Post-Game Talk: GAME #28 - Just move along - Nothing to see here - Colorado 4 BRUINS 2 F

[BruinDust]

I am not a Sacco fan or a fan of how they run the PP.

But, with the compressed schedule and lack of practices, you can imagine that blowing up the PP and coming up with something new isn't just as simple as saying "let just put Pasta on PP1!".

Please.

These are professionals, with access to video, etc. etc.

You really think it takes weeks and weeks to change up a PP scheme? Sure you'd probably like more than one practice. But this doesn't, and shouldn't, take a great deal of time.

Especially one that has been an abject failure for almost a full calendar year.

 

[Fenian24]

One measure at how bad last night was is Ladyfan did not check into the thread after getting home.

TD Garden does not scare visiting teams and I have no idea on how they can fix that.

More on a building level, maybe put eye patches on the concessionaires, Hell's Angels to show you to your seat, the Laval Chiefs used to use them as additional security, bring back some of the folks from the late 70's early 80's from the upper balcony, raise the T tracks again and make the area look a bit more shady. .50 cent beer nights.

Seriously get a fourth line that hits and fights and has a bit of an attitude and that would make the building louder and provide a home ice advantage, when your coaches main goal is to put every opponent and fan asleep from boredom it doesn't provide an atmosphere that helps the teams momentum

 

[talkinaway]

The boys have a tough week ahead

Sat, Dec 10 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Mon, Dec 12 @ Poutineville 7:30 PM
Wed, Dec 14 @ Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Thu, Dec 15 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM

Once again they play on the road on Wednesday for NBC while Anaheim will be in Boston watching. Even Toronto can not be considered an easy 2 points. Montreal is a must win just for mental health purposes.

http://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs/matchups

Ugh, I hate these Wednesday-Thursday "rivalry back-to-back"s. I'd rather have the Bruins fall flat on their face in front of a national audience on a Tuesday-Wednesday back-to-back instead. Especially if it means they have 25 hours (minus travel) between games instead of 23 hours (again, minus travel) between games.

We're well off the 1.2 PPG (aka "6 points in 5") mark that would give a fairly safe 98.4 points at the end of the season - we need to win the next two to insure that at the end of 30 games. The Leafs are certainly not invincible, but not a shoo-in like they've been. Over the past couple of years (and past couple of days), the Bruins have had a pattern of losing to bad teams. And the Habs are the proverbial thorn in the bear's paw.

Making it up in the next block of five games is going to be tough too.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

There was a lot to be unhappy about tonight. That said all of the "Spoons is getting picked on" need to watch Fenway's highlights video and watch that first GA really closely.

Spooner showed bad form, fear, and laziness all in one play.

1). Horrible form. You don't flop in front of your goal like that.
2). Turning your back when you try to block a shot in close? Why not play defense with a blindfold.
3). Once he went down he figured his role in play was over.

Watching it again got rid of all hope for him. Great offensive capabilities but can't teach smarts, effort, or courage.

Stick him on the PP & the 4th line and pray he chips in a few goals so you can move him.

you umm happen to miss Kevan Miller for the SECOND game in a row passing to the other team in the SLOT, then screen the goalie trying to make a save for the SECOND game in a row, while Morrow sits. At least Spooner is not playing over someone that is better and proved it.

Face it folks we had an average NHL back up playing for an average NHL team. We lost, it happens usually we have a excellent starter goalie playing in front of an average team, simple and sweet. Some guys are playing over thier heads and some guys have not panned out for the salary they get. Coaching is making the same choices and 2 guys have saved them, Rask and Pasta.

 

[BruinDust]

you umm happen to miss Kevan Miller for the SECOND game in a row passing to the other team in the SLOT, then screen the goalie trying to make a save for the SECOND game in a row, while Morrow sits. At least Spooner is not playing over someone that is better and proved it.

Face it folks we had an average NHL back up playing for an average NHL team. We lost, it happens usually we have a excellent starter goalie playing in front of an average team, simple and sweet. Some guys are playing over thier heads and some guys have not panned out for the salary they get. Coaching is making the same choices as they always have made and 2 guys have saved them, Rask and Pasta.

Khudobin is a below-average NHL back-up.

I'd be willing to place money that their are at least 10 goaltenders in the AHL better than this guy.

 

[Absurdity]

- One line team with no changes to the other lines to get them going.
- Same PP units that aren't working, and Pastrnak, the team's best scorer, is not getting enough PP time even though Bruins can't score.
- Same PP strategy that has failed and is unsuccessful but has not changed.
- More excuses from the coaching staff.
- Use general excuses for the team when your veterans play like crap (Kevan Miller, forwards etc.) but single out someone like Spooner when he isn't producing playing LW instead of the position he's more comfortable in at C.

It's all Khudobin's fault (he did stink it up yesterday). But when Rask plays, everything will be awesome. It's only 1 loss in 7 games.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

Khudobin is a below-average NHL back-up.

I'd be willing to place money that their are at least 10 goaltenders in the AHL better than this guy.

He stole a game the last time before this one. The point is Rask is stealing mostly every game this year, which is hiding things. MacIntyre deserves a real shot and not the yo-yo thing Claude is famous for, lets find out if he can do it. Lucky they are not in the Metro division, lucky Tampa is without Stammer and Detroit is sucking. I am all for letting Khubobin go. We need a better the average back-up to stay in the race or Rask cannot miss a game.

 

[BruinDust]

He stole a game the last time before this one. The point is Rask is stealing mostly every game this year, which is hiding things. MacIntyre deserves a real shot and not the yo-yo thing Claude is famous for, lets find out if he can do it. Lucky they are not in the Metro division, lucky Tampa is without Stammer and Detroit is sucking. I am all for letting Khubobin go. We need a better the average back-up to stay in the race or Rask cannot miss a game.

Rask is hiding things, but overall to these eyes team defense has improved by a decent margin this year compared to last. Rask and the overall team D is helping this teams record because it's offense at 5 on 5 and special teams is putrid.

Khudobin has been good-very good in one game (vs. Carolina), decent in another (the lose to the Habs at the Garden), and putrid in the other 3.

I'd have no issue with waiving Khudobin and giving McIntyre a shot. I'd prefer someone more proven, but I liked his overall work better than Khudobin, albeit my expectations were different.

And maybe watching so many back-ups absolutely stone the Bruins over the last few years has skewed my perception of back-ups in general.

 

[VanIsle]

Pasta should be like Kovalchuk on the pp, playing the entire 2 minutes. Not that crazy but you get my point. Play yourbest goal scorer the most when he has the biggest opportunity to score.

Until Claude is gone nothing will change, if some people are fine with the Millers and Hayes playing more then they should then all the power to you but I want winners mentality not a grind it out for a tie with defensive minded players that would not even be in the NHL mentality.

Gallant would look great behind the bench.

 

[BruinDust]

Pasta should be like Kovalchuk on the pp, playing the entire 2 minutes. Not that crazy but you get my point. Play yourbest goal scorer the most when he has the biggest opportunity to score.

Until Claude is gone nothing will change, if some people are fine with the Millers and Hayes playing more then they should then all the power to you but I want winners mentality not a grind it out for a tie with defensive minded players that would not even be in the NHL mentality.

Gallant would look great behind the bench.

Florida has handed Sweeney an opportunity on a golden platter.

A proven NHL coach, well-respected, terminated without justification by most accounts, similar to Claude in terms of how he handles players, and his philosophies on the game, but different enough to make a mid-season change and it be enough to impact the team, and give it a fresh set of eyes, a fresh voice, and hopefully some accountability towards the under-performing veterans.

Sweeney should be proactive here.

But instead, Gallant will probably be scooped up by the next team that fires their coach, and Sweeney will have no choice but to promote Cassidy after this team goes on a couple 2 and 10 swoons.

 

[LSCII]

I know I'm nitpicking, but he did callout Spooner less than a week ago. Do you want him to rip into him after every game?

Some **** should be left to the lockerroom, he doesn't have to rip into everyone in the media.

Okay, so he called out one guy that he had recently demoted to the 4th line, and it's a guy he's called out from his first moments here. What a stretch. Just like last night calling out Khudobin instead of the guys he should be.

 

[toasterjam]

What would you like him to say? Just curious.

Isn't it obvious? There is a large contingent of posters who will not be satisfied with anything Claude says except "I quit."

Here we go..ok I see that I write some essays so I forgive people for not wanting to read them but...I said clearly what I would like Clode to say in my previous post.

But I'll try again, how about this:

"This was a bad effort, bad performance by our guys, unacceptable. Back to back games, tired, injuries, sickness...lots of teams deal with adversity and it's NO excuse. We have to be better and we are gonna rework some things so we come out with a better performance vs the leafs, we can't rely on 20 year old Pasta every night"

Is that so mindblowing to expect? is that so unreasonable? instead we got excuses.

This weird "well what is Clode suppose to say?" line of thinking is just faulty. I am not saying he has to call out every player but goddamn you dont have to stand there and give the whole "we were mentally tired, tough back to back schedule" excuse...every team has rough patches and you have to work through it...not rely on Pasta to run the offense most nights...and that's what they are doing.


As for the whole
jgatie:
"Isn't it obvious? There is a large contingent of posters who will not be satisfied with anything Claude says except "I quit."

See I know it's an internet message board, so I do expect this.

So apparently if you criticize Clode, with some pretty reasonable points, you are labeled a blind Clode Hater who isnt happy with anything Clode does and isnt happy until he quits.

Sorry but there is a rational middle ground here. I gave numerous praise last few weeks when Liles and Chara were out and Clode's defensive system held together and we were winning games only letting in a 1 goal and the defense tightened up.


You CAN praise Clode for the good stuff he does AND criticism him for something you feel is a bad decision (like PP tactics/units, Nash on 3rd line, Hayes in line up)

Somehow because I criticize the coach after a bad loss and give my reasoning, with what I think are some valid points, I am labeled a Clode Hater who wants him fired.

I like Clode...I want him to ****ing make adjustments. Cause the offensive scheme ISNT working despite us going on a nice little win streak. It isnt sustainable to rely on Rask and Pasta to play at God levels every night and for Moore to chip in a goal every few games.

That's the other angle posters say "well look we just went on a win streak and we lose a game and here comes all the haters!!!"

Sorry but that win streak we did not have sustainable offense and all the issues people point out are still issues, winning games because Pasta and Rask doesnt negate bad decisions Clode makes. I have no issues giving praise to Clode when they do good.

There may be a band of blind Clode haters on here and they go at it with the band of "Clode does no wrong" crowd.

There is a rational middle ground but I guess it's easier to just not acknowledge any valid criticisms and spew the whole "SEE look Clode can never do right with the haters, no matter what they find something, never happy" Label anyone who makes valid points a Clode hater.

I give Clode praise for good stuff and call him out on the bad stuff.

As for Sacco or whoever is running the PP...I dont expect them to blow up the PP over night and make it work again..but here we are...28 games in and I dont see any improvement or any real attempt to try new personnel or tactics. I don't get how long we are suppose to watch the same thing fail before we change something.


Oh well...I guess I'm just a Clode hater now who wants him fired cause I don't like all the moves he makes and decide to point out some bad moves that I think are causing the team to struggle.

Rask playing amazing, Pasta playing amazing I think are masking alot of the deep issues the team has.

I try and bold the key points if you don't feel like reading all the dumb ramblings I do.

 

[LSCII]

I am not a Sacco fan or a fan of how they run the PP.

But, with the compressed schedule and lack of practices, you can imagine that blowing up the PP and coming up with something new isn't just as simple as saying "let just put Pasta on PP1!".

Compressed schedule.

Claude, is that you???

Stop buying into the excuses. Stop believing the lies and nonsense Claude spews in his pressers. Changes are hard. Trades are hard. Back to back games are difficult. Good god, how much leeway are you willing to give this organization for putting forth yet another sup par team?

 

[Fenway]

Florida has handed Sweeney an opportunity on a golden platter.

A proven NHL coach, well-respected, terminated without justification by most accounts, similar to Claude in terms of how he handles players, and his philosophies on the game, but different enough to make a mid-season change and it be enough to impact the team, and give it a fresh set of eyes, a fresh voice, and hopefully some accountability towards the under-performing veterans.

Sweeney should be proactive here.

But instead, Gallant will probably be scooped up by the next team that fires their coach, and Sweeney will have no choice but to promote Cassidy after this team goes on a couple 2 and 10 swoons.

Gallant will be hired quickly and if Julien is replaced he will be hired quickly as well.

Michel Therrien could be on thin ice as well. Montreal fans wanted Boucher and so far he has done wonders in Ottawa. Montreal will only make a change if a good francophone coach becomes available. Problem is the Bruins don't want Claude going back to Montreal.

Of course who makes the final call in Boston? Don, Cam, Charlie or Papa Jacobs????

The key clue with the Bruins is what Cam said last spring. He said he would most likely get fired if the B's miss the playoffs. Neely has the most to lose as he could never find another situation like he has in Boston.

 

[jgatie]

Here we go..ok I see that I write some essays so I forgive people for not wanting to read them but...I said clearly what I would like Clode to say in my previous post.

<snip the tl;dr>

Essays? Dude, essays would be tolerable. You write manifestos. The freaking Unabomber was more concise. Nobody reads it when you go on and on about the same shtick, and you shouldn't expect them to, never mind getting pissed when they don't.

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

Compressed schedule.

Claude, is that you???

Stop buying into the excuses. Stop believing the lies and nonsense Claude spews in his pressers. Changes are hard. Trades are hard. Back to back games are difficult. Good god, how much leeway are you willing to give this organization for putting forth yet another sup par team?

I agree and it goes for Julien, Sweeney, Chiarelli, Neely, whoever. If doing your job is "too hard", you probably shouldn't have it.

 

[LSCII]

Essays? Dude, essays would be tolerable. You write manifestos. The freaking Unabomber was more concise. Nobody reads it when you go on and on about the same shtick, and you shouldn't expect them to, never mind getting pissed when they don't.

I thought his point was pretty succinct in that post, despite the number of words. Claude needs to make some proactive changes instead of fiddling like Nero as Rome burns, which is his usual MO.

 

[LSCII]

I agree and it goes for Julien, Sweeney, Chiarelli, Neely, whoever. If doing your job is "too hard", you probably shouldn't have it.

Exactly. It's a hard job, which is why there are so few people who are successful at it. It's an assumed thing going in, so there's no need to invoke that as an excuse on a regular basis. If it's too much for you, get out.

 

[toasterjam]

Essays? Dude, essays would be tolerable. You write manifestos. The freaking Unabomber was more concise. Nobody reads it when you go on and on about the same shtick, and you shouldn't expect them to, never mind getting pissed when they don't.

hahah sorry, for real though I wasnt pissed, I was saying that I understand people dont read the essay posts, that's why I try and bold my key points. Guess that doesnt come across well through text. but ok, I'll try cliffnotes version

what I'd like Clode to say:
"This was a bad effort, bad performance by our guys, unacceptable. Back to back games, tired, injuries, sickness...lots of teams deal with adversity and it's NO excuse. We have to be better and we are gonna rework some things so we come out with a better performance vs the leafs, we can't rely on 20 year old Pasta every night"

my response to your post:
Sorry but there is a rational middle ground here. I gave numerous praise last few weeks when Liles and Chara were out and Clode's defensive system held together and we were winning games only letting in a 1 goal and the defense tightened up.
You CAN praise Clode for the good stuff he does AND criticism him for something you feel is a bad decision (like PP tactics/units, Nash on 3rd line, Hayes in line up)

I get that rather than acknowledge any of my points, it's easier to label me as "one of the Clode haters"

There is a rational middle ground but I guess it's easier to just not acknowledge any valid criticisms and spew the whole "SEE look Clode can never do right with the haters, no matter what they find something, never happy" Label anyone who makes valid points a Clode hater.


hope that wasnt too long for you

actually disregard all that, it wont actually matter to you so I'll speak more on your level and what you want to hear me say

"omg clode sux fired him"

I'll try and remember to keep things very simple for you when we interact on here..sometimes these posts just write themselves

 

[Aeroforce]

In somewhat of a defense of Claude's excuses -

The 'compressed schedule' is an issue for every team. I watch a lot of out of town games, and have seen more powerful teams than Boston look sluggish and lose to lesser teams on back-to-backs. Frequently. I don't know if the players are regretting this decision to get their five-day-bye, but as a fan, many games have been dull with tired teams playing not to lose.

Personnel - he rested Rask, and that didn't work out in their favor. So juggling other positions isn't guaranteed to yield results.

The opponent - it sounds even more damning to say they lost to the worst team in the league (who statistically no longer are after getting two points last night). But along with all the other 'excuses' about tired legs, compressed schedule, insufficient backup goaltending - the Avalanche are not the Cleveland Browns. There really are no gimmes in the NHL.

As for Jimmy Hayes on at the end of the game. IIRC, the top line players were gassed and it was late enough that the game was basically over, being down two.

Hindsight being 20/20 - Detroit played their AHL call-up goalie against the powerful Penguins last weekend on the first of a back-to-back (lost), and used their starter the next day against the Islanders (won). I can't read Blashill's mind, but it seemed as if he was conceding the game against the Pens and going for two against the Isles, which is what happened.

So Julien could have 'conceded' the game against the Caps by playing Khudobin, and played Rask against the Avs. But I like that he played his best against the better team.

 

[Brewins]

In somewhat of a defense of Claude's excuses -

The 'compressed schedule' is an issue for every team. I watch a lot of out of town games, and have seen more powerful teams than Boston look sluggish and lose to lesser teams on back-to-backs. Frequently. I don't know if the players are regretting this decision to get their five-day-bye, but as a fan, many games have been dull with tired teams playing not to lose.

Personnel - he rested Rask, and that didn't work out in their favor. So juggling other positions isn't guaranteed to yield results.

The opponent - it sounds even more damning to say they lost to the worst team in the league (who statistically no longer are after getting two points last night). But along with all the other 'excuses' about tired legs, compressed schedule, insufficient backup goaltending - the Avalanche are not the Cleveland Browns. There really are no gimmes in the NHL.

As for Jimmy Hayes on at the end of the game. IIRC, the top line players were gassed and it was late enough that the game was basically over, being down two.

Hindsight being 20/20 - Detroit played their AHL call-up goalie against the powerful Penguins last weekend on the first of a back-to-back (lost), and used their starter the next day against the Islanders (won). I can't read Blashill's mind, but it seemed as if he was conceding the game against the Pens and going for two against the Isles, which is what happened.

So Julien could have 'conceded' the game against the Caps by playing Khudobin, and played Rask against the Avs. But I like that he played his best against the better team.

With the hayes line on that late, the only thing I could guess was that they where resting the top players for the goalie pulled push in the last two minutes. His shift after that was just hope for anyone to score with the rest of the regulars being tired after the extended shift.

 

[jgatie]

hahah sorry, for real though I wasnt pissed, I was saying that I understand people dont read the essay posts, that's why I try and bold my key points. Guess that doesnt come across well through text. but ok, I'll try cliffnotes version

Fine, then it doesn't apply to you. It's tough to get a read on someone when you fall asleep halfway through their Herman Melville-ian posts. But please don't deny that there is a contingent of "fans' in here that will never be satisfied with anything Claude says except "I quit." Hell, we have one in here who is so quick on the trigger to bash Claude he thought Tory Krug was talking about an entire team for the length of a game instead of a single PK shift.

 

[LSCII]

In somewhat of a defense of Claude's excuses -

The 'compressed schedule' is an issue for every team. I watch a lot of out of town games, and have seen more powerful teams than Boston look sluggish and lose to lesser teams on back-to-backs. Frequently. I don't know if the players are regretting this decision to get their five-day-bye, but as a fan, many games have been dull with tired teams playing not to lose.

Personnel - he rested Rask, and that didn't work out in their favor. So juggling other positions isn't guaranteed to yield results.

The opponent - it sounds even more damning to say they lost to the worst team in the league (who statistically no longer are after getting two points last night). But along with all the other 'excuses' about tired legs, compressed schedule, insufficient backup goaltending - the Avalanche are not the Cleveland Browns. There really are no gimmes in the NHL.

As for Jimmy Hayes on at the end of the game. IIRC, the top line players were gassed and it was late enough that the game was basically over, being down two.

Hindsight being 20/20 - Detroit played their AHL call-up goalie against the powerful Penguins last weekend on the first of a back-to-back (lost), and used their starter the next day against the Islanders (won). I can't read Blashill's mind, but it seemed as if he was conceding the game against the Pens and going for two against the Isles, which is what happened.

So Julien could have 'conceded' the game against the Caps by playing Khudobin, and played Rask against the Avs. But I like that he played his best against the better team.

Given Rask's very spotty record against the Caps, it would have been a move I had no issues with had he started Dobby. You know, play the odds?

 

[toasterjam]

Fine, then it doesn't apply to you. It's tough to get a read on someone when you fall asleep halfway through their Herman Melville-ian posts. But please don't deny that there is a contingent of "fans' in here that will never be satisfied with anything Claude says except "I quit." Hell, we have one in here who is so quick on the trigger to bash Claude he thought Tory Krug was talking about an entire team for the length of a game instead of a single PK shift.

Ok and if you read the essay post I DID touch on that too..but to save you the effort I'll just repost that one little section. Never denied the existence of blind Clode haters..I said:

"There may be a band of blind Clode haters on here and they go at it with the band of "Clode does no wrong" crowd.

There is a rational middle ground but I guess it's easier to just not acknowledge any valid criticisms and spew the whole "SEE look Clode can never do right with the haters, no matter what they find something, never happy" Label anyone who makes valid points a Clode hater. "

I get it man...there are all kinds of people on here pushing all kinds of agendas. I guess that's what a message board is. We all have our theories and points to make.

I guess instead of long posts trying to rationally explain myself I should just join one of the sides and post more snarky one liners, I've got some of those.

I don't urge anyone to read my long posts, they are usually nice and therapeutic to write and I never realize how much I wrote until I post it.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Given Rask's very spotty record against the Caps, it would have been a move I had no issues with had he started Dobby. You know, play the odds?

I would have done that. Dobby against the better team and Rask against the weakest. The chances of getting at least 2pts out of 4 would have been better that way.

Bruins got 1pt because of their great come back against the Caps and Dobby crapped the bed again against the Avs...