Post-Game Talk: GAME #37 - B's hibernate for first 10 minutes and it cost them - Columbus 4 BRUINS 3

[SPLBRUIN]

Serious question, what would you do with this team?

We obviously can't have a season full of feel good moments because we win/outplay 2/3 of the game and double shots on teams to lose which seems to be happening a lot lately. So what gives?

Frustrating watching us lose games lately in which we have been the better team, last night's loss in particular really cheesed me off. To me in the short term the following moves need to be made, fix the PP, if that mean's firing Sacco, so be it, it's now costing us games. Secondly get Nash the heck off of that 3rd line and either staple him to the 4th line or to the bench, I have never seen a guy get so many opportunities to score and not finish, call up DeBrusk, kid has talent and has been lighting it up recently at Providence. Drop Hayes to the press box, he is not meant to play on the 4th line, doesn't skate well, doesn't hit and doesn't play with energy.

 

[bearcountry17]

Marchand has been a absolute give away machine for the last ~10 games. Him and Bergeron both have to
be much better for this team to make the playoffs.

 

[DKH]

Since you let that out of the bag, I guess there is an elitist group on here. That sounds like a Habs fan behaviour. Not surprised but that is funny

Agree it really does

The stat sheet scouting I just don't get but that group feels it's accurate

I'd still rather watch the player

 

[BruinsFan1990]

I am still really optimistic for the future of the Bruins. Like DKH mentioned in a previous comment, we have 5 prospects playing in the WJs, and that doesn't even include Debrusk, Gabrielle, JFK, Senyshyn etc.

While I do think Sweeney has made questionable moves, people that are calling for his firing are barking up the wrong tree imo. Not sure how you can put the team's lack of success on Sweeney after the mess Chia left, but hey everyone is entitled to their opinion. In addition, GMs need AT LEAST 3 years to implement their plan and rebuild.

 

[HiyaGeorgii]

I long for the days where we used to applaud the loser point instead of the almost point. Also, the WC is pretty much an excuse considering how unaffected the top teams in the league are by it.

 

[DoubleAAAA]

Marchand has been a absolute give away machine for the last ~10 games. Him and Bergeron both have to
be much better for this team to make the playoffs.

Absolutely, they have been shells of themselves. Marchand going on 2-3 weeks now.

This team can't seem to get more than one line clicking at a time.

 

[bruinsfan1970]

So with what we have seen so far this year the question is; Will the Bruins make the play-offs??

 

[BruinsFan1990]

So with what we have seen so far this year the question is; Will the Bruins make the play-offs??

I say no, mainly because Tampa will eventually come out of their slump and the wildcard spots will be owned by the Metro.

Sucks, but I just don't see the playoffs as a possibility this year.

 

[Ryan77]

I don't get the people here who post well they played a good game it's no big deal. It's a huge deal, this league is about getting points and winning hockey games. Sure they lost to a good team tonight and outplayed them for 50 mins but a week ago they lost to the Colorado avalanche and New York islanders all on home ice. We need to start winning games not talking about how well this team played for 20 mins in that game. Good teams win games even when they don't play their best hockey.

This team has a lot of holes and at this point if ownership and management still look at the Bruins as a playoff team they are insane.

Boston is very fortunate that Florida had some early injuries/management issues and TB is also struggling with injuries or else we would be in January thinking to next season.

Something needs to change here and Sweeney needs to show he can make a hockey trade, and I don't mean picking up players like Stempniak and Liles. I won't pretend to know what the trade market is like as I'm not a GM or a hockey insider but get something done.

 

[Gee Wally]

Blue Jackets edge Bruins for 13th straight win
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/bruins/2016/12/27/bruins/uLHK83noJSqWjpT18FKouJ/story.html


The Blue Jackets have reeled off 13 straight wins. The feat did not have John Tortorella raining confetti on his players.

“Didn’t do squat five-on-five,” said the Columbus coach.


“We didn’t give them much,” said coach Claude Julien. “We didn’t give them many shots. But at the end of the night, you lose a hockey game. So you can’t be happy with that.”


It was not the best night for Tuukka Rask. Before Columbus’s first goal, Rask thought the puck had left the zone before Lucas Sedlak pulled it back and fired it on net. So when Scott Hartnell, slow to exit the zone after taking a wallop from Dominic Moore, was stationed in front of the net to whack at the puck, Rask thought the play was dead. Instead, at 3:02, the Jackets had grabbed a 1-0 lead.

“That first goal, I heard a whistle there and I quit on the rebound because I thought it was an offside,” Rask said. “That’s on me. That obviously shouldn’t happen.”


http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bruins/2016/12/columbus_edges_bruins_runs_win_streak_to_13

Rask took the rap for the first goal, a rebound score by Scott Hartnell off a shot from outside by Lucas Sedlak. The goalie thought he heard a whistle and quit on the rebound put-back.

Hartnell set up the second goal with a nice pass from behind the B’s cage. He hit defenseman Seth Jones moving down to the right circle and the rising star banged a one-time slapper into the far side.

A Ryan Spooner turnover high in the B’s zone led to the third goal. Matt Calvert took the puck away, put a shot on net and beat the B’s defenders to the rebound to sweep it past Rask.

Tortorella thought he knew the quick lead wasn’t going to last.

“It happened so quickly and so easily, you knew it was going to be one of those games,” he said. “It was a slopfest. I’ve lit a match to the tape already. Seriously, it’s done.”

 

[NDiesel]

So with what we have seen so far this year the question is; Will the Bruins make the play-offs??

Sweeney probably adds a defenseman or forward by deadline to help us, so I stay optimistic and say yes....but we're out first round.

 

[LSCII]

Sweeney probably adds a defenseman or forward by deadline to help us, so I stay optimistic and say yes....but we're out first round.

For me, it depends on who they add and at what cost. More like the likes of Stempniak and JML would be a pass for me. They already have enough middle of the road, JAGs on the roster. If you're going to do something, go bold and get a piece that you really need and one that can be here longer than a couple of months.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

For me, it depends on who they add and at what cost. More like the likes of Stempniak and JML would be a pass for me. They already have enough middle of the road, JAGs on the roster. If you're going to do something, go bold and get a piece that you really need and one that can be here longer than a couple of months.

100% in agreement.

Rentals and middle tier journeymen aren't going to really make a difference. The team needs to commit to either going big long term, or continuing to develop their young core. Not squandering picks for (less than) mediocrity. Considering how favorable Bruins have been doing in the middle rounds of recent, losing any picks for less than favorable returns is a loss for us.

 

[Sheppy]

Sweeney probably adds a defenseman or forward by deadline to help us, so I stay optimistic and say yes....but we're out first round.

They'll add a depth forward and d-man. They'll add a Riley Nash type guy and a #7 d-man and call it a day.

 

[LSCII]

They'll add a depth forward and d-man. They'll add a Riley Nash type guy and a #7 d-man and call it a day.

And that won't move the needle and ultimately result in them squandering whatever assets they used to get the player(s).

 

[Fenian24]

Sweeney probably adds a defenseman or forward by deadline to help us, so I stay optimistic and say yes....but we're out first round.

I don't see him really doing anything except what you mention at most. The thing is if they get in I like the match up with Ottawa and then they would get home ice vs the wild card that knocks off Montreal, which right now would be Philly who they also match up well with then Columbus who they have done well against.

Point being they should do what is necessary to make the playoffs, besides Montreal I don't see a team that would blow them out in 4 games.

 

[OldScool]

For me, it depends on who they add and at what cost. More like the likes of Stempniak and JML would be a pass for me. They already have enough middle of the road, JAGs on the roster. If you're going to do something, go bold and get a piece that you really need and one that can be here longer than a couple of months.

Even if if the Bruins add an impact players is that going to make this team a cup contender? I think not. Donnie has to trade some older veterans and have a 2-3 year plan to get back to being cup contenders not playoff contenders. Move Chara/Krejci for picks/younger players. Unload what you can for the future.

 

[Fenian24]

And that won't move the needle and ultimately result in them squandering whatever assets they used to get the player(s).

Don't overrate the assets/prospects. If you don't have to give up a top ten prospect and can dump a stiff like Subban they should do it. Lower round picks would be fine as well.

 

[Fenian24]

Even if if the Bruins add an impact players is that going to make this team a cup contender? I think not. Donnie has to trade some older veterans and have a 2-3 year plan to get back to being cup contenders not playoff contenders. Move Chara/Krejci for picks/younger players. Unload what you can for the future.

While I may agree with this in principal Sweeney has been told to make the playoffs by Jacobs, chances are his job may be on the line, if you were in his situation would you trade your number two center and number one D for the next GM's benefit?

East is not loaded as I mentioned and they have matched up well against the better teams except Montreal. Get rid of Nash and Hayes, add legitimate NHLers to those spots and see what happens, of course by doing so you have no forwards that you would want to expose for the expansion draft unless you get players that meet the requirements for the draft

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Bruins of the past couple seasons would have gone through the motions after such an abysmal start. This version of the team does not. Doesn't excuse why the seem to brutalely struggle out of the gate in too many games. Bizarre.

Amazingly they continue to occupy third place in the division which appears to be one of only three spots that the Atlantic will receive in the playoffs this season. One good run, as CBJ, Wild and Plyers have enjoyed will catapulted a team up the standings. It's what the Bruins need. Other side of a run in the wrong direction is the Devils who are on a 1-9 slide after knocking on the door of the WC position recently. They now find themselves occupying the basement in the East. The Bruins have luckily managed to avoid a long losing streak so far but can and need to help their cause greatly with a sustained run at some point soon. Nobody wants to endure another version of a down the stretch self inflicted torturous ride of recent seasons.

Pierre LeBrun terms the current NHL standings as an artificial parity situation. Would suggest that is exactly what Bettman and Owners wanted despite fans absolutely hating it.

 

[DKH]

Even if if the Bruins add an impact players is that going to make this team a cup contender? I think not. Donnie has to trade some older veterans and have a 2-3 year plan to get back to being cup contenders not playoff contenders. Move Chara/Krejci for picks/younger players. Unload what you can for the future.

The team went into last night in the 26 games Rask played nearly a 33% sample at a 116 point pace

They played a team on a 12 game winning streak and more then held their own- BJ fans thought they stole it.

They need a backup goalie and according to an article I read on AHL goalie prospects McIntyre was near the top

I liked the khudobin signing and didn't have the foresight to see it would not go well

Blowing it up mentality is ridiculous

 

[BMC]

So with what we have seen so far this year the question is; Will the Bruins make the play-offs??

No. Next question, please.

 

[OldScool]

While I may agree with this in principal Sweeney has been told to make the playoffs by Jacobs, chances are his job may be on the line, if you were in his situation would you trade your number two center and number one D for the next GM's benefit?

East is not loaded as I mentioned and they have matched up well against the better teams except Montreal. Get rid of Nash and Hayes, add legitimate NHLers to those spots and see what happens, of course by doing so you have no forwards that you would want to expose for the expansion draft unless you get players that meet the requirements for the draft

I hear what you are saying but the GMs job is to win cups not squeak into playoffs. Sweeney should walk into Jacobs office and tell him the truth - that this team isnt built to win the cup. They are a mediocre team just as they have been for the last two seasons and by adding a mediocre NHL player to this roster isnt going to put them over the top. Be realistic and devise a 2-3 year plan when our prospects become contributors.

 

[Sheppy]

Don't overrate the assets/prospects. If you don't have to give up a top ten prospect and can dump a stiff like Subban they should do it. Lower round picks would be fine as well.

Honestly, they should have dumped him years ago. They will be lucky to get a ham sandwich for him now.

 

[DKH]

I don't get the people here who post well they played a good game it's no big deal. It's a huge deal, this league is about getting points and winning hockey games. Sure they lost to a good team tonight and outplayed them for 50 mins but a week ago they lost to the Colorado avalanche and New York islanders all on home ice. We need to start winning games not talking about how well this team played for 20 mins in that game. Good teams win games even when they don't play their best hockey.

This team has a lot of holes and at this point if ownership and management still look at the Bruins as a playoff team they are insane.

Boston is very fortunate that Florida had some early injuries/management issues and TB is also struggling with injuries or else we would be in January thinking to next season.

Something needs to change here and Sweeney needs to show he can make a hockey trade, and I don't mean picking up players like Stempniak and Liles. I won't pretend to know what the trade market is like as I'm not a GM or a hockey insider but get something done.

What are all these holes? I just read back up goalie and replacing Hayes.

To compare to a house it's the equivalent to putting in storm windows and cleaning out the gutter