What an entertaining game! Some thoughts...
I thought the youth struggled.
- O’Gara with turnovers and chasing the play,y vacating the front of his net to chase pucks in his partners corner.
- Carlo didn’t cover back door on the PP goal against. On the third goal he had two chances to make a play and he just swats it into Blue Jackets twice.
- Next shift O’Gara has a chance to make a play on a puck in front of his own net and zips a pass right to the CLB defenseman who hits the outside of the post on a shot.
- Czarnik takes a penalty that sets up the PP goal, lost 83% of this draws. Good effort and drive though. Loved the hit on JJ.
- Acciari took a bad penalty, but looked solid on the 4th line.
- Heinen was fairly quiet but he was also the only kid not making glaring mistakes. He did take a penalty but it looked like a very soft call. He also made some clever passes in the face of incoming hits.
After the first period I couldn't help thinking "be careful what you wish for" since these young players had really put them in a hole.
-I would have pulled Rask after that BS softy 2mins in. Pure garbage at a time when the leaders should have been setting the bar for being sharp and competing. Shameful way to start the season.
-Didn’t like Spooner’s game. Maybe he was bummed he didn’t get to play center in Bergeron’s absence, but it seemed like every time he had the puck he turned it over.
Liked the 4th line a lot. Seemed like they spent all their time in the offensive zone and Nash won 77% of his draws.
Backes and Marchand played like leaders. Pasta had a great game too.
I liked Colin Miller's game.
I thought Liles was our best defenseman. 22mins, 6 of our 22 blocked shots, a great blocked pass on a 2on1.
Despite the rookie mistakes on D, the Bruins dominated that game. Edwards said the scoring chances were 20-11 B's with 7mins left and we had a few more good chances (and a goal) after that. Loved the drive from the vets.
It's funny how two people can watch the same game and take very different things out of it. Even more so when I normally agree with most of what you say. Without getting into too much detail, and in no particular order:
I thought the stick infractions called on the rooks were ALL really weak. I watched Shattenkirk do worse on a breakaway last night in the Wild game and it was not called. The inconsistencies in officiating around the NHL drives me nuts.
Thought that Colin Miller was probably the best D-man overall for the whole game. I was not impressed with Liles at all, and thought that Miller really carried that pair.
The young D made some mistakes, but to single out Carlo and ROG on the plays you did was a little misleading. Krug and Liles both had a couple of instances where they handed the puck to CBJ players (F's not D), and IMO Chara was as much/more at fault on the 2nd and 3rd goals.
On the PP goal, in the box, Chara was down low on the puck and he ABSOLUTELY has to deny that cross ice pass through the middle. Carlo had a shot at it to, but he IS a rookie, so I put the onus on the Captain.
Same for the 2nd goal. Chara had two chances to clear the puck as well, and in addition he managed to stumble in front, providing a great screen on the Jones' shot.
I do agree that the 4th line was very good. It's exactly what I want from them. They consistently had strong shifts all night and either maintained momentum or changed it if they went out after a bad stretch.
Also, agree on Spooner and Heinen (and Krejci). Spooner needs to be better, and I thought Heinen played a quiet, but effective game. At this point in his young career, I would put him on the 3rd line. Krejci is still recovering from surgery and I think he needs stronger guys in support right now. Think Backes replaces Heinen when Bergy is back.
Do I really need to say anything about the 1st line? Marchand picked up where he left off in the WCH, and Pasta looks thicker/stronger. Backes is exactly as advertised, heavy on the puck, good on the boards and in front. I think he will be just what the doctor ordered for DK and Spooner (who is not the strongest board guy).
Rask was good, not great. First goal was soft, but I don't fault him at all on the next two (particularly the PP goal).
I liked that the B's didn't quit and that the young players seemed to get better as the game went on.
Based on what I saw last night, (I already posted these) I would try this going forward (if 37 and 54 are healthy):
63-37-88
51-46-42
39-27-43
20-28-55/11
33-25
47-54
44/26-6
Based on seniority, Clode probably put Hayes on the 3rd line RW instead of Heinen (which is a mistake IMO), and he probably sits ROG for Liles (also a mistake). I can see Liles over ROG because of his ability to play on the PP, but I don't think he is much better than O'Gara overall (if at all).
(and no, it wasn't "Somebody Start a Fight or Something")
