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

So do we call that Rope-a-Dope hockey? Two periods of dull boring lull them to sleep hockey, about 10 minutes of actual offensive attack snatching the lead and then a shut down shell to close it out. Is that the plan?
Not sure it'll work every night but it sure was effective today against a very good and skilled team.
I don't think they planned it, but as DKH pointed out earlier, this was the Bruins 3rd game in 66 hours

..so it took them two periods to find their legs

Now they'll get 3 full days to rest up and unwind before their next game in Buffalo Tuesday night
 
The Jekyll and Hyde Bruins continue. I don't think their lack of both foot speed and playing speed this season has ever been more apparent than it was in the first 40 here. They looked positively beer league compared the Avs, constantly flat-footed and chasing after flying opposition players. And on top of that they couldn't string two passes together. It was a miracle, plus some decent shot-blocking and Sway calmness it must be said, that they went into the 2nd intermission only 1-0 down.

Then Pasta and Geekie, with good support from Zacha, went to work again. They are playing some fantastic hockey at the moment, and basically carrying the team offensively. Surely not sustainable, but good on them and it's great to watch the chemistry they have at the moment. Caught the Avs unawares, and they never recovered. The defense dug in pretty well, and that was that. Another home win, another where they don't look the better team but they find a way. Not really instilling too much more hope in me yet, but they are hanging around and they keep battling, have to acknowledge that.

And just on the discussion on how slow or not the Bruins are, yeah they're slow, objectively so. Here is the NHL Edge profile for the team as a whole. One of the very slowest average top skating speeds in the league. Not so bad on the burst, but still in the lower half. Interestingly though, despite that they cover more ground than most. So this is a team that works hard, most of the time. Credit to them for that. But the lack of pace is undeniable, and it does translate into their ability to make plays with speed too. Just how detrimental that is is debatable, but it's a factor they have to contend with.

1737844554373.png
 
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.
he’s only 26 and when Knuble jumped from a single digit 4th liner to a 20-30+ goal scorer he was 29

Geekie has a better shot and ability to get open ~ Knuble was a beast down low

He’s 26 and the Bruins top line can actually get better
 
Just in.

That win was for @Gee Wally ...Feel better soon.

I am off later to the Tupelo Music Hall to see a Beatles Cover band. I will be tired!

Fun time today!

The Pasta, Geekie, Zacha line have been amazing. I have loved Pasta since the first day he stepped on the ice in Boston.

I like Peeke.

Happy to see Carlo return (with a new cut on his cheek) but OK.

Nice to see our boys win against a good team.

Good effort by all.
Agreed. Pasta has put this team on his back offensively and even making some nice plays in their own zone. He's playing with a lot of pride right now.
He is no one trick pony.
 
The Jekyll and Hyde Bruins continue. I don't think their lack of both foot speed and playing speed this season has ever been more apparent than it was in the first 40 here. They looked positively beer league compared the Avs, constantly flat-footed and chasing after flying opposition players. And on top of that they couldn't string two passes together. It was a miracle, plus some decent shot-blocking and Sway calmness it must be said, that they went into the 2nd intermission only 1-0 down.

Then Pasta and Geekie, with good support from Zacha, went to work again. They are playing some fantastic hockey at the moment, and basically carrying the team offensively. Surely not sustainable, but good on them and it's great to watch the chemistry they have at the moment. Caught the Avs unawares, and they never recovered. The defense dug in pretty well, and that was that. Another home win, another where they don't look the better team but they find a way. Not really instilling too much more hope in me yet, but they are hanging around and they keep battling, have to acknowledge that.

And just on the discussion on how slow or not the Bruins are, yeah they're slow, objectively so. Here is the NHL Edge profile for the team as a whole. One of the very slowest average top skating speeds in the league. Not so bad on the burst, but still in the lower half. Interestingly though, despite that they cover more ground than most. So this is a team that works hard, most of the time. Credit to them for that. But the lack of pace is undeniable, and it does translate into their ability to make plays with speed too. Just how detrimental that is is debatable, but it's a factor they have to contend with.

View attachment 967128
Today looked like a terrible matchup based on third game in 66 hours with an away game and teams ahead of them

Lindholm & McAvoy ‘should’ elevate their D and breakouts

With Swayman since Christmas on they should be good
 
Today looked like a terrible matchup based on third game in 66 hours with an away game and teams ahead of them

Lindholm & McAvoy ‘should’ elevate their D and breakouts

With Swayman since Christmas on they should be good
I have to admit I didn’t give them enough credit for how much they played in seven days. Good for them.
 
Today looked like a terrible matchup based on third game in 66 hours with an away game and teams ahead of them

Lindholm & McAvoy ‘should’ elevate their D and breakouts

With Swayman since Christmas on they should be good

Yeah, curious to see how the D looks once you slot those two back in. Without them they've actually done an ok job in the purely defensive aspects in their own zone, but the breakouts and transition have obviously been a struggle. As you say, Lindholm and Chucky should really help there.

They've gone quiet on McAvoy, but I believe his first child is due any day now, so I wonder if that might factor into it. Hopefully he's back soon.
 
I have to admit I didn’t give them enough credit for how much they played in seven days. Good for them.
They looked like a very good one line public high school hockey team going up against a strong Catholic Conference those first 2 periods

They are an easy homework assignment to write a paper on what you like - or don’t like

I like a lot but I could easily write a bunch of concerns and things I find troubling
 
They looked like a very good one line public high school hockey team going up against a strong Catholic Conference those first 2 periods

They are an easy homework assignment to write a paper on what you like - or don’t like

I like a lot but I could easily write a bunch of concerns and things I find troubling
One hell of an analogy to just simply put the that they have a lot of things to work on.
 
I disagree. Its not the only problem (shooting, puck distribution) but I believe its absolutely part of the issue here. Was an issue last year too. Just my opinion.
The elements of speed are more than skating. There's also IQ speed. How long it takes to make a decision/process how long it takes to act & react to whatever the situation is.
If you watch certain players, it seems to take them forever to decide what they're going to do and then do it.
 
Last edited:
The elements of speed are more than skating. There's also IQ speed. How long it takes to make a decision/process how long it takes to act & react to whatever the situation is.
If you watch certain players, it seems to take them forever to decide what they're going to do and then do it.
I've noticed this very same thing ...most of our D fall into that category (except Lohrie but sometimes his quick decisions are just wrong but I see more right than wrong) ..and a significant amount of our forwards....they're like "I have the puck..what's next?" ...I laughed today when Beecher actually split the D with his speed then he was "what the hell do I do now?" lol Obviously Pasta makes quick decisions, as does Marchy...Matty P has that capability as well ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: BMC and Gordoff
I don't think they planned it, but as DKH pointed out earlier, this was the Bruins 3rd game in 66 hours

..so it took them two periods to find their legs

Now they'll get 3 full days to rest up and unwind before their next game in Buffalo Tuesday night
That Buffalo game worries me. Screams trap. I hope they do not take it lightly.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad