Post-Game Talk: GAME 41 - Toronto 6 BRUINS 4

[MartyLapointe20]

Last years team overperformed imo largely because of him

Now it’s the opposite

Linus was part of that too, but yes Swayman did continue to play well when Ullmark went down for that short period towards the end of the season. If Ullmark didn’t tweak something going into the 23 playoffs and didnt get hurt last year, which gave Swayman the nod / edge in the playoffs - I think 35 might still be wearing the spoked B. He was the better goalie and all around more sound but Sway had the youth on him. At the same time it was easier on both of them playing in front of good teams (especially the miracle regular season year) and alternating every game so they were fresh and pushing each other. I feel like its the equivalent of playing a round of golf but your set up with a great tee shot every hole and only have to worry about your approach and putting - not the same grind. They did help last years team over achieve. Monty even said it at one point - how the record wouldn’t be as good if it wasn’t for great goalie performance. Swayman was ready to give himself an award after getting by the Leafs, but we barely beat them. Yes, he was stellar at times in that series but did have a couple mediocre games as well, just like he did in the Panthers series but he just does not look the same this year. Doesn’t seem to have the same fire and the same life in net. Feels like a used car salesman that got his money and doesn’t care about the sale anymore. Hope he turns it around and gets hot at the right time.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Just tracked the game tonight, so don't have much to say about it. I do, however, want to say a couple of things about the season in general. SUCCKO is a lousy coach who makes terrible line changes and makes bad combinations both in front and in back.

Zadarov is a folk hero to some here because he is somewhat physical and fast straight ahead. However, he is awful. He has the agility of a tree, which means he can't compensate for his own mistakes or cover for anyone else. For example, Geekie running into Bruins on Knies' hat trick goal with mighty zad barely getting to the front of the net to cover. On second and third looks Zad was hit but he is still a lumbering tree.

Ps I like Geekie because he gives consistent effort, but limits are limits, and terrible coaching is terrible coaching.

This is a dnq roster, filled with low tier mediocrity that will do one thing to help you and something to kill you later. Thanks for nothing Neely and Sweeney.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

Tampa, Devils, Rangers, Sabres and Carolina all lost today, but the Bruins cannot keep hoping for other teams to lose

..at some point they'll need to start putting some wins together because the second half of the season is a tougher schedule

Tomorrow night is a must win, and would be a good time to snap a 3 game losing streak, and post their first win of 2025

Sure but you're forgetting Ottawa and Montreal, Columbus and even Pittsburgh. The latter 2 are now at .500 not far behind and Montreal and Ottawa both have games in hand. Even Detroit has started winning a few. Only Buffalo seems still inept at this point.

 

[Blitzkrug]

It's kinda funny in hindsight. Sweeney clearly wanted to build this team from the net out and while it isn't a bad idea, his execution has been a big fat dud so far;

McAvoy: was best under Cassidy to the point he was absolutely worth that 9.5 million power play issues withstanding. Started to be a bit more shaky under Monty and then proceeded to fall off a cliff this year. Was horrendous tonight.

Carlo: was once pound for pound one of the better DFD in the league. String of concussions,, post concussion syndrome and other injuries have turned him into a shell of what t
He was. I feel bad for the guy. People have been rightfully hard on him but it feels like he's understandingly spooked by all the problems he's had. This game truly can suck sometimes.

Lohrei: the ups and downs of a young d-man are par for the course, but there's been a lot more down than up this season.

Zadorov: he's not a top pairing guy, Vancouver knew this despite universal praise for playing his role and being a good teammate. We're now stuck with this for the next half decade. Good job, Don. God willing, a Lindholm return pushes him into a more suitable role and he doesn't suck (probably not, he's always been inconsistent as )

Peeke: expensive for a bottom pairing guy. Can't skate, can't move the puck. But is big and mean so yay?

Swayman wasn't the reason they lost again tonight but he's also not been the reason why they've won games. When he's making just under like 300k what a guy like Hellebyuck makes while the former steals games on a nightly basis, it's not a good look


(Helle is absolutely going to win another vezina btw)

 

[quietbruinfan]

McAvoy: was best under Cassidy to the point he was absolutely worth that 9.5 million power play issues withstanding. Started to be a bit more shaky under Monty and then proceeded to fall off a cliff this year. Was horrendous tonight.

A good coach and one or two smart supporting players would do wonders for Pasta if not Mac. That said, Mac misses Grz, which leads me to conclude Mac is a little weaker than I thought and Grz much better than a certain group here thought.

Judging by the special teams, line changes and combinations, this coaching staff brings nothing, absolutely nothing.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Marchand (-3), Lindholm (-3), Pasta (-4).

Matthews (+5), Marner (+5), Knies (+6).

Who else sucked? Swayman, Carlo, McAvoy.

What is that, like 80% of the Cap?

I thought Pasta was pretty good, even aside from his 2 goals. Good compete level, engaged, looking to make plays. But he was held back by his linemates, who just couldn't match his tempo. He probably got caught puck-watching on Knies' 3rd goal, otherwise no real complaints.

The rest you mentioned were indeed awful or, in Swayman's case, just blah.

 

[caz16]

If ownership and management were brave and smart, they'd accept this year is a lost cause, work out what changes they want to make to the roster for next season and who they want to keep around, become sellers at the deadline, and try and do a quick re-tool and go again next year, like the Caps have done. I think this core is not right and one of the top guys, or at least one or two who are in that 'outer' core like Carlo, need to be replaced.

But I really can't see that happening. They'll persevere and cling on to hope until it's entirely snuffed out.

Can you apply for a management job with the Bruins please?

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I watched the third period at a restaurant….so no sound and I wasn’t paying a lot of attention….


Am I wrong that Bruins were hauled down just before a couple of those third period goals?

The only one I can think of is Pasta was taken down deep in our O zone before Knies' 2nd goal, but the refs deemed it legal and I think they were right. Body on body contact, Pasta just lost his balance. Unfortunate but it happens.

 

[caz16]

Pompoms? No. I've not been shy to say when there was a soft goal given up by Swayman. I'm also not going to blame every goal allowed on him because he makes $8.25 million. Has he been great? No and he's said it himself. Has the defensive structure been bad? Yes. Has the scoring been atrocious? Also yes.

Too bad he didn't realize that before holding out for the massive contract. He deserves to take every bit of heat coming his way - he is arrogant and his ego is bigger than the room. The defence shouldn't matter because he is a Vezina quality goalie.....oh, wait, that was Ullmark and he got to go along for the ride.

Ouch, I'm feisty this morning....lol

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Can you apply for a management job with the Bruins please?

I'm flattered, but I don't think they'd hire me! I'm neither from New England nor one of the Bruins' old boys.

If Mr Sweeney wants to give me a call though I'll happily give him all the advice he likes for free. I'm sure many of us would offer a similar service

 

[smithformeragent]

There are two conversations here

1. The fact that there are so many other mediocre teams around & below them in the standings means that making the playoffs remains a real possibility.

2. This team isn’t good. They played .700 hockey for a ten game stretch after they made a coaching change. Other than that, they’re .500 and mediocre-bad. Even if they do make the playoffs, they’re going nowhere because they’re not good enough. Their roster isn’t talented enough.

 

[bme44]

Hopefully sway gets hot like last year he was fantastic. Plenty of time to find his game and hes shown streaks of it this year. Team in front of him also failing him large .

Hopefully . Swayman caused a lot of issues with his contract negations'. Certainly it created a major distraction preseason. He has certainly not lived up to his contract so far. I felt it was at least a million to much per season when signed, and it has only gotten worse going forward

 

[Fenway]

 

[Dr Quincy]

Come on guys believe in wildcard 1 and a deep run its possible. Ask the rags fans if they would like our record right now.

They are closer to 11th place than they are to 2nd.

 

[Dr Quincy]

nvm

 

[smithformeragent]

True but if this team can play to its potential they got a spot they gotta stop mental lapses . Tonight was a horror show.

This is interesting.

 

[bme44]

Korpisalo 58% QS

Swayman 53% QS

That’s a serious problem even if some ppl don’t want to admit

Korpisalo : SV% 0.895, Salary 3,000,000 per season

Swayman : SV% 0.893 , Salary 8,250,000 per season

Bruin Goalies : Salary per season 13,250,000 NOT GOOD.

A large part of the salary cap going to goaltending with a SV% under 0.900

 

[bruins19]

Thanks for posting this, Fenway, but I can’t watch it. Sorry. I love his meltdowns when the Leafs lose, but listening to him gloat after a Toronto win over the Bruins would be insufferable.

 

[Ned Bouhalassa]

Beecher is pretty much useless. Why is he still in the lineup?

 

[quietbruinfan]

Beecher is pretty much useless. Why is he still in the lineup?

Lack of competition.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

In all seriousness what does that return look like ?

Kesselring

He had Ullmark to bail him out when he hit a tough stretch , doesn’t have that luxury now . He seemed poised to be a no. 1 after the Leafs series . Can we have a do over ?

Ullmark absolutely has durability issues. Its the reason they opted for Swayman.

 

[Mad-Marcus]

McAvoy: was best under Cassidy to the point he was absolutely worth that 9.5 million power play issues withstanding. Started to be a bit more shaky under Monty and then proceeded to fall off a cliff this year. Was horrendous tonight.

A good coach and one or two smart supporting players would do wonders for Pasta if not Mac. That said, Mac misses Grz, which leads me to conclude Mac is a little weaker than I thought and Grz much better than a certain group here thought.

Judging by the special teams, line changes and combinations, this coaching staff brings nothing, absolutely nothing.

I've said it many times, here, if Gryz was 6'0" 200lbs, he would have been a perennial All Star. Unfortunately, at his size, he was a liability, for "availability" and intimidation in the Playoffs.
Too bad, very smart hockey player.
Has Zadorov ever made an instinctual pass off of his 1st look. He takes way too much time thinking what to do. It neutralizes any size advantage he has.
Mac has been kidnapped and replaced by an imposter 3 years ago. Can't explain the cliff dive, mentally he has taken. Maybe his shoulder will never be close to 100%
Carlo is afraid of his own shadow; Peeke is what you get for 2.5M these days,
Lohrie is what he is at this age, an offensive Dman. He should be 1st PP and sheltered until his D game catches up. It used to be Dmen's, D game, matured late into their 20's, I think that's what we are looking at.

I hate being right, but I was against paying Swayman top$$. I took a lot of heat, and actually feel bad, even though I'm vindicated. Imagine what we could have gotten for him, if we kept Linus.
Will Sway come around, maybe, I agree his ego is an issue, maybe not as a teammate, but in thinking he deserved being paid with a limited sheltered (have a big brother taking turns) track record.

This team is a mess and they're hard to watch. The number of unforced errors is beyond disturbing.
They also have no "put the team on my back" leader. Pasta is an ancillary Super Star, plays worse the more he tries to do. We already covered the hot mess that Mac is. Marchand is and will a bleed black and gold guy, but he's near the end physically.

This team is back to needing a tyrant behind the bench. It's unfortunate that this is another write off year, but there is rarely any fun in watching this team.

It's been a while, but this team isn't getting any of my money this season.

Happy New Year Rant #1

 

[KillerMillerTime]

2025 NHL Post Season Probabilities

The 2025 NHL Post Season Probabilities table presents the probabilities that your team will proceed to different playoff rounds.

www.playoffstatus.com

About what I expected to see. Bruins though are fortunate they got to see Primeau in net early. Looking like Montreal and Ottawa are Bruins biggest treats to pass them followed by Pens and Wings. Going to be a dogfight for WC spots.

One thing is certain, even with H. Lindholm back, as constituted, this team is in the last year for likelihood of PO participation.

They are going to need to trade and win the trade for #73 to re-tool. I suggested
#73 for a healthy Kreider, Schneider & NYR '25 1st. Its that type of trade needed. Schneider is a good young RD (not as good as #73 but still solid and growing into game) and if NYR continue to suck you may get a lottery pick also.A healthy Kreider gives them more speed which they badly need upfront. Look at Utah and dangle
#73 and Lysellfor Kesselring, Guenther & Utah's '26 #1.

#73 is so overrated on this board. Please spare me his +\- which is one better than
Zadorov. #73 was propped up his entire career by one of #33, 37, 46 40, 35 & 1.
He is no longer a top 20 Dman.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

This team has cornered the market of 3rd and 4th line players.
Top 6 are suspect added to that.
Defense has become porous and our goaltending isn't
baling them out 98% of the time.
Biggest problem is the lack of Cap space and longevity of
the contracts that they've handcuffed themselves with.
Only Pasta, Marchand (and Kastelic/Geekie) have shown signs of life.
Right now I don't think I would miss any Bruin besides the 3 above but
if Marchand wanted to go for a Cup to a contender and re-sign here on July
1st I would do it.
Pasta has nobody to play with at his talent level.
Will they be able to get him a Center who can help him?
This is looking like a basket case of a team.

I wouldn't trade Zacha as he is looking decent with #88 and is there only Center in is prime with talent. 88 leads the NHL in SOG but isn't putting the puck in the net.
Team is simply a bubble team in large part because #73 is regressing from a top 5-7
D to 20-25 and that LD with #6/#91 isn't good on D. Clearly miss Lindholm and Carlo is a mess.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Honestly guys what difference what seedings make. You get Wildcard 1 you play New Jersey or carolina get 3rd play leafs Tampa or cats. They all tough first round opponents. Just get in . We still have a solid shot here. Maybe Donny adds something magical by deadline and you never know. Remember mojo pickup in 2019 and what a run that was .

Carolina owns the Bruins