Post-Game Talk: GAME 31 - Sleeping in Seattle - Kraken 5 BRUINS 1

[Fenway]

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Time On Ice: BOS

Time On Ice: SEA

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SEATTLE — The long-and-winding road delivered the Bruins to another dead end Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.

Paced by a pair of Oliver Bjorkstrand goals, and the steady work of Philipp Grubauer (33 saves) in net, the Kraken dismissed the Bruins, 5-1, leaving the Black-Gold 0-for-2 on their five-game road trip.
That’s 0-for-2 with only two goals scored.

The Bruins will be in Vancouver Saturday night for stop No. 3 on their five-game Western swing.
The Kraken took an early 2-0 lead, Bjorkstrand connecting on a power-play goal only 24 seconds into play, followed by Jaden Schwartz at even strength.


With only 5:14 off the clock, the Bruins were faced with a two-goal uphill climb that they couldn’t erase.
After scoring only once in the road trip opener Tuesday night (an 8-1 shellacking in Winnipeg) the Bruins scored the lone goal in the second period when Brad Marchand scored on a penalty shot at the 10:28 mark.

Marchand was awarded the free chance when Brandon Montour, the one-time UMass-Amherst backliner, was charged with covering the puck in the crease as Marchand attempted to jam the puck over the goal line at the left post.

On his freebie, Marchand barreled in alone, faked a forehand shot in the low slot, and then slid a sleight-of-hand backhander through goalie Grubaeur’s five-hole. It was Marchand’s seventh career penalty-shot goal, tying him with Pavel Bure, the Russian Rocket, for the league’s all-time lead. The L’il Ball o’Hate previously was tied at No. 2 with Mario Lemieux.

The Kraken, currently out of the playoff mix in the West, put it out of reach in the third on goals by Vince Dunn and Bjorkstrand’s second of the night, boosting the lead to 4-1. Jared McCann closed out the scoring with an empty-netter with 1:54 to go.

Joonas Korpisalo made 16 saves on 20 shots in the Bruins' net.
The Bruins lost the services of Elias Lindholm midway through the second period. The underperforming center (31 games: 3-10–13) who signed a $54.25 million deal in July as an unrestricted free agent, sustained an upper-body injury.

If Lindholm can’t suit up Saturday night against the Canucks, the Bruins on Friday might consider calling up Matty Poitras from AHL Providence. Assigned to there a month ago, Poitras has wielded a hot stick the last two weeks, and the Bruins now are desperate for offensive pop.

The Bruins, who began the trip after winning a season-high four straight games, now stand 7-4-0 since Joe Sacco took over as interim coach upon the dismissal of Jim Montgomery.

The loss left the Bruins with a 6-7-1 record on the road this season.

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[analyser]

Going to throw this out there and see if it sticks with anyone else's observations, but it is possible that E. Lindholm has been playing hurt since day 1? Recall he missed a bunch of camp with some injury. Anwayway, he left the game early last night and there was nothing visible to indicate any injury. Maybe he aggravated something that was already bothering him by doing something otherwise innocuous that shut him down. He's been bad this season offensively, and whether we think the 80 point season was an outlier or not, he is better than what we've seen by a long way.

He had 44 points in 75 games in 2023-24, not worthy of $7,750,000 per season. DS can always manage to f*** things up and get rid of all top draft picks or pick players who are lucky to play a few games in the NHL.

 

[NDiesel]

Me..... I guess, this calls for a intervention.

Yeah sorry sir, you have a problem lol

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

The signs were there in the pre-season, too. Many people said, oh it's just pre-season, no one plays hard, lots of kids/fringe guys getting time, it will be alright come season start. Well, I did NOT like the way the pre-season went and it wasn't about the scoreboard, but the effort level and even more, just the overall disorganized, sloppy, often clueless way the team played in those games. Something is off with the club right now, and while Monty most certainly had something to do with it, it is starting to look like there is more going on than coaching.

Maybe there are Lindros/Brind'Amour things going on!

Clearly Swayman has aggravated the captain. Could be more than just him.

I'd be more inclined to think lifestyle changes for some major players could be having an effect on play and attitudes.

Somethings happening here....

 

[Dr Hook]

He had 44 points in 75 games in 2023-24, not worthy of $7,750,000 per season. DS can always manage to f*** things up and get rid of all top draft picks or pick players who are lucky to play a few games in the NHL.

That's not the point I am making here, though. Leave the contract aside. Has he been playing hurt? Because whatever you think his true level is (44 or 80) he is better than the 30 point pace he is currently on.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

I managed to watch half of this one and it was enough. Enough to firmly close the book on this season and remove any lingering hope that this team might still be a legit contender. They are not and there is nothing that can feasibly be done that will make them so. They had their little new coach bounce but reality has now returned to smack them hard in the face and it's not pretty. This group is miles away.

Sweeney just has to just accept that he got this one wrong and the organization needs to switch its thinking to next year and beyond. By all means have a look at trade options, but the only moves that should be made before the deadline are ones that will (hopefully) benefit the Bruins long term. No rentals or gap-filling or other nonsense.

There is lots that is going to need to be thought through and determined. My gut says the new, post 2010s core is a total bust and that means going right back to the drawing board and THAT means a long rebuilding phase. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. For now, ride out the season, play some kids, see who on the roster really wants to dig in and stick around, and start thinking hard about where to from here.

Boston was well and truly due this type of season. Sucks that's it's finally here, but best to accept it and look clear-eyed at the future rather than clinging on desperately to what can no longer be.

Good post. We have no core. We are, though, a corpse of a team. Have 0% confidence in either Sweeney or Cam to fix it going forward.

 

[Boston Bandit]

 

[TCB]

Sweeney has had two major off season franchise altering blunders that should earn him the unemployment line. The 2015 draft and this years FA signing of Lindholm+
letting go of 74, 43 and also Boqvist. Then add the Ullmark\Swayman soap operas
and his time son up.

The off season signings of Backes and Belesky hurt as well. Valuable Cap space eaten up and picks given away to eventually take on those contracts with retention.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

The Backes and Belesky signings hurt as well. Valuable Cap space eaten up and picks given away to take on those contracts with retention. Of course that’s just the off-season.

And yet they got to game 7 of the finals with Backes.

 

[BruinDust]

Maybe there are Lindros/Brind'Amour things going on!

Clearly Swayman has aggravated the captain. Could be more than just him.

I'd be more inclined to think lifestyle changes for some major players could be having an effect on play and attitudes.

Somethings happen here....

Is there a double-standard in that room?

Trent Frederic is a team-leading minus 13, takes bad unnecessary penalties, and still gets to dress every single night.

Elias Lindholm has been a black hole on the PP and at EV, and nothing changes. If anything, they'd tried even harder to get him going.

Mason Lohrei leads the D in both points and PP points for a team with the worst offense and worst PP in hockey the past two months, and he paid the price for the Winnipeg debacle.

Nikita Zadorov has taken more minor penalties than anyone else in hockey this year, and has he even been threatened with a night upstairs with a suit on?

They did at times bench their two leading scorers for turnovers.

Maybe had they brought in a new coaching staff with a fresh set of eyes things would of changed. Turns out just promoting the assistant and keeping the rest of the staff hasn't done much to change the overall culture in that room. Looks like they have a double-standard and not everyone is held accountable the same way.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

They'll make the play offs. The league is full of weak , thin rosters.
Bruins are playing the worst hockey they've played in decades ......and sit in a play off spot. Ha!
That's today's watered down 32 team NHL.

Completely agree with you about the NML but their luck is going to run out as there are to many teams they have degraded down near this year. One of the NYI, Ottawa, Pitt, Wings or Flyers will get their acts together.

What they need to do actually is think about trading one or two of their supposed "pillars" for a reasonably degraded positional replacement, a player with speed and a as importantly a #1st round pick from a currently struggling team (NYR - Kreider, Schneider, '25 1st).

 

[hrdpuk]

Maybe there are Lindros/Brind'Amour things going on!

Clearly Swayman has aggravated the captain. Could be more than just him.

I'd be more inclined to think lifestyle changes for some major players could be having an effect on play and attitudes.

Somethings happening here....

This

 

[TCB]

And yet they got to game 7 of the finals with Backes.

The same Backes who was scratched for game 7? I love Backes as a person and the player he once was before he became a Bruin, but his signing was one of many moves that Sweeney ended up on the short end of.

 

[Healthy Wrap]

Speed comes from tape to tape passes while moving, so with everyone standing around and not one player able to make or take a tape to tape pass, slowness is what you get! Not to mention players unable to put the puck in an open net or even hit the net(Zacha) you end up out shooting teams and still getting blown out.

I definitely think foot speed is an issue. I made the unfortunate mistake of staying up to watch the 1st period last night and Seattle's ability to skate the puck through the neutral zone was leaps and bounds better than Boston's. And I don't think anyone would consider the Kraken a talent-loaded powerhouse.

I do agree that you can get away with skating deficiencies if you possess the requisite skill and hockey IQ, but unfortunately those are also areas where Boston's forwards are lacking.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Is there a double-standard in that room?

Trent Frederic is a team-leading minus 13, takes bad unnecessary penalties, and still gets to dress every single night.

Elias Lindholm has been a black hole on the PP and at EV, and nothing changes. If anything, they'd tried even harder to get him going.

Mason Lohrei leads the D in both points and PP points for a team with the worst offense and worst PP in hockey the past two months, and he paid the price for the Winnipeg debacle.

Nikita Zadorov has taken more minor penalties than anyone else in hockey this year, and has he even been threatened with a night upstairs with a suit on?

They did at times bench their two leading scorers for turnovers.

Maybe had they brought in a new coaching staff with a fresh set of eyes things would of changed. Turns out just promoting the assistant and keeping the rest of the staff hasn't done much to change the overall culture in that room. Looks like they have a double-standard and not everyone is held accountable the same way.

Pretty sure there is a double standard of this kind on most pro teams in any sport.

Certainly, the personnel on the PP should be shaken up. The 2nd unit has been far more effective all season long.

Would sitting Freddy for a game or two help? Maybe. But they'd have to bring some stiff in to replace him. I'd rather they just break up Freddy/Coyle combo.

The same Backes who was scratched for game 7? I love Backes as a person and the player he once was before he became a Bruin, but his signing was one of many moves that Sweeney ended up on the short end of.

Yes.

And that was a mistake.

 

[JerseyBruin]

Going to throw this out there and see if it sticks with anyone else's observations, but it is possible that E. Lindholm has been playing hurt since day 1? Recall he missed a bunch of camp with some injury. Anyway, he left the game early last night and there was nothing visible to indicate any injury. Maybe he aggravated something that was already bothering him by doing something otherwise innocuous that shut him down. He's been bad this season offensively, and whether we think the 80 point season was an outlier or not, he is better than what we've seen by a long way.

I truly hope so , because he hasn't been good.

 

[BruinDust]

Pretty sure there is a double standard of this kind on most pro teams in any sport.

And it's usually reserved for the stars and guys who are producing.

Instead here they made examples of the two guys who are producing or young players, and let everyone else off the hook.

Why hasn't Zadorov paid a price for his litany of minor penalties and turnovers? Why doesn't Frederic take a seat after a game where he was a minus 3 and from what I saw, literally did nothing but puck watch.

And make no mistake, these two aren't the only ones who deserve some form of tough love, just using them as examples.

I'm not about to go back and research it but when has firing a head coach and just promoting his assistant and keeping the rest of the staff in place ever been an effective measure? I'm sure it's worked once or twice, but I'd have to bet most of the time it's been if nothing else just more of the same.

I've seen nothing from Sacco thus far that makes me believe much has changed since Monty left. Changes to the forecheck and defensive zone system. That's it. Listening to him talk certainly doesn't inspire much confidence.

What they needed was a coach from outside to come in a grab this team by the jugular. A coach with no allegiance to any of these players.

But that guy probably didn't exist right here today.

 

[hrdpuk]

Lack of team hockey IQ this season is glaring
Same for management

2 g/f in 2 games 13 g/a

 

[Score08]

Keep going back to Marchand saying practices have been sloppy and unfocused and they are playing that way. That’s indicative of leadership and coaching issues. There’s a deep rot developing.

That’s on 63 , he’s the leader on the ice & in the room. Wrong choice for captain, would’ve been better off flying multiple A’s forcing someone to step up. Tenure doesn’t equal leadership.

 

[DavidK]

Why do some posters insist on judging the team at their worst? Stop being myopic and try to assess the team fairly. We have the 7th best expected goals against in the league. We are 20th in expected goals for, which considering Marchand's rehab and Pasta/Lindholm playing below their potential should be reason for optimism. In the system we have Poitras, who should be a good top six forward for us by no later than next season. There is every reason to believe that the team will perform better as the season wears on.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

My momma told me this day would come....but we can't really be as bad as this can we? Some real stinkers this year.

 

[TCB]

Why do some posters insist on judging the team at their worst? Stop being myopic and try to assess the team fairly. We have the 7th best expected goals against in the league. We are 20th in expected goals for, which considering Marchand's rehab and Pasta/Lindholm playing below their potential should be reason for optimism. In the system we have Poitras, who should be a good top six forward for us by no later than next season. There is every reason to believe that the team will perform better as the season wears on.

Like the optimism But you've been watching?
This team needs a drastic re-boot. I'm Bruin through and through and have been since the days of the Big Bad Bruins and hope your right and I'm wrong because I just don't see it happening on how this team is currently constructed.

 

[IntentionallyWide]

The good news is I'm going to save a ton of money on playoff tickets this season.

 

[PaulD]

One dude is paid $8M and was utterly insufferable all offseason, taking the Bruins to the mat for every dollar, and prioritizing future contracts of goalies around the NHL over his current team/teammates. Swayman contract is putrid, I can't believe Sweeney caved.

now he's untradable too boot. Swaynan a legend in his own mind.
Highest paid back up this fan has seen.

Like the optimism But you've been watching?
This team needs a drastic re-boot. I'm Bruin through and through and have been since the days of the Big Bad Bruins and hope your right and I'm wrong because I just don't see it happening on how this team is currently constructed.

I hear ya. But don't overestimate the culture of weak rosters in this league.
Bruins are not going on a long play off run. But they can make play offs

 

[VanIsle]

Time to bring up Lysell, Merkulov and Poitras and sit the slow, slooooow forwards that we have.

What could go wrong, we could be a little faster and hungrier, or stay slow and lethargic. . . . .

What is there to lose???

No tickets for me on Thursday to the Bruins game in Vancouver, I just can't pay $500+ to watch them get shell shocked.
The Canucks just waxed the Panthers 4-0 and DeBrusk scored his team leading 14th goal.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Going to throw this out there and see if it sticks with anyone else's observations, but it is possible that E. Lindholm has been playing hurt since day 1? Recall he missed a bunch of camp with some injury. Anyway, he left the game early last night and there was nothing visible to indicate any injury. Maybe he aggravated something that was already bothering him by doing something otherwise innocuous that shut him down. He's been bad this season offensively, and whether we think the 80 point season was an outlier or not, he is better than what we've seen by a long way.

I have said this several times as lately as yesterday. He isn't THIS ineffective.