Pre-Game Talk: boscar g3

[My Special Purpose]

I'm not sure why, but I'm a bit more positive than most. There are a lot of things that factored into the two game bloodbath in Boston that I think we're overlooking. I think the Canes are eager to show that that wasn't the real "us" up there.

Most of all, we've got a lot of guys making their first playoff appearances. That was a big deal in the first round, but it's a *huge* deal in the conference finals. I remember working the playoffs in 2002 and each round, the media/attention/focus increased by a factor of 3. It is a system shock to play 82 games with the same bunch of media/fans, then look up in the conference finals and not recognize a single person in the media room. NHL PR takes over. Your name is on the table in front of you. Everyone in the league is watching. It's a huge stage, and a really weird feeling.

I'm not surprised the Canes buckled a little. But things will be different here. I'm not sure line-matching matters as much in this series as it did against Washington -- I don't think bad matchups were the problem up there -- but it will be nice. I also expect to see McElhinney. I was wrong before about wanting Mrazek for his fire in Boston. It turns out, McElhinney's calm is what we needed. But hindsight is 20-20. McElhinney's calm should help in G3.

It's a big one, no doubt. But I have faith in the guys. I know it feels different than the first round, but that's beause the stakes are higher. I really don't think we played any worse than G5 in Washington. We were pretty worthless in that one. There's a bit of recency bias going on now, IMO.

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[Svechhammer]

If we win this game, we might be able to use it as a spark to possibly come back. Home is a completely different animal for this team, and they aren't going to go down without a fight. That said, if they lose tomorrow, this series ends in 5, tops.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

This team gets to their game better in front of the home crowd. I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I’m cautiously optimistic because even if they get swept I can’t be mad about any results moving forward after the season we’ve had.

I mean, I don’t want to get swept, mostly to not give satisfaction to the idiots on the main boards. But from a Canes perspective I’m back in “house money” territory. Come on out, put it all on the line, do what you can. If not, come back next year with the “playoff experience” we all talk about you not having.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Leverage the energy in the building to get off to a fast start and that should open Boston's structure a bit. For as much as continues to made about Rask, the Bruins' skaters have made his life pretty easy through 2 games. The Canes need to generate more off the rush and that won't happen if Boston continues to play with controlled aggression.

The PP is the PP, but the PK should rebound. Staal needs to be better on those PK faceoffs, though. Bergeron is gaining possession for Boston in-zone. Carolina is most effective at killing time by disrupting zone entries.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

Did you guys know this series was a best of 3? :: checks notes :: Oh, wait it's a best of seven and we haven't even lost at home yet???

LOL. they better hope they don't let these bunch of jerks win @ home.

ETA: Who do you guys think starts in net in game 3?

I honestly could see either one and I won't be upset either way. Mac has great numbers (even though he was playing against the Islanders who forgot how to score hockey goals) and Mrazek laid a....I don't know...giant mound of crap. Mac could give the team a spark, but I also think it could be seen as a panic move. I would not be shocked to see Mrazek in net game 3.

 

[Borsig]

Without a doubt, McStarter.

Probably should have never gone back to Mrazek but thats hindsight, and not sure it would have made a difference in Game 1. Game 2? well, that would have.

 

[My Special Purpose]

For as much as continues to made about Rask, the Bruins' skaters have made his life pretty easy through 2 games.

This was the other point I planned to make in the OP, but forgot. I know we got humbled in G2, and it's hard to see anything past that. But we dominated the first 40 minutes up there in G1. We made life very hard on Rask. We knew when McGinn missed the empty net that it would come back to cost us, and it did. We were also the better team for the first 14 minutes yesterday, until Mrazek let in the bad goal and the late power play to end the first.

So let's not pretend we didn't hang with them. We did. Let's not pretend the beat-downs were any worse than Washington. They're weren't.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Probably should have never gone back to Mrazek but thats hindsight, and not sure it would have made a difference in Game 1. Game 2? well, that would have.

I'm late to the conversation and everyone's probably already said their peace, but I found the decision to go with Mrazek in Game 2 pretty disappointing. All year long they've been successful with a steady rotation, playing the hot hand. When we get to the playoffs suddenly we're a one-goalie team?

I mean, I get it, you don't want it to be a constant distraction. But Mrazek put up a .899 in the Washington series... he was great when he had to be, but that's a sign of a guy who isn't quite thriving under the workload (which has been the knock on him all along, right?) like he was when he was rotating. We go right back to him for the Isles series on zero rest, he starts off hot which is all good, but then he gets hurt. So McElhinney comes out dead-cold after a 3-week layoff, and plays lights out to close the series (.947). Logic says you continue to play the hot hand right? Nope, we go back to Mrazek again, and he didn't look great. In that context, I really didn't feel good about doubling-down on a guy who clearly has lost his rhythm and who has historically not responded well when that happens. Rod had every reason in the world to give Mac that start. Instead he doubled down on Petr, and it was painful to watch what came after that.

He has to go back to Curtis tomorrow, right? At some point it comes down to "dance with the one who brought you". You've got a guy whose signature is a calm steady positional game, who picked up crucial stretch-drive wins to get into the playoffs, and who came out white-hot the last time he got a chance to play. Not playing him now would be pushing it into "stop being weird" territory.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

This was the other point I planned to make in the OP, but forgot. I know we got humbled in G2, and it's hard to see anything past that. But we dominated the first 40 minutes up there in G1. We made life very hard on Rask. We knew when McGinn missed the empty net that it would come back to cost us, and it did. We were also the better team for the first 14 minutes yesterday, until Mrazek let in the bad goal and the late power play to end the first.

So let's not pretend we didn't hang with them. We did. Let's not pretend the beat-downs were any worse than Washington. They're weren't.

Perhaps it's recency bias, but I don't recall too many quality odd-man rush chances for in Game 1. Boston gave Carolina pretty much norhing in that regard yesterday; in those 14 minutes, the team had 1 scoring chance per NBC.

The absence of those doesn't signal a team underperforming, don't get me wrong. 5v5 in-zone offense is just limited. You'll only get so much cycling, kicking the puck out to the point and chasing rebounds. The Canes are no different than other teams in the league in that their skill players need time and space to make skill plays.

A fast start should lead to a more aggressive Boston forecheck and better counterattack chances. They need a strong push from puck drop tomorrow.

Like others, I'm cautiously optimistic about their ability to make this series, still. I'm not preparing their eulogy just yet.

 

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

Curtis McElhinney will be ready!

 

[zman77]

Boys will be fired up to get a big win in front of their Jerks!
Gotta start Curtis in this one.

 

[Borsig]

If It's not Mac, then I have questions about why.

Zman articulated it better than I did.

I too, called for Petr to start but in restrospect, that was a mistake. I often wonder if Mac actually isn't a guy we should try to keep a little longer. Sure, he's 36. IDK hoe many older goalies can keep that up. I'd be worried about it.

But Petr is kind of tempermental. That's OK until it gets you. Then you need the ice cube. Then again, Ned might be ready. IDK.

We are gun shy on goaltending, for good reason. I for one don't want to have to start worrying about that shit again.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

Hindsight is hindsight for a reason. For those of you who were always on the McStarter train; fine.....but Mrazek only lost his spot due to injury. He was playing really well before that. I don't see how it was "super obvious" to go to Mac for round 3.

I honestly could see Rod starting Mrazek Tuesday--so prepare your blood pressure monitors lol. Assuming that Rod views Petr as the "starter" (which he may or may not), then what message does it send to change goalies after two games away? I don't see a "wrong" move either way, but Rod can be stubborn so I won't be shocked to see Mrazek in net.

 

[BladeRunner66]

This team gets to their game better in front of the home crowd. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Me too, as long as Jacobs influence in this league stops when his team leaves Boston.

 

[BladeRunner66]

GO JERKS!

Destroy'em f***ing gummy bears!

 

[Mad-Marcus]

One Stanley Cup in his ownership years. His influence is overstated, Toronto has more.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

You guys have a great future, a lot of talent, but no experience. This was the B's against the Senators 2 years ago. I do believe you need a real franchise goaltender though. Both Mrazek and Mac are retreads from other teams. Sign Bob from CBJ and you guys will be down right scary next year.

 

[Canes]

You guys have a great future, a lot of talent, but no experience. This was the B's against the Senators 2 years ago. I do believe you need a real franchise goaltender though. Both Mrazek and Mac are retreads from other teams. Sign Bob from CBJ and you guys will be down right scary next year.

If only things were that easy... Bob is going to sign with Florida anyway and they will be regretting that contract in 2-3 years if not sooner. During the regular season he didn't outplay Mrazek much, if at all, especially considering how much he'll be making compared to Mrazek going forward. Plus Boston didn't seem to have a problem solving him the last 3 games of their series.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

Wasn't that easy, he made ridiculous save after ridiculous save. It took 7 games to make him look mortal. Fair enough on Bob, you still need a franchise goalie, neither of the one you have are IT. Hell we didn't expect this run from Rask and most of us are waiting for the gas to run out of the engine as in 2013.
Hang in there and be proud of what you're building. Your team is not easy to play against. They definitely play a style that forces you to keep your head up! As a B's fan since 1967, I can truly appreciate that.
Best of luck to you guys.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

You guys have a great future, a lot of talent, but no experience. This was the B's against the Senators 2 years ago. I do believe you need a real franchise goaltender though. Both Mrazek and Mac are retreads from other teams. Sign Bob from CBJ and you guys will be down right scary next year.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe this was genuinely not meant to be a troll. lol. The series is not over yet so we'll focus on this year before worrying about the next.

Thank you, though, I do agree we should hopefully have a bright future.

 

[Drivebytrucker]

Without a doubt, McStarter.

Probably should have never gone back to Mrazek but thats hindsight, and not sure it would have made a difference in Game 1. Game 2? well, that would have.

If you think it mattered what goalie we started in game 2, you didn't watch game 2

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

Which vet is starting our GDT for Game 3?

or perhaps we should not have one, since the series is over

 

[Hinterland]

I'm late to the conversation and everyone's probably already said their peace, but I found the decision to go with Mrazek in Game 2 pretty disappointing. All year long they've been successful with a steady rotation, playing the hot hand. When we get to the playoffs suddenly we're a one-goalie team?

I mean, I get it, you don't want it to be a constant distraction. But Mrazek put up a .899 in the Washington series... he was great when he had to be, but that's a sign of a guy who isn't quite thriving under the workload (which has been the knock on him all along, right?) like he was when he was rotating. We go right back to him for the Isles series on zero rest, he starts off hot which is all good, but then he gets hurt. So McElhinney comes out dead-cold after a 3-week layoff, and plays lights out to close the series (.947). Logic says you continue to play the hot hand right? Nope, we go back to Mrazek again, and he didn't look great. In that context, I really didn't feel good about doubling-down on a guy who clearly has lost his rhythm and who has historically not responded well when that happens. Rod had every reason in the world to give Mac that start. Instead he doubled down on Petr, and it was painful to watch what came after that.

He has to go back to Curtis tomorrow, right? At some point it comes down to "dance with the one who brought you". You've got a guy whose signature is a calm steady positional game, who picked up crucial stretch-drive wins to get into the playoffs, and who came out white-hot the last time he got a chance to play. Not playing him now would be pushing it into "stop being weird" territory.

This doesn't make much sense. 89,9% is very good against Washington...especially considering how much of a joke the Canes PK is. Goalies averaged just 89% saves against Washington this season. Mrazek only allowed one weak goal all series long...the Backstrom goal in game 1.

I was unable to watch game 2. Wanted to watch it afterwards but didn't feel like it given the result.
In game 1 though, Mrazek was very good. The Canes lost because of the Refs and because McGinn covered nobody on the PK leading to two PP-goals for the Bruins. So even if the game 2 loss was Mrazeks fault, you don't change your goalie because of one bad game.
Also, let's not forget that McElhinney let in a very weak goal against the Isle. Granted, the series was pretty much over by then...but still.