Post-Game Talk: GAME 51 - Bruins 3, Avalanche 1

[Guelph Bruin]

Again per the Edge stats, yes Poitras is slow. Which is no surprise. But so is Geekie. Glacial. One of the slowest forwards in the league. Doesn't seem to be holding him back, but it is what it is. Lattieri is slow too. Even Jones is actually in the bottom half for top speed. Would never call him a laggard, but appearances can be deceiving.

The only Bruins forwards who are in the top 50% of the league for pace are Pasta, Zacha, Beecher, Kastelic and Koepke. Probably Lysell too if he actually saw some decent time in Boston. But that's it.

So we got 2 guys with above average speed and puck on stick IQ ...... surprised Charlie Mac isn't rated above average speed ...but his puck IQ is suspect anyway

Edited to say: you said forwards....I got it

 

[BadBruins]

Very fortunate to come out with a victory in that one. Not a whole lot of positives.

Zadorov was physical. So was Peeke. At this point, I'd argue Peeke >> Carlo. Sell on Carlo IMO. Good player. Needs a change of scenery. Probably not the best time, but there is always a market for defenseman at the deadline. One of those guys who just looks way too comfortable.

Marchand really needs to cut out the 1v1 shit. That lines biggest problem is moving north-south.

Good on Geekie.... Pastrnak is giving him some great looks, but he's ripping the puck at every opportunity... which is what this team needs more of. Pastrnak is the straw that stirs the drink though. Don't go making silly extensions based on a 4-5 week period of chemistry.

 

[bobbyorr04]

He needs help hopefully Donny addresses scoring soon.

How?? when they don't have any cap space

..and most of the assets that could be traded to retain scoring have NMC or NTC

 

[The don godfather]

How?? when they don't have any cap space

..and most of the assets that could be traded to retain scoring have NMC or NTC

Donny magic incoming.

 

[PB37]

He is above average and gets pucks from the defensive zone to the offensive zone. Pretty vanilla but he isn’t “average top speed”

Maybe I’m wrong. I don’t have data

I’d love to see the data you’re basing this off of.

NHL Edge off the official league website tracks skating speed as well as some other useful data. Frederic's top recorded speed is 22.05. The average top speed for NHL forwards is 22.09.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

So we got 2 guys with above average speed and puck on stick IQ ...... surprised Charlie Mac isn't rated above average speed ...but his puck IQ is suspect anyway

Edited to say: you said forwards....I got it

Yeah that was just the forwards. The defenders actually fare better - those with speeds in the top 50% in the league are Zadorov, Lohrei, McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. Zads and Mason in particular are deceptively fast. Like I knew both were decent skaters, but Zadorov is faster than 95% of the other defenders in the league, and Lohrei 87%. Probably a factor in why both have shown a particular ability to perform in playoffs when everything happens more quickly.

 

[PlayMakers]

Great win.

Tough game for Poitras I thought. It felt like every time his line had a 3on2 he'd get closed on quickly, carry the puck into a dead end and turn it over. That's actually what happened preceded Colorado's goal. Growing pains I suppose.

Swayman was excellent. Nice to see him rebound after Jersey.

Zadorov threw some massive hits today. He played over 20 minutes again and was +2.

Peeke has played over 20 minutes in each of the last 6 and is a +5 in that span.

The only line that didn't allow more shot attempts than they generated, was Frederic-Lindholm-Lettieri. They were 8-7. The Zacha line got buried 8-19.

 

[bruinmann77]

nice 3rd period today big 2 points

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Just finished the game. After the 2nd I thought this was a sure loss . Lohrei is starting to look like the guy we saw in the playoffs last year. Has Pasta been the best player in the league the last month?

 

[PlayMakers]

Again per the Edge stats, yes Poitras is slow. Which is no surprise. But so is Geekie. Glacial. One of the slowest forwards in the league. Doesn't seem to be holding him back, but it is what it is. Lattieri is slow too. Even Jones is actually in the bottom half for top speed. Would never call him a laggard, but appearances can be deceiving.

The only Bruins forwards who are in the top 50% of the league for pace are Pasta, Zacha, Beecher, Kastelic and Koepke. Probably Lysell too if he actually saw some decent time in Boston. But that's it.

When I use the Edge stats, I check this year and last year for each player. I started doing it at the start of the year, because I figured 10 or 20 games was a small sample, but the results were so varied I do it for everyone now.

Like take Geekie, he's below 50th percentile this year for everything, top speed and all three speed burst ranges, but last year he was top75 in top speed, and above 50th percentile in 2 of the 3 speed burst ranges. So that tells me he actually has the ability to be fast, he just hasn't used it much this season.

Lettieri too. Last year he was in the top85th percentile for top speed. This year I think he just has a small sample size.

 

[bobbyorr04]

Donny magic incoming.

He'll literally need some magic with the Bruins current cap situation

 

[The don godfather]

He'll literally need some magic with the Bruins current cap situation

He will do something for sure we in the mix just dont bankrupt the farm.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

He'll literally need some magic with the Bruins current cap situation

I think our cap situation is fine. Coyle and Carlo id get rid of ASAP. I like Zad and I think E Lindholm will come through for us if we put him in a better position. Zacha and Poitras are getting the good wingers what do you expect.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

When I use the Edge stats, I check this year and last year for each player. I started doing it at the start of the year, because I figured 10 or 20 games was a small sample, but the results were so varied I do it for everyone now.

Like take Geekie, he's below 50th percentile this year for everything, top speed and all three speed burst ranges, but last year he was top75 in top speed, and above 50th percentile in 2 of the 3 speed burst ranges. So that tells me he actually has the ability to be fast, he just hasn't used it much this season.

Lettieri too. Last year he was in the top85th percentile for top speed. This year I think he just has a small sample size.

Yeah you do need to use these kinds of stats carefully and with a pinch of salt. Geekie though, if you look at his last 4 seasons his speeds are in the bottom 50% for 3 out of the 4. I was probably too harsh calling him 'glacial', but I think it's pretty safe to say that overall he's not quick, just kind of average at best. The eye test supports that IMO. And again, if he can find a way to be effective despite that, then it matters very little.

Otherwise I take the numbers as a guide only, compare them against the eye test and other things and see if they paint any sort of coherent picture. I think the basic point that the current Bruins as a whole are not quick is pretty safely established. It's not the end of the world. But you can't ignore it either. How they manage and overcome it, or make up for it in other ways, has an impact on their performance.

 

[Kegs]

He will do something for sure we in the mix just dont bankrupt the farm.

Can u bankrupt it twice?

 

[bobbyorr04]

I think our cap situation is fine. Coyle and Carlo id get rid of ASAP. I like Zad and I think E Lindholm will come through for us if we put him in a better position. Zacha and Poitras are getting the good wingers what do you expect.

The B's cap situation is fine?? ..the last time I looked at Puckpedia the Bruins cap space was in the red

The Don was talking about trading McAvoy (@$9.5) for EP40 (@$11.6)

 

[easton117]

I know it probably isn’t popular but I thought, given the schedule, the Bruins played this one well.

5 games in a week is a tough sled for any team. They played well in front of Swayman and didn’t make him play lights out which I’m sure he appreciated.

Unsung guy I thought was Callahan. The Avs got the big guys out on him seemingly every chance they had and he did his job. Not highlight studs out there but he played his position well and didn’t look star struck chasing around two of the best players in the league.

 

[Alan Ryan]

Great win.

Tough game for Poitras I thought. It felt like every time his line had a 3on2 he'd get closed on quickly, carry the puck into a dead end and turn it over. That's actually what happened preceded Colorado's goal. Growing pains I suppose

The only line that didn't allow more shot attempts than they generated, was Frederic-Lindholm-Lettieri. They were 8-7. The Zacha line got buried 8-19.

I get very frustrated that B’s are consistently outshot by large margins. It seems like a recipe for failure. Then I see your note that the Zacha line was the worst line for shots—and yet they scored all 3 Bruins goals. Doesn’t compute . . .

Poitras is a talented youngster learning to play pro hockey. The B’s are thin at forward now. If they add for the deadline I think Poitras would benefit from more time in Providence, especially a long playoff run.

 

[22Brad Park]

That Buffalo game worries me. Screams trap. I hope they do not take it lightly.

They nearly beat Edm tonite, so no reason to take it light.Especially fighting for playoff lives with Jets afterwards.

 

[DavidK]

Geekie has become close to untouchable and is one of Sweeney's better signings in his tenure. This is a guy that's grabbed his chance reestablishing his ceiling. He's a must sign RFA, right now.

Geekie untouchable? Come on. People are so myopic around here.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

They nearly beat Edm tonite, so no reason to take it light.Especially fighting for playoff lives with Jets afterwards.

Oh I agree but that's just it. They will be thinking about Winnipeg.

 

[wintersej]

I get very frustrated that B’s are consistently outshot by large margins. It seems like a recipe for failure. Then I see your note that the Zacha line was the worst line for shots—and yet they scored all 3 Bruins goals. Doesn’t compute . . .

Poitras is a talented youngster learning to play pro hockey. The B’s are thin at forward now. If they add for the deadline I think Poitras would benefit from more time in Providence, especially a long playoff run.

Geekie has shot 80% over the last three games. Going to go out on a limb and say I don’t think that will hold up.

 

[bobbyorr04]

Sway was cool as a cucumber this afternoon. Love it.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

No idea what this team is right now but they're playing hard and together.

If/when Lindholm and McAvoy return are they one more offensive threat away from being a contender? Pastrnak can't do it alone come playoff time, but with another legit threat on another line would change things dramatically.

Its fools gold trading anything thinking they are remotely a contender. Better chance of winning one game in R1 than winning R1, especially if #27 can't comeback. I haven't seen any video beyond two clips which were discouraging.

I remember Bobby Carpenter featuring his kneecap and though he cameback was never as effective as before.

I sill say sell before the deadline and gain either good prospects or 1st and 2nd round choices.

 

[caz16]

I love Zadorov's attitude, he was needed badly on this team, he is obviously a good presence in the locker room. His comments yesterday were perfect, the media loves to make up stories about the locker room but I put more faith in what he said. They want to be in the playoffs. The standings are so closely packed, Tampa is slowing making up the games but are still behind. It is going to be one heck of a race to the finish.

There are so many games when the Bruins have no puck luck, in the last two games they have finally had some things go their way. It was a tough week and they ground it out. WTG boys! I want playoffs too!