play a lot of D. He doesn't just pinch when it's prudent, he pinches 95% of the time He creates a lot of offense, but makes a lot of mistakes, mistakes that will be magnified and capitalized on in the NHL.

I'm happy to say that your reports of Zboril's demise are greatly exaggerated.

With 6+ minutes to go in the 2nd period, there is a sequence that takes place where Zboril takes a puck carrier out along the boards with a heavy check and cycles the puck around the net. A delayed penalty gets called on SEA, Zboril joins the rush and end up setting up the second goal on a sweet feed.

He makes mistakes like any other player, but the ability is there. I look forward to seeing him develop in the Boston system.

Chabot looks like a poor man's Fowler

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Chabot looks like a poor man's Fowler

Looks like C Miller to me, Chabot looks like he wants nothing to do with his side of the blue line.

I love what Fowler brings, One would think the ship has sealed in regards to him being available.

 

[DKH]

Looks like C Miller to me, Chabot looks like he wants nothing to do with his side of the blue line.

I love what Fowler brings, One would think the ship has sealed in regards to him being available.

good call- Colin Miller is more physical though

 

[LouJersey]

I've only seen limited viewings of Chabot and Zboril, so take that into account when reading this but Chabot looks like a one trick pony. It's funny to me that many people here say Krug is a 3rd pairing guy, then look at Chabot and call him a "franchise" defenseman. Chabot is constantly out of position and uses that speed to catch up and recover. That works against teenagers, but not men in the NHL.

That being said, obviously you give him NHL caliber coaching and weight room program and you could have something special but I think you can say the same about Zboril. Not sure why some many people seemed to write him off after last season. He looks light years more ready to adapt to an NHL game than Chabot IMO. He has great speed and passing skills, but also seems to at least care about defense and likes to hit and also is a bit snarly. Now from what I read, he may have more "character" issues than a guy like Chabot, but get him around men where they hold him accountable and he could flourish. Both guys seem like they need to think the game better at times as well, a both act like hockey's version of Brett Favre.

Both guys have lots of work to do, but the way people speak a lot of times all across HF you would think Zboril was a CHL free agent looking for a deal and Chabot was the next Drew Doughty.

 

[DKH]

I've only seen limited viewings of Chabot and Zboril, so take that into account when reading this but Chabot looks like a one trick pony. It's funny to me that many people here say Krug is a 3rd pairing guy, then look at Chabot and call him a "franchise" defenseman. Chabot is constantly out of position and uses that speed to catch up and recover. That works against teenagers, but not men in the NHL.

That being said, obviously you give him NHL caliber coaching and weight room program and you could have something special but I think you can say the same about Zboril. Not sure why some many people seemed to write him off after last season. He looks light years more ready to adapt to an NHL game than Chabot IMO. He has great speed and passing skills, but also seems to at least care about defense and likes to hit and also is a bit snarly. Now from what I read, he may have more "character" issues than a guy like Chabot, but get him around men where they hold him accountable and he could flourish. Both guys seem like they need to think the game better at times as well, a both act like hockey's version of Brett Favre.

Both guys have lots of work to do, but the way people speak a lot of times all across HF you would think Zboril was a CHL free agent looking for a deal and Chabot was the next Drew Doughty.

I'm going to watch him more closely Friday I could be missing something here but he's no McAvoy

 

[SPLBRUIN]

I'm going to watch him more closely Friday I could be missing something here but he's no McAvoy

McAvoy is a guy who can play in every situation on the ice whether it be PP, PK, even strength, etc. I do not see that in Chabot, at this point he is an offensive dynamo but needs to bulk up and shore up his D. McAvoy's physique and physicality let's him play a big boy's game at the NHL level at a young age, don't know if Chabot will ever be able to do that.

 

[DKH]

McAvoy is a guy who can play in every situation on the ice whether it be PP, PK, even strength, etc. I do not see that in Chabot, at this point he is an offensive dynamo but needs to bulk up and shore up his D. McAvoy's physique and physicality let's him play a big boy's game at the NHL level at a young age, don't know if Chabot will ever be able to do that.

Would you deal Carlo for Chabot

 

[ODAAT]

Would you deal Carlo for Chabot

You didn`t ask me but I`m gonna let ya know how I feel.............notta bloody chance

 

[SPLBRUIN]

Would you deal Carlo for Chabot

Not a chance.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Entertaining game as Windsor books it ticket to the final with a 4-2 win over the Otters. Erie now plays SJ on a Friday to decide the other finalist. Micheal DiPietro was excellent in facing 35 shots and Jeremy Addison had the hatty for the Spitfires. (Cue the call from Habville that Bergevin has the answer for their scoring woes in the pipeline.)

Perfect script playing out so far for the Spitfire fans and organization. Quite a feat to go undefeated against 3 CHL champs following a 44 day break after they were eliminated early in the OHL playoffs. Was expecting the Otters to win tonight because of how they had played in their first 2 games. Windsor with its stellar goaltending an timely scoring had other plans.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Are you watching a different tournament? You must have mentioned either 'London' or 'Knights' at least 10 times in your posts.

 

[DominicT]

Are you watching a different tournament? You must have mentioned either 'London' or 'Knights' at least 10 times in your posts.

I'm beginning to think I am in the wrong city

 

[Johnnyduke]

I know it's been this way for a long time but as someone who follows college hockey very closely...the idea of having a host team automatically qualify to participate for the championship will never make sense to me.

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Are you watching a different tournament? You must have mentioned either 'London' or 'Knights' at least 10 times in your posts.

nope but maybe tired, a knights fan, stupid........ . You can pick one or all.

Will at least fix the last one.

 

[Kosikarzzz]

The attendance hasn't been that great for such a big tournament.
Went to Saturdays game and it was nice to see how far some fans came to cheer their team on. Nice people.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I know it's been this way for a long time but as someone who follows college hockey very closely...the idea of having a host team automatically qualify to participate for the championship will never make sense to me.

I kind of felt the same way until a few years ago when I watched Shawinigan win it. The host teams have won the Cup 9 times since the current format was adopted in 1983. Nine out of 34 is better than 25%. I am no M-Cup expert, but the team that is hosting knows more than a year in advance and I would imagine that most of those organizations go out of their way try to ice a competitive team if they are the host. By all accounts, Windsor could have easily made the tournament on their own merit, even if they weren't the host.

Looking forward to the game Friday night. The Seadogs should have plenty of motivation for the rematch after getting embarrassed in the first game.

 

[BruinsBtn]

I kind of felt the same way until a few years ago when I watched Shawinigan win it. The host teams have won the Cup 9 times since the current format was adopted in 1983. Nine out of 34 is better than 25%. I am no M-Cup expert, but the team that is hosting knows more than a year in advance and I would imagine that most of those organizations go out of their way try to ice a competitive team if they are the host. By all accounts, Windsor could have easily made the tournament on their own merit, even if they weren't the host.

Looking forward to the game Friday night. The Seadogs should have plenty of motivation for the rematch after getting embarrassed in the first game.

They were knocked out in the first round of the OHL playoffs after finishing fifth in their division.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

They were knocked out in the first round of the OHL playoffs after finishing fifth in their division.

Thought I read on this board (not in this thread) that Windsor played in one of the toughest divisions in the CHL (Erie, London, Osh, SSM) and that they had some injury problems earlier, but were now very healthy?? They had a regular season record of 41-19-5-3 (.662), which is not chopped liver.

Also, in an earlier link to a preview by Sam Consentino, he spoke about how evenly matched this field was and that Windsor has 10 players under contract with NHL teams. Any team with that many guys headed to the pros is bad.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Yep. Windsor is much better than their playoff performance showed...their division was ridiculously tough and they drew the short end of the straw with their first round matchup against London.