Fascinating Scenario for the Bruins Final Game of the Season

[Colt.45Orr]

Saturday, Washington, final game of the year for the Bruins:

1) The Caps have 1st in the East wrapped up at this point and the game means absolutely nothing to them.

2) The Bruins, most likely will be in a position where 8th is their destiny (due to games in had that Ottawa and Toronto hold) so the Caps could be locked into 1st while we are locked into 8th place, making this GAME 1 of an 8 game series. When was the last time this happened?

3) By "Game 1" I mean, the game where you try and bang up and injure their players as much as possible so that it pays off by game 5, 6 and 7 of the real series.

4) Teams always want to try and rest star vets as much as possible before the start of the playoff grind and also want to give a "thank-you" game to their guys who have been riding the bus in the AHL. But, they also always want your whole team back together the last game before the playoffs. The Caps play back-to-back, which means that they will likely be resting all their good players on Saturday and then playing them Sunday.

5) This, combined with point #2, makes things fascinating and means that you can expect Tom Wilson to be running everything in sight and a whole collection of Hershey Bears in the lineup. Zach Sill (last seen in the NHL running McQuaid from behind and giving him a concussion) will be in their line-up as would, I imagine, guys like Liam O'Brien and Garrett Mitchell. None of those guys will play a second in the playoffs and will be running Bruins left, right and centre.

6) The Bruins will dress their top line-up Vs. the Sens based on the importance of the game so they have no "Rest game" for the all stars that need it unless they use the last game Vs. the Caps.

7) I actually like the Bruins chances against the Caps as much or more than against the Leafs and the Caps likely would prefer the Leafs over the playoff vet Bruins.

...Oh yeah, we have a bunch of guys that need and NHL before the playoffs (McAvoy, JFK, Bjork)

Rest/Protection Game:
-Bergeron
-Pastrnak
-Marchand (can't have him in a game like that)
-Krejci
-Spooner
-Backes
-Krug
-Chara
-Carlo

Where does that leave the line-up for that game?

--Beleskey--JFK-- Bjork
--Vatrano--Kuraly--Stafford
--Schaller --Moore--Acciari
--Blidh--Nash--Randell

C. Miller--McQuaid
Morrow--McAvoy
Cross---K. Miller

McIntyre
Dobby​

Do you give old-man-Moore a rest game?

What if you need to win the Washington game to avoid them in the 1st round? Do you play all your stars while they are running your guys in a game that means nothing to them?

I know that right now parts of this thread are still hypothetical, but it could very well become reality in a few days.

Thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[smithformeragent]

I was at the Pens/Flyers regular season finale the year they met in round 1 of the playoffs.

It must have been 2012 I believe.
I remember Malkin scoring his 50th.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Saturday, Washington, final game of the year for the Bruins:

1) The Caps have 1st in the East wrapped up at this point and the game means absolutely nothing to them.

2) The Bruins, most likely will be in a position where 8th is their destiny (due to games in had that Ottawa and Toronto hold) so the Caps could be locked into 1st while we are locked into 8th place, making this GAME 1 of an 8 game series. When was the last time this happened?

3) By "Game 1" I mean, the game where you try and bang up and injure their players as much as possible so that it pays off by game 5, 6 and 7 of the real series.

4) Teams always want to try and rest star vets as much as possible before the start of the playoff grind and also want to give a "thank-you" game to their guys who have been riding the bus in the AHL. But, they also always want your whole team back together the last game before the playoffs. The Caps play back-to-back, which means that they will likely be resting all their good players on Saturday and then playing them Sunday.

5) This, combined with point #2, makes things fascinating and means that you can expect Tom Wilson to be running everything in sight and a whole collection of Hershey Bears in the lineup. Zach Sill (last seen in the NHL running McQuaid from behind and giving him a concussion) will be in their line-up as would, I imagine, guys like Liam O'Brien and Garrett Mitchell. None of those guys will play a second in the playoffs and will be running Bruins left, right and centre.

6) The Bruins will dress their top line-up Vs. the Sens based on the importance of the game so they have no "Rest game" for the all stars that need it unless they use the last game Vs. the Caps.

7) I actually like the Bruins chances against the Caps as much or more than against the Leafs and the Caps likely would prefer the Leafs over the playoff vet Bruins.

...Oh yeah, we have a bunch of guys that need and NHL before the playoffs (McAvoy, JFK, Bjork)

Rest/Protection Game:
-Bergeron
-Pastrnak
-Marchand (can't have him in a game like that)
-Krejci
-Spooner
-Backes
-Krug
-Chara
-Carlo

Where does that leave the line-up for that game?

--Beleskey--JFK-- Bjork
--Vatrano--Kuraly--Stafford
--Schaller --Moore--Acciari
--Blidh--Nash--Randell

C. Miller--McQuaid
Morrow--McAvoy
Cross---K. Miller

McIntyre
Dobby​

Do you give old-man-Moore a rest game?

What if you need to win the Washington game to avoid them in the 1st round? Do you play all your stars while they are running your guys in a game that means nothing to them?

I know that right now parts of this thread are still hypothetical, but it could very well become reality in a few days.

Thoughts?

Good chance we won't have to worry about that.

 

[Cory Trevor]

I like the idea of reduced minutes and sit a few of the core guys. They've been playing playoff hockey for three weeks now already so could use the rest...

 

[cobrak]

I would like to give Debrusk a one or two game call-up and throw him on Bergie's line as a Marchand replacement for any suspension time.

 

[Fenway]

Right now I am just happy that there is more hockey beyond Saturday

 

[Fossy21]

Good chance we won't have to worry about that.

Prust spears Marchand, no call in the game, 5k fine.
Marchand spears Dotchin, 5+GM, 2 or more games suspension?

 

[Langway]

FWIW the Caps don't have the cap space to call up a couple of Hershey grinders to run around. They may sit a couple of D and a forward but they'd be replaced by existing reserve players only (Schmidt, Chorney, Carey).

Boston won't be locked into the WC2 spot heading into Saturday's game even if they lose in regulation Thursday. At best they may know that zero points Saturday makes WC2 exceedingly likely but even that likely depends on Sunday's outcomes.

 

[ChaosLord]

If Boston beats Ottawa and then beats a Washington team with nothing to play for, they are not finishing at #8.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Ottawa game is going to be intense and "Borvo Cop" is going to be running Pastrnak all game... I'd sure like to give him a healthy diet of Accairi and Blidh.


We have to get McAvoy, JFK and Bjork into a game and we have to rest a bunch of guys (mentally, as much as physically --that rest game before the playoffs is crucial)...


How do we go about doing it?

 

[Colt.45Orr]

I like the idea of reduced minutes and sit a few of the core guys. They've been playing playoff hockey for three weeks now already so could use the rest...

Absolutely.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

FWIW the Caps don't have the cap space to call up a couple of Hershey grinders to run around. They may sit a couple of D and a forward but they'd be replaced by existing reserve players only (Schmidt, Chorney, Carey).

Really great information --thanks!

That is a huge advantage we have over them then (cap space) --use the cap space/ call-ups to our advantage and rest all of our guys for the last game.

Blidh + Randell (jump Tom Wilson as soon as he starts looking for killshots) in the line-up for sure. Take the game to the gutter while resting all our stars.

 

[Ivo]

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. The Bruins have control of their own destiny now over Ottawa. If we beat them on Thursday and win the last game, they finish behind us even if they win out the rest of their games.

The Sportsclubstats currently give the Bruins a higher chance of finishing in an Atlantic spot (70%) than Toronto (67%) and Ottawa (64%).

 

[TimThomas24]

This isn't really fascinating at all haha. Happens almost yearly when a playoff preview is at the end of the year. Could be guys resting for both and will probably be the most boring game of the year. You're looking to deep into this.

 

[13Hockey]

I think the Bruins beat up the banged up Senators Thursday

Thus giving us full control of our destiny to stay in the Atlantic

I see Washington resting most of there guys and the Bruins will roll them over and finsh either A2 or A3

Yes the caps own us in the regular season

But I still think the Caps would rather play the Senators in Round 1 than the Bruins who our top 10 in almost every single category in the NHL have no injuries are playing .700 hockey under Cassidy and have a roster full of stanley cup experience

They are a 108 Point Pace Team with Tuukka Rask in net this season

Boston 42 ROWs +25
Ottawa 37 ROWs -2

This Bruins team is no normal 8 seed if they fall there they have the 9th most ROW's (Regulation/OT Wins) in the NHL ahead of teams like Edmonton, Anaheim, Ottawa, Toronto...The Bruins have 1 less ROW than Montreal...2 Less than NYR and Minnesota, and just 3 less than Pittsburgh

The Bruins have the 6th best goal diff in the East, 10th best goal diff in the NHL

Where as the Senators will be the only team to make the playoffs will a minus goal differential they have the least amount of ROWs (Regulation/OT Wins) of any team that will make the playoffs and are loaded with injuries, they are one of the worst possession teams in the league and the worst 5 on 5 team in the league..The Senators are by far gonna be the worst team to make the playoffs between either conference

I say if the B's win Thursday Caps just lay down Saturday and than Sweep Ottawa


Also Brandon Holtby Career Splits

vs Boston 11-2-0 1.80 GAA .945 SV%
vs Ottawa 6-3-1 1.90 GAA .938 SV%
vs Toronto 6-2-1 2.11 GAA .931 SV%

Holtby owns all 3 teams

 

[Ivo]

I think the Bruins beat up the banged up Senators Thursday

Thus giving us full control of our destiny to stay in the Atlantic

I see Washington resting most of there guys and the Bruins will roll them over and finsh either A2 or A3

Yes the caps own us in the regular season

But I still think the Caps would rather play the Senators in Round 1 than the Bruins who our top 10 in almost every single category in the NHL have no injuries are playing .700 hockey under Cassidy and have a roster full of stanley cup experience

They are a 108 Point Pace Team with Tuukka Rask in net this season

Boston 42 ROWs +25
Ottawa 37 ROWs -2

This Bruins team is no normal 8 seed if they fall there they have the 9th most ROW's (Regulation/OT Wins) in the NHL ahead of teams like Edmonton, Anaheim, Ottawa, Toronto...The Bruins have 1 less ROW than Montreal...2 Less than NYR and Minnesota, and just 3 less than Pittsburgh

The Bruins have the 6th best goal diff in the East, 10th best goal diff in the NHL

Where as the Senators will be the only team to make the playoffs will a minus goal differential they have the least amount of ROWs (Regulation/OT Wins) of any team that will make the playoffs and are loaded with injuries, they are one of the worst possession teams in the league and the worst 5 on 5 team in the league..The Senators are by far gonna be the worst team to make the playoffs between either conference

I say if the B's win Thursday Caps just lay down Saturday and than Sweep Ottawa

I agree. A few weeks ago I thought the Caps would choose to play us, if they have a choice, but with the way the Bruins are playing lately, and with Ottawa playing several guys I have never heard of on their defense, I think they would rather play the Senators. Which is good for us, since they will have nothing to play for in the last game.

 

[Terrier]

Bjork may be busy on Saturday. I wish McAvoy and JFK were busy too, but oh well.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

If Boston beats Ottawa and then beats a Washington team with nothing to play for, they are not finishing at #8.

Ya this

 

[KnightofBoston]

Ya know, everyone - myself included - wants to avoid Washington and play Toronto, but before last night's game I started getting this weird feeling that the bruins would rather face Washington in the end...the hockey gods...just has the feeling of an upset and this is torontos year to make it to the second round

 

[Fenian24]

Just as an aside, Tom Wilson may not be protected by Washington in the expansion draft. A prospect that Washington could protect to the Capitals for Wilson who would make a fine third line RW next year for Boston.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Toronto fan base and organization probably want vengeance for what we did to them in 2013.

We want our come uppance against the Capitals when they knocked us out in the 1st round. Plus we are the underdogs. Bruins do well as the underdog.

Hockey is about to get really intense again!

 

[sarge88]

Saturday, Washington, final game of the year for the Bruins:

1) The Caps have 1st in the East wrapped up at this point and the game means absolutely nothing to them.

2) The Bruins, most likely will be in a position where 8th is their destiny (due to games in had that Ottawa and Toronto hold) so the Caps could be locked into 1st while we are locked into 8th place, making this GAME 1 of an 8 game series. When was the last time this happened?

3) By "Game 1" I mean, the game where you try and bang up and injure their players as much as possible so that it pays off by game 5, 6 and 7 of the real series.

4) Teams always want to try and rest star vets as much as possible before the start of the playoff grind and also want to give a "thank-you" game to their guys who have been riding the bus in the AHL. But, they also always want your whole team back together the last game before the playoffs. The Caps play back-to-back, which means that they will likely be resting all their good players on Saturday and then playing them Sunday.

5) This, combined with point #2, makes things fascinating and means that you can expect Tom Wilson to be running everything in sight and a whole collection of Hershey Bears in the lineup. Zach Sill (last seen in the NHL running McQuaid from behind and giving him a concussion) will be in their line-up as would, I imagine, guys like Liam O'Brien and Garrett Mitchell. None of those guys will play a second in the playoffs and will be running Bruins left, right and centre.

6) The Bruins will dress their top line-up Vs. the Sens based on the importance of the game so they have no "Rest game" for the all stars that need it unless they use the last game Vs. the Caps.

7) I actually like the Bruins chances against the Caps as much or more than against the Leafs and the Caps likely would prefer the Leafs over the playoff vet Bruins.

...Oh yeah, we have a bunch of guys that need and NHL before the playoffs (McAvoy, JFK, Bjork)

Rest/Protection Game:
-Bergeron
-Pastrnak
-Marchand (can't have him in a game like that)
-Krejci
-Spooner
-Backes
-Krug
-Chara
-Carlo

Where does that leave the line-up for that game?

--Beleskey--JFK-- Bjork
--Vatrano--Kuraly--Stafford
--Schaller --Moore--Acciari
--Blidh--Nash--Randell

C. Miller--McQuaid
Morrow--McAvoy
Cross---K. Miller

McIntyre
Dobby​

Do you give old-man-Moore a rest game?

What if you need to win the Washington game to avoid them in the 1st round? Do you play all your stars while they are running your guys in a game that means nothing to them?

I know that right now parts of this thread are still hypothetical, but it could very well become reality in a few days.

Thoughts?

I wish we could clone Randell and play him on all 4 lines and defense pairs.

 

[DominicT]

FWIW the Caps don't have the cap space to call up a couple of Hershey grinders to run around. They may sit a couple of D and a forward but they'd be replaced by existing reserve players only (Schmidt, Chorney, Carey).

Boston won't be locked into the WC2 spot heading into Saturday's game even if they lose in regulation Thursday. At best they may know that zero points Saturday makes WC2 exceedingly likely but even that likely depends on Sunday's outcomes.

Really great information --thanks!

That is a huge advantage we have over them then (cap space) --use the cap space/ call-ups to our advantage and rest all of our guys for the last game.

Blidh + Randell (jump Tom Wilson as soon as he starts looking for killshots) in the line-up for sure. Take the game to the gutter while resting all our stars.

They don't have the cap space to call anyone up?

Disagree.

They have $43,000 in cap space. They can call up multiple players earning $900,000 per season since it only counts as $4,800 per day (each) on the cap - which is calculated daily you must remember.

And then Sunday, there is no cap because the season is over.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

They don't have the cap space to call anyone up?

Disagree.

They have $43,000 in cap space. They can call up multiple players earning $900,000 per season since it only counts as $4,800 per day (each) on the cap - which is calculated daily you must remember.

And then Sunday, there is no cap because the season is over.

That makes more sense... glad to have hfboards cap expert weigh in!

So, again, on Sat the Caps are playing a completely meaningless game against a potential playoff opponent that they will see a few days later.... what would you do? I'd rest my stars and bring up the AHL hit squad from Hershey.

 

[DominicT]

That makes more sense... glad to have hfboards cap expert weigh in!

So, again, on Sat the Caps are playing a completely meaningless game against a potential playoff opponent that they will see a few days later.... what would you do? I'd rest my stars and bring up the AHL hit squad from Hershey.

The coaching staff will probably ask the players what they want to do and it's more likely they rest Sunday versus Florida than Saturday versus Boston.

Still plenty to determine by Saturday but the Caps can, at least partially control who they will play.

Beating the Bruins on Saturday could by then guarantee they play Boston in round one. And if you're the Caps, who would you rather play, Boston, Ottawa or Toronto?

It's not a meaningless game for them, yet.