Post-Game Talk: GAME 42 - Fishsticks 5 BRUINS 4 OT

[PlayMakers]

Baby steps. They got a point. They scored some goals. They battled back from being down 2. Keep pushing to play better, keep moving forward.

 

[GordonHowe]

I want Sweeney to grow a set and Make a block buster! Anyone and everyone available except Pasta , unless MacKinnon McDavid, Leon or Brady coming back.

See you and raise.

As noted repeatedly elsewhere, there is not a single roster player on this team I wouldn't trade.

Also noted, I have my favorites and I consider certain players worthy of core status. However, I would trade any of the big names and hefty contracts if at all possible to begin again.

I am not a burn it all down yesterday sort.

Blame the underachieving players.

Blame the coach.

(Which one? The guy who won you a Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years, kicked unceremoniously to the curb?

(The other guy who followed him with several successful regular seasons that came up short again and again because management failed again and again to provide the aging core they inherited [and grew financially fat on] with suitable talent *or even prepare for their obviously inevitable departure - FOR YEARS*?

(You know, the guy who went on to coach VGK to their first Stanley Cup the very next year whilst his replacement fumbled away a historic regular season juggernaut he later admitted had coached itself before making several inexplicable, inexcusable "coaching decisions" that brought their Cup dreams to ignominy?)

Mercifully, I stay my case.

For now.

The point is that a genuine rebuild, which does not require a complete fire sale, is clearly beyond both the motivation if not the ability of present management.

The ship is essentially rudderless, and must eventually be placed in braver hands that seek more than handsome, perpetual profit.

Speech to text. I'll clean it up in the morning if need be,

 

[Olden McGroin]

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

They all got trapped deep.I try not to blame the odd man rushes or breakaways on the goalies.It would have to be a pretty blatant miscue

I'm not blaming him but that is the moment a top goalie can save the day and keep the game going. We've had Ullmark and Swayman do that a number of times in the past 2 years and we'd get wins in those games with the same level of team play. We aren't getting much of that this year.

 

[weaponomega]

Marchand has been just awful the last couple of games. Definitely concern with him playing in the 4 nation tournament. He could use some rest. So bad If he were a healthy scratch we may have very well beaten the leafs and islanders.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I keep thinking that Sweeney's shocked by the way this team is looking.
He's somewhat had the Midas touch in the past. Things have worked themselves out in the past but these big contracts and several players not living up to them
is a dead end.

You know I was just thinking that yesterday. Sweeney has a far from perfect record, but he's generally been able to land a few wins each season, and he's had a knack for burying his mistakes largely out of sight. Always done enough to keep the team pretty safely in the hunt and fulfil the owners' basic expectations.

Not this year. Lindholm underwhelms, Zadorov is not horrible but certainly not worth his contract so far, the Sway situation was a mess that still lingers in some sense, Korpi has done ok all things considered, but again that contract is not looking pretty even with the money retained, signed Jones then both Johnson and Wahlstrom only to have two be a bust and the other heading that way already, fired the coach and the 'new' guy is trying but has a definite and not very high ceiling, especially with this roster. Kastelic is the only clear win and even then, much as I've enjoyed his play, he remains a capable 4th-liner and nothing more. Nothing else has worked out.

I wonder what Don makes of all this. It's largely unfamiliar territory for his plans to fall this far short. And most importantly, how does he react?

 

[Aussie Bruin]

Marchand has been just awful the last couple of games. Definitely concern with him playing in the 4 nation tournament. He could use some rest. So bad If he were a healthy scratch we may have very well beaten the leafs and islanders.

Marchand is in that team purely on reputation and past achievements and contributions to the game. If they were selecting solely on current performance and ability he wouldn't be there. Not even close. if Canada are serious about this joke tournament, I don't think he'll see too much ice time.

 

[nORRis8]

The loss to Toronto was disappointing yet predictable.
Tonight's was uncalled for. The effort was there but the talent is just so lacking.

Surprised Poitras hasn't been called up but we need more than a Poitras to start competing.

 

[Aeroforce]

Marchand is in that team purely on reputation and past achievements and contributions to the game. If they were selecting solely on current performance and ability he wouldn't be there. Not even close. if Canada are serious about this joke tournament, I don't think he'll see too much ice time.

I agree, and also wonder if Sweeney didn't want to alienate his captain by not picking him for Team Canada.

Though there are other players selected on past performance, who wouldn't be there based on this season, such as Zibanajad and Nelson.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Marchand is in that team purely on reputation and past achievements and contributions to the game. If they were selecting solely on current performance and ability he wouldn't be there. Not even close. if Canada are serious about this joke tournament, I don't think he'll see too much ice time.

Not only that, but he's best buddies with Crosby and McKinnon. Him, Sid and Bergeron were a force when they played together at the world cup in 2016.

Fully expect to see the three of them on a line come the four nations thingy. Hockey Canada loves to live in the past so he's on the team with or without Sweeney in charge.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

That's being way too kind.

That line was awful.

It really was a one-line show. Pasta's was 12-5 in the 5v5 shot count, and of course they scored twice. The rest were miserable. The corsi figures were 25% for Lindholm's line, 36% for Freddy's, and 12.5% for Kastelic's, with respective shot counts of 4-9, 3-9 and and 1-5. They all had xGF below 38%. At least Brazeau and Koepke potted goals. Lindholm and co only had the 2 against.

Tired legs on a back-to-back against a fresher opponent plus coming off a road trip offers a partial excuse. But with such a significant need for points and to stop the skid it was still an unacceptably poor effort from most. The 3rd period rally was something positive but the rest was just more of the same mediocre stuff we've seen so much of this season.

 

[chrisab123]

At least they stole a point in a game they had no business tying.

It would be similar to Goodwill making a trade with the Dollar Store.

And paying a premium price to do so

 

[LouJersey]

This organization should be above moral victories

Also, Goalie Bob a myth I guess. Grateful Tampa is soiling themselves out west.

 

[smithformeragent]

You know I was just thinking that yesterday. Sweeney has a far from perfect record, but he's generally been able to land a few wins each season, and he's had a knack for burying his mistakes largely out of sight. Always done enough to keep the team pretty safely in the hunt and fulfil the owners' basic expectations.

Not this year. Lindholm underwhelms, Zadorov is not horrible but certainly not worth his contract so far, the Sway situation was a mess that still lingers in some sense, Korpi has done ok all things considered, but again that contract is not looking pretty even with the money retained, signed Jones then both Johnson and Wahlstrom only to have two be a bust and the other heading that way already, fired the coach and the 'new' guy is trying but has a definite and not very high ceiling, especially with this roster. Kastelic is the only clear win and even then, much as I've enjoyed his play, he remains a capable 4th-liner and nothing more. Nothing else has worked out.

I wonder what Don makes of all this. It's largely unfamiliar territory for his plans to fall this far short. And most importantly, how does he react?

The roster building has been clunky.

You acquire a guy in Zacha who can play center or wing. You’ve got Coyle. You’ve got Bergeron and Krejci on those bonus heavy deals.

Bergeron and Krejci retire and you live with Zacha and Coyle down the middle for a season. Far from ideal, but you mostly make it work.

Then you go and shop in free agency and spend big on the best center available, but is he a true #1 or even much of an upgrade on what you already have?

That, and you let DeBrusk walk (which I’m fine with), but what have you really accomplished in terms of bolstering your top 6 forward group?

 

[bruinsfan1970]

The defense sucks big time and McAvoy looks horrid. He was to blame for at least two Islander goals and one he knew because he slammed his stick over the cross bar. This appears to be a lost season and for the suffering of the fans I hope management can fix it for future seasons to come. There are games where McAvoy plays better but from what I have been seeing he is having more bad games than good. They just can't get it out of their end. I do not put all the blame on Korpisalo as he made some really good saves, and we would have got the extra point had the defense played better. The bright side is seeing Pasta start heating up with 4 goals in 2 games.

 

[Therewolf31]

I said it before Habs will be in front of us by mid february...maybe mid January they just found the next Carey Price in Dobes

I've been saying this for a while. Once all those games in hand are made up, the B's will be on the outside looking in (not just a Grand Funk song)

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Montreal has a greater point differential than the Bruins do right now. But at the same time this is why I half jokingly say (as others do here) in October and November that "points are at a premium"

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Marchand is in that team purely on reputation and past achievements and contributions to the game. If they were selecting solely on current performance and ability he wouldn't be there. Not even close. if Canada are serious about this joke tournament, I don't think he'll see too much ice time.

I imagine they have him PK mainly which is the last thing the Bruins should want.

What a farce of a tournament. Hoping the ratings are terrible and this is never done again. Lazy effort. Players will be injured.

 

[Orr Fourever]

Bring on the Oil...

 

[mjhfb]

The team has scored 8 goals in the last two games and lost them both.
4 goals is enough to win a hockey game. They just allowed 5, and 6 the game before.

 

[TD Charlie]

The defense sucks big time and McAvoy looks horrid. He was to blame for at least two Islander goals and one he knew because he slammed his stick over the cross bar. This appears to be a lost season and for the suffering of the fans I hope management can fix it for future seasons to come. There are games where McAvoy plays better but from what I have been seeing he is having more bad games than good. They just can't get it out of their end. I do not put all the blame on Korpisalo as he made some really good saves, and we would have got the extra point had the defense played better. The bright side is seeing Pasta start heating up with 4 goals in 2 games.

He looked like a scrub forward on the 2 on 1 shorty. He’s totally lost more often than not without the puck on his stick.

Then again we could say the same for most of this roster. Maybe unfair to single him out. Maybe not. Salary and all.

 

[bbfan419]

Hate to blame just one player, but Korpisalo was not very good in this one. They need to make deals before the TDL or may be too late if they keep losing. They may need to think sell this time around.

 

[Gee Wally]

David Pastrnak erases third-period deficit, but Islanders win in OT to end Bruins’ six-game home ice run - The Boston Globe

Bo Horvat scored on a breakaway 3:10 into the extra session to hand Boston its fourth straight defeat.

www.bostonglobe.com

With wins increasingly hard to manufacture, the Bruins nipped at the edges of one Sunday night, came within a Brad Marchand overtime slapper of putting away 2 points, only to be sent skittering down Causeway Street six seconds later on Bo Horvat’s breakaway goal that handed the Islanders a 5-4 OT win over the beleaguered Black and Gold.

Meet the midseason 2024-25 Bruins: Team Sisyphus, each night pushing the puck uphill, only to be crushed by the 6 ounces of vulcanized rubber. It was their season-high fourth consecutive loss (0-3-1), and it snapped their six-game winning streak on home ice.

“I look at it half-full, considering the circumstance tonight,” mused coach Joe Sacco, his club without a win since a 4-0 whitewashing of the Blue Jackets on Dec. 28, “and being down a couple of goals (twice) and fighting back in the third. It’s a sign of resilience. We would have liked to capture that extra point in OT, but … ”

In their four losses, beginning New Year’s Eve in Washington, the Bruins held but two brief leads — for 10:44 against the Capitals, and then only 21 seconds vs. the Islanders Sunday.

Otherwise, the Bruins chased, chased, and chased their opponents. The Capitals, Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Islanders amassed 190:33 lead time in the four games. Fighting uphill, with down results.

“I’ve said before, you don’t want to play catch-up hockey — it’s hard in this league,” said Sacco, first noting that Cole Koepke provided the Bruins with the oh-so-brief lead in the first. “It’s a very difficult thing to do.”

Behind by a goal after two periods, the Bruins fell behind, 4-2, early in the third on Anders Lee’s second goal of the night, before David Pastrnak struck for a pair to knot it, 4-4.

Pastrnak also scored a pair the night before in the 6-4 loss in Toronto. If there is a way out of their malaise, it looks like it will have to be at the working end of No. 88’s stick, which was uncharacteristically cold in the first half of the season.

Nothing better defines a struggling power play — a bugaboo for the Bruins all season — than a power play that plays directly into the opposition’s hands. The Bruins are now a woeful 0-for-10 on the man advantage across the last six games.

 

[ae530]

I said after the 5th game of the season that they looked unorganized and they were probably going to finish around 20th or worse in the entire league. I’m still standing by that statement with what I am seeing so far after 42 games.

 

[BTO]

Tolja Pasta always get hot in the new year. One down, 22 to go!

In the next year or so, they need a new “turning point in franchise history”.

I’ve lived during at least 4 of them.

Orr
Bourque
Neely Trade
Chara signing/Bergeron emergence

Obviously there were other things that contributed to each of those “eras” so to speak….but this team needs to win a trade a la Neely, convince a legit likely HOF player to come here or draft a guy who far outperforms expectations.

Gavin McKenna.