Series Talk: 2023 ECQF - BOSTON BRUINS (A1) vs Florida Panthers (WC2)

[22Brad Park]

What exactly is the Bergeron injury or are they not saying ?

No idea but I heard them say before hab game he was dealing with soreness snd was a bit shocked he was not resting

 

[Tbaybruin]

This is the first meaningful game in a very long time. This team is ready to crush it in a big way. I really believe our D will put up a ton of points. The crowd will be deafening and the players will respond. 6-2 opening night.

 

[JustinCaron]

Can't wait for this series to get started. I think the Panthers gives the Bruins a bigger test than many are expecting.

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bruins vs Panthers Series Preview - The Hockey Writers Boston Bruins Latest News, Analysis & More

The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs start April 17th, here's a look at the first-round matchup between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers

thehockeywriters.com

 

[burstnbloom]

Grzcelyk has had some of the worst playoff games I can remember from a Bruins defenseman over the last few years.

I know he always has good regular season stats, but I have no problem with them benching him in the playoffs. Also fine if they want to start out with him in the lineup as long as they are willing to make the change if he turns into a turnover machine again.

I’m on vacation so this Will likely be my only post about this. Gryz’s play (or the result of the play which is what really matters) are mostly the same as his regular season play over the past 4 seasons. In the playoffs the gf% fortune has not gone his way for sure but for the rest to not lineup he needs to be the only player in history so bad at playoff hockey that he breaks millions of data points worth of precedent. He doesn’t turn into a turnover machine? He’s had turnovers, just like he does in the regular season, but the aggregate possession results are almost identical.

What he hasn’t done ever is be so slow and incapable of retrieving a puck so as to need to block 5 shots on one shift before.

 

[Gee Wally]

How hard is it to beat the Bruins? We asked their opponents. - The Boston Globe

“Obviously there’s skill and talent there, but for me, I think what makes them special is just that bond they have,” Coyote Josh Brown said. “It truly is a brotherhood there. And it was pretty special to see.”

www.bostonglobe.com

One thing coaches and players across the league can agree on, however, is that the more the Bruins win, the harder they are to beat.
“Those are dream seasons,” former Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said before facing the Bruins Tuesday. “When you find yourself just winning night after night, you almost forget what losing feels like.”

Boston’s opponents can’t point to any one player, one line, or aspect of the Bruins’ game and say “This is what we need to focus on.”

That all-around dominance leads to all-around confidence, which leads to the Bruins scoring with precision according to Washington defenseman Nick Jensen.

“I’m on the other side looking at them like I don’t even know how they’re making some of these plays,” Jensen said. “But that’s what happens when you play with confidence.”

“It’s almost like they’re in each other’s heads,” said Josh Brown, a Coyotes defenseman who played six games with the Bruins last season.

Their offensive prowess aside, the Bruins’ senior leadership group has fostered a powerful team environment that makes them daunting to opponents.

“Obviously there’s skill and talent there, but for me, I think what makes them special is just that bond they have,” Brown said. “It truly is a brotherhood there. And it was pretty special to see.”

“If the pass is not there or they can’t get the shot off, then it’s going right back up to the top and there’s going to be a shot coming with two tips or a screen,” Brown said. “It’s a fun part to watch as long as you’re not on the other side of it.”

Capitals winger Tom Wilson echoed Brown’s sentiment after Washington’s 5-2 loss at TD Garden on Tuesday.

“They just have threats from everywhere,” Wilson said. “Every guy can shoot. Every guy can pass. So you have to honor everything.”

“If you give them the puck, turnovers, that kind of stuff, they’re going to capitalize 98 percent of the time,” Donato said.

To prevent giveaways and easy goals, many of the Bruins’ opponents focus on the simplest game plan possible. Donato said that’s true for the Kraken, who shut out the Bruins, 3-0, on Jan. 12. Anthony Duclair of the Florida Panthers, whom the Bruins will face in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, said the same thing.

“Against these guys, we’re going to have to stay disciplined,” Duclair said after the Panthers’ loss to the Hurricanes on Thursday. “We can’t have these guys go on a power play frenzy. We know how talented they are, breaking records all year.”

Some, including Kraken coach Dave Hakstol, say that the raucous crowd makes opposing teams’ weaknesses even more apparent.

“This has been the hardest building to play in for visiting teams,” Hakstol said before the Kraken shut out the Bruins at TD Garden in January.

But Laviolette, whose team was also responsible for one of the Bruins’ four losses at home this season, said it wouldn’t matter where the Bruins play. They’re just as dominant on the road as they are at home.
“It’s the team, not necessarily the place,” Laviolette said. “They’ve beaten everybody, whether it’s home or road. … It’s always a little bit more difficult coming into a building — and this can be a lively building, for sure — but I think their record speaks for itself.”

There is no magic formula to beating the Bruins.

But that doesn’t mean the teams they face in the playoffs aren’t going to try to figure it out.

“We have a chance to do something very, very special, but it’s going to take a lot of preparation and a lot of execution,” said Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk. “It’s going to be a challenge for sure.”

 

[Ladyfan]

I honestly can't believe Bergy may not play.

If Bergy is injured or ill, he should rest up.

I am not for having him play unless he is close to 100%.

He will be needed and must be healthy as we get further into the playoffs

 

[BruinDust]

Why do people just pull things out of their asses like this? FL a big hitting team? they are 25th in hits and just got publicly called soft by their top star's dad.

Seems like that is the narrative around here for every team the Bruins face in the playoffs the past few years.

Florida has decent size and physicality on D. Gudas is a cheap-shot artist of the highest order. Always has been a dirty player. But their size and physicality isn't overwhelming.

Up front, Sam Bennett lead the team in hits with 150. May not be ready for Game 1. He also took 800 face-offs so if he wants to run around hitting guys while manning center-ice and taking himself out of position, than by all means go ahead as the Bruins structure will pick his line apart.

Next on the hit list is Ryan Lomberg with 149, all 5'9 185 lbs of him.

This concept that Matthew Tkachuk is physical and dirty is also false. He's just a agitating mouth-piece who rarely backs it up. He does go to the net I'll give him that. This concept that Tkachuk "drags his teams into the fight" at playoff time is bull.

 

[NeelyDan]

I am weirdly nervous. It must be the nature of the regular season we just had.

Last night I dreamed the Habs were our first round opponent and in game 1 they scored 14 seconds in. Then I couldn't find my hockey gear and had to play naked?

 

[Hookslide]

No they don’t. They just say the bruins won’t win the Cup.

They also pick the Kings to win two rounds but also the Oilers to win the Cup. Which tells you how much you should care about this article.

I have not watched ESPN in years unless the Bruins are being televised by them , and I will continue not to watch they lost me a long time ago with the boobs they trot out in front of the camera . Many posters on this sight although I might not always agree with and them with me have more knowledge of the game and are more prepared to talk about the games .

 

[Hookslide]

Panthers in 7.
I could see them taking one game in Boston.

Felger stick to radio , then we can turn the dial...........

 

[Hookslide]

Listened to Sweeney today saying if no Bergeron it would be Zacha .I have no say but rather Krecji move up and have Zacha with Pasta and Bert because they looked awesome down stretch.Anyhow my 2 cents hope Bergeron feels better

I am with you ,no Bergey move Krecji in with Marchand and DeBrusk , Zacha,Bert, and Pasta works for me...........

 

[Prominence Problem]

Thanks for the chuckle. I see that you're a Blue Jays fan (that says it all). How's the weather in Toronto?

I stumbled upon this thread by accident, but I'll reply to you so I don't seem rude.
Actually weather in Toronto this last half week was really nice. Four straight days in the low to mid 80s with about zero clouds. The roof was open on the sky dome for 5 of 6 days. Unheard of for this time of year. People said they've never seen it open so early in the year.
Got to love global warming!

 

[EverettMike]

If Bergeron can't play because he got hurt in the most meaningless regular season game imaginable I am going to be....not thrilled.

 

[bearcountry17]

View attachment 689380

Sorry the truth hurts, Mrs. Grzelcyk.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Sorry the truth hurts, Mrs. Grzelcyk.

You finally getting past trying to use a poor understanding of analytics to just get to the fact that you don’t like Grizz because he’s smol doesn’t hurt.

 

[bearcountry17]

You finally getting past trying to use a poor understanding of analytics to just get to the fact that you don’t like Grizz because he’s smol doesn’t hurt.

Says the guy who thinks a 78.9% oisv% is a good thing. Lol.

I could care less if he’s small and doesn’t hurt if he provided offense or wasn’t clearly exploited by physical play.

Do you think a dman who get’s scored on twice against for every goal he’s on for is performing well?

 

[Sheppy]

I'm willing to give Grzelcyk a shot. However, I'm sure I'll be irritated to an irrational degree when he goes into a corner and coughs up the puck in the slot for a goal after bailing out of contact.

 

[BruinsBtn]

I'm willing to give Grzelcyk a shot. However, I'm sure I'll be irritated to an irrational degree when he goes into a corner and coughs up the puck in the slot for a goal after bailing out of contact.

I find it so weird how much this board hates Gryz and loves AJ Greer, who coughs the puck up more than anyone.

 

[Sheppy]

I find it so weird how much this board hates Gryz and loves AJ Greer, who coughs the puck up more than anyone.

I don't hate either of them.

Aj Greer is a 4th liner who probably shouldn't be playing. Grzelcyk is a big piece of the defense.

 

[EverettMike]

I'm fine. I don't even give a shit. You can't put that I'm mad in the newspaper because I'm not mad. I'm too busy celebrating the regular season wins record.

 

[Spokedb4life]

does anyone have any video of bergy's last shift with him heading to the bench and can see him with any noticeable discomfort?

 

[BruinDust]

I'm willing to give Grzelcyk a shot. However, I'm sure I'll be irritated to an irrational degree when he goes into a corner and coughs up the puck in the slot for a goal after bailing out of contact.

Contact from who? Radko Gudas isn't forechecking.

I'm looking at this Panther forward group and I don't see what there is to worry about from a physical play perspective.

 

[BruinsBtn]

does anyone have any video of bergy's last shift with him heading to the bench and can see him with any noticeable discomfort?

I think it was a hit from Pezzetta near the start of the game, he was running around on a shift. Someone better wreck that moron next year.

 

[KrugAvoy]

I'm fine. I don't even give a shit. You can't put that I'm mad in the newspaper because I'm not mad. I'm too busy celebrating the regular season wins record.

Well the Bruins might be giving many if Lauko lost 8 pounds from it

 

[Sheppy]

Well the Bruins might be giving many if Lauko lost 8 pounds from it

Who said this and why did they even mention it? Why would anyone disclose this? hahaha