Post-Game Talk: Game 42: Another third period collapse and Bruins lose 3-2

[BMC]

Clode is treating him like he is because he has no choice. What viable alternative does he have Joe? Give more minutes to Miller or Trotman. Give more minutes and risk exposing Krug? Not arguing with you that Chara's not the same guy he was a couple years ago, but unfortunately, he's a better option than pretty much everyone else on the squad. And that tells you more about the roster makeup than it does about Chara.

Hear, hear!!!!

I'd love to see Claude reduce Z's minutes but when you look at the other defensemen you see he really doesn't have much choice without further reducing the team's ability to win the game. And winning the game is Claude's first priority.

 

[ashnathan]

marchand's puck hoggery is getting out of control. pass the puck! loui for a dman thats close to coming to the nhl . provorov? philly might be desperate to win. and sure thats one more team to pass us in the standings but i can take missing another playoff if that means i dont have to watch the b's get throttles in a seven game series. getting really sick of writing/reading "when krejci gets back" they kept the wrong guy .. but we all know that .

Probably not now that they moved Luke Schenn

 

[Mathews28]

Hear, hear!!!!

I'd love to see Claude reduce Z's minutes but when you look at the other defensemen you see he really doesn't have much choice without further reducing the team's ability to win the game. And winning the game is Claude's first priority.

So everyone seems to acknowledge that the minutes are wearing on Z. So take a worn down Z and compare is his effectiveness with a reasonably fresh Morrow/Seids/McQuaid (when healthy)/Krug/etc.

I'd argue that the tired and beaten down Chara is no more effective than those others. So the notion that you have to play him for big minutes because the D is weak is hogwash. If 33 stinks when he's overused, how is that better than a different number getting more time? Stink is Stink, regardless of the sweatah!

 

[ChargersRookie]

Hear, hear!!!!

I'd love to see Claude reduce Z's minutes but when you look at the other defensemen you see he really doesn't have much choice without further reducing the team's ability to win the game. And winning the game is Claude's first priority.

Could very well be true but until they show proof we can't say for sure it's the reason.

Right now going on that idea both are failing

 

[BB88]

Ahead of us in the standings in Atlantic,

Florida,
Detroit,
Montreal,
Tampa.

Which of these teams are we honestly better?
Florida just had a 13 game point streak with great defense, Detroit has been playing very well, Tampa has started winning, Montreal is the only one I can see us overtaking, but we'd need to have some room ahead of them before Price comes back.

Montreals next few games are rough, Hawks x2 and Blues, but then it gets easier, a lot easier, Boston, Toronto, Columbus, Columbus, Philly, Buffalo, Edmonton, Carolina, Tampa, Buffalo.

 

[FRANK CANNON]

Sorry for the diversion, but your post made me think of this:

That's funny, your screen name made me think of the good old days.

 

[Save By Thomas]

This team is a '92 Subaru........

So, your're saying this team is driven by two Birkenstock wearing lesbians with "save the whales" stickers on their bumpers?

 

[Gee Wally]

So, your're saying this team is driven by two Birkenstock wearing lesbians with "save the whales" stickers on their bumpers?

I drive Subarus.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Ahead of us in the standings in Atlantic,

Florida,
Detroit,
Montreal,
Tampa.

Which of these teams are we honestly better?
Florida just had a 13 game point streak with great defense, Detroit has been playing very well, Tampa has started winning, Montreal is the only one I can see us overtaking, but we'd need to have some room ahead of them before Price comes back.

Montreals next few games are rough, Hawks x2 and Blues, but then it gets easier, a lot easier, Boston, Toronto, Columbus, Columbus, Philly, Buffalo, Edmonton, Carolina, Tampa, Buffalo.

Florida and Detroit are highly beatable. TB has struggled as well. Montreal isn't a very good team aside from Price and when they don't play Boston.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I drive Subarus.

One of my cars is a Subaru and I love it. Great in winter.

 

[HumBucker]

I believe Chara's minutes actually have been trimmed back over the past 2-3 games, have they not?

Thing about this team right now, getting Krejci back will be huge. Not because he's so exponentially more talented than anyone else (though he, of course, is perhaps the most talented and creative player on the team) but because when he slots back in, everyone else can go back to their proper roles where they perform better.

Bergeron goes back to being the 1B centre (maybe it's a useless distinction, but the point is, we get our 2 top scoring lines back), Spooner goes back to being 3C, and whoever needs to get scratched (likely Kemp) gets scratched. The DK Ripple effect is a talent tsunami.

Without DK, this team is like a Subaru (what the heck, I'll go with the analogy) missing one wheel. It still operates if everyone leans together in one direction, but it's a strain on everyone, and even if it gets you home from work, it can't be sustained for a long journey. You're bound to get passed by other cars and probably you end up in the ditch.

Getting Krejci back adds the missing wheel, and stabilizes the whole thing.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Chara would still look fantastic with a prime Seids or Boychuk. He isn't the guy that can carry around an Aaron Ward, Hunwick, Kampfer, Miller, McQuaid etc. If he had one other top defenseman....

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Anyone else think Tuukka had a rough night?

All 3 goals were off rebounds and he seemed stuck in mud on each of them. Voracek's goal wasn't exactly a bang-bang play, yet he was able to put the puck into the absolute middle of the net. Tim Thomas could have gone to the far post and back in that time, Rask barely moved. He didn't exactly show a lot of urgency on the game winner either.

As for Chara, I really don't think his playing time is affecting his game. He's just not playing well.

 

[FRANK CANNON]

I drive Subarus.

One of my cars is a Subaru and I love it. Great in winter.

Wow.

You know it's bad when a game thread turns into a hippy car thread.

Whatever, this team was going to suck from the get go, if they make the playoffs they make the playoffs. They're too good to tank and too bad to make any noise.

 

[BB88]

Florida and Detroit are highly beatable. TB has struggled as well. Montreal isn't a very good team aside from Price and when they don't play Boston.

Florida is better, their defense/defensive play is much better than ours, they have huge players with skill and skating so we can't even bully them, Detroit keeps winning.

We had our chance to overtake Montreal when they had 10-12 tough games in a row and few left but haven't been able, their schedule gets a lot easier and could start a winning streak.

 

[FRANK CANNON]

Chara would still look fantastic with a prime Seids or Boychuk. He isn't the guy that can carry around an Aaron Ward, Hunwick, Kampfer, Miller, McQuaid etc. If he had one other top defenseman....

Please stop.

He's done.

 

[Blowfish]

Let The Young D play ala Canes Example

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/keep-an-eye-on-the-carolina-hurricanes-1.422833

One of the big reasons why I’m so amazed at how Carolina’s been able to legitimately stay in the fight is that their defence is so green. Of the defencemen who have suited up for at least 18 games this season, they have Justin Faulk (23), Ryan Murphy (22), Jaccob Slavin (21), Brett Pesce (20) and Noah Hanifin (18). Even when you consider the minutes older veterans such as Ron Hainsey (34) and John-Michael Liles (35) have played, it still feels like one of the rawest defensive corps we have seen in recent years.
Looking at every team’s average age of their blueline (minimum 10 games played), Carolina shows as one of the youngest we have seen. I’ve colour identified the two youngest bluelines in a given year since 2007-08 – you’ll see that the average age of Carolina’s defence, even with those pair of veterans, is under 25.

Here continues to be Claude's biggest fault as a coach...It's so frustrating!!!!!

It can work!

 

[FRANK CANNON]

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/keep-an-eye-on-the-carolina-hurricanes-1.422833

One of the big reasons why I’m so amazed at how Carolina’s been able to legitimately stay in the fight is that their defence is so green. Of the defencemen who have suited up for at least 18 games this season, they have Justin Faulk (23), Ryan Murphy (22), Jaccob Slavin (21), Brett Pesce (20) and Noah Hanifin (18). Even when you consider the minutes older veterans such as Ron Hainsey (34) and John-Michael Liles (35) have played, it still feels like one of the rawest defensive corps we have seen in recent years.
Looking at every team’s average age of their blueline (minimum 10 games played), Carolina shows as one of the youngest we have seen. I’ve colour identified the two youngest bluelines in a given year since 2007-08 – you’ll see that the average age of Carolina’s defence, even with those pair of veterans, is under 25.

Here continues to be Claude's biggest fault as a coach...It's so frustrating!!!!!

It can work!

Clode doesn't have this talent sitting on the bench to spite you.

Colin Miller and Joe Morrow are not Noah Hannifan and Justin Faulk.

 

[BNHL]

Anyone else think Tuukka had a rough night?

All 3 goals were off rebounds and he seemed stuck in mud on each of them. Voracek's goal wasn't exactly a bang-bang play, yet he was able to put the puck into the absolute middle of the net. Tim Thomas could have gone to the far post and back in that time, Rask barely moved. He didn't exactly show a lot of urgency on the game winner either.

As for Chara, I really don't think his playing time is affecting his game. He's just not playing well.

I agree,he's not playing well in minutes 5,10,15,20....

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Please stop.

He's done.

I don't know whether to laugh or roll my eyes.

 

[FRANK CANNON]

I don't know whether to laugh or roll my eyes.

Lol

^^I did the laughing for you.

 

[TwineTickler]

Neely on Felger and Mazz "Chara still one of the better defenders in the NHL"......

Not that he would come out and publicly criticize the guy especially if they are attempting to off load him (fingers crossed).... but if they still actually feel like he's one of the better defenders in the NHL that is just really disappointing and concerning.

I bet I could name 80 Dmen easily that I'd rather have.

 

[Jdavidev]

Would be nice if Marchand would do something. He put the team in a hole with his 3 games suspension and has done nothing since coming back.

But you are right. With Krejci out, we are missing our most creative forward and the side effect goes through all 4 lines:

-The Bergy line is overwhelmed with their D responsabilities and have created very little scoring chances the past few games.
-Spooner ain't very good creating offense 5 on 5.
-Any line with Kemp at C will never score a goal.
-The Talbot-Ferraro-Rinaldo line has been very good the past few games. Effort is there. The skill to finish is not.

He can't come back soon enough...

Spooner has been very consistent putting up points. He is not a complete player yet, but I don't understand the criticism he receives in his first full year playing 3C. No he is not Bergeron, or Krejci, but he has 30 points, on pace for 60 which is in the ballpark for those two's average of points per season, better than Marchand ever put up. And somehow, doing well on the PP is held against him. Okay, so he has 13 points on the PP, but Eriksson has 12 and Bergeron has 19, and he is close to team lead with way less minutes. He's developing, what most want from the team and the young guys.

 

[Blowfish]

Neely on Felger and Mazz "Chara still one of the better defenders in the NHL"......

Not that he would come out and publicly criticize the guy especially if they are attempting to off load him (fingers crossed).... but if they still actually feel like he's one of the better defenders in the NHL that is just really disappointing and concerning.

I bet I could name 80 Dmen easily that I'd rather have.

OK name 80?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Neely on Felger and Mazz "Chara still one of the better defenders in the NHL"......

Not that he would come out and publicly criticize the guy especially if they are attempting to off load him (fingers crossed).... but if they still actually feel like he's one of the better defenders in the NHL that is just really disappointing and concerning.

I bet I could name 80 Dmen easily that I'd rather have.

You can easily because you've made up your mind against Chara.

You're also comparing two different things. You are presumably factoring age and potential with the 80 defensemen you'd somehow take before Chara. Now the Bruins... they're in the business to win. There aren't 80 defensemen in the NHL who are, right now, better than Chara. As much as some now hate Chara.