Post-Game Talk: GAME 56 - NYR 3 BRUINS 2

[Dr Hook]

McAvoy was all alone late in 3rd about 10 feet in front of the net and missed everything .Beautiful setup to him but Shame he missed.

He does that more often than he should, too. They do get some glorious chances many nights but too often the finish is not there.

 

[Aeroforce]

That wasn't necessarily a game they should've won; but it was a game they could've won. And with the hole they have dug themselves, it's a bad loss.

The PP is an unmitigated disaster. It not only doesn't help them, it hurts them.

For as mediocre as they have been, with league parity, even being middle of the pack in special teams would likely have them comfortably in a playoff spot (the Rangers' second goal wasn't technically a PP goal, but in principle it was).

I think the team is also mentally drained. In recent years, they'd have some easier wins; but every night this season is a dogfight.

With their moribund offense, and needing to win with 2 or 3 goals, they need to play near-flawless defense, and finish their infrequent open looks.

Tonight that didn't happen.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

That wasn't necessarily a game they should've won; but it was a game they could've won. And with the hole they have dug themselves, it's a bad loss.

The PP is an unmitigated disaster. It not only doesn't help them, it hurts them.

For as mediocre as they have been, with league parity, even being middle of the pack in special teams would likely have them comfortably in a playoff spot (the Rangers' second goal wasn't technically a PP goal, but in principle it was).

I think the team is also mentally drained. In recent years, they'd have some easier wins; but every night this season is a dogfight.

With their moribund offense, and needing to win with 2 or 3 goals, they need to play near-flawless defense, and finish their infrequent open looks.

Tonight that didn't happen.

Excellent summary. The type of hockey they need to play night in night out to be successful they're not built for. Just don't have the stamina, either physical or mental, and for the most part they don't really know how to use their size.

How much was that foreseeable, I wonder? There were certainly questions raised here and elsewhere along those lines, but I think it's safe to say they're further off the mark than most expected. But we're not in the inner sanctum. Whatever concerns or warning signs should have been heeded by management were not.

So here we are. Sweeney as usual is keeping his cards very close to his chest and we have no real idea what he's going to do. Does he?

 

[eightspokedb]

I didn't realize they played last night....

That's sad....

 

[Fenway]

So here we are. Sweeney as usual is keeping his cards very close to his chest and we have no real idea what he's going to do. Does he?

@Aussie Bruin, I am back home after an uneventful drive back.

Ownership will accept a DNQ this season because the Celtics should keep TD Garden humming into June. The key now is for the Bruins to fall into the bottom 11 and have a chance with the lottery.

The biggest problem is Marchand, and his taking a bad penalty tonight can't be ignored.

I think Sweeney is safe but Sacco will be fired and the B's will look at who becomes available.

 

[LouJersey]

Yeah, you can depend on him for 3-4 turnovers per game.

that's the philosiphy of this ownership and management group. Get in, get 3-4 homes games. Only standard, which really isn't a standard

@Aussie Bruin, I am back home after an uneventful drive back.

Ownership will accept a DNQ this season because the Celtics should keep TD Garden humming into June. The key now is for the Bruins to fall into the bottom 11 and have a chance with the lottery.

The biggest problem is Marchand, and his taking a bad penalty tonight can't be ignored.

I think Sweeney is safe but Sacco will be fired and the B's will look at who becomes available.

Guy can't hold Chara's or Bergeron's jock as a captain. If someone is offering a 1 I ditch him.

Mike Sullivan next coach.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Beecher is a late round pick that somehow got taken in the first round.

I know drafting is far from a science but how does a guy with that much of a negative in the offensive column go that high? Hands of stone killed many a kids i grew up with dreams of playing anything beyond bantam, yet it somehow didn't for Beecher?

The team saw a guy with size and speed and thought "We can teach him skills and iq."

That hardly ever works out. It's either to make a guy a better skater at 20 than it is to make him a more creative and skilled player at 20. If you aren't creative against teens, you aren't going to be creative against men.

 

[LouJersey]

As he gets stronger and works on weak areas he will get really good is my bet too.

If Pasta skated as hard as Poitras on that shirt handed goal he may have been able to disrupt it.

The team saw a guy with size and speed and thought "We can teach him skills and iq."

That hardly ever works out. It's either to make a guy a better skater at 20 than it is to make him a more creative and skilled player at 20. If you aren't creative against teens, you aren't going to be creative against men.

Also moving him to wing takes an and all possible value from him. A good, big, fast 4th line center has some value, on wing he's nothing more than a replacement player

 

[Dr Quincy]

If Pasta skated as hard as Poitras on that shirt handed goal he may have been able to disrupt it.


Also moving him to wing takes an and all possible value from him. A good, big, fast 4th line center has some value, on wing he's nothing more than a replacement player

I think the comp I gave was Chad Kilger. Seems to be about right. But Kilger was taken 4th overall. At least a late 1st isn't as bad.

 

[Fenway]

Guy can't hold Chara's or Bergeron's jock as a captain. If someone is offering a 1 I ditch him.

Mike Sullivan next coach.

That is my best guess.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

@Aussie Bruin, I am back home after an uneventful drive back.

Ownership will accept a DNQ this season because the Celtics should keep TD Garden humming into June. The key now is for the Bruins to fall into the bottom 11 and have a chance with the lottery.

The biggest problem is Marchand, and his taking a bad penalty tonight can't be ignored.

I think Sweeney is safe but Sacco will be fired and the B's will look at who becomes available.

If the Jacobs are willing to take a DNQ then that is comforting. Much as it will suck in the short term, if the team is looking bound to fall short then you may as well lean into that as much as you can and take advantage, including potentially the lottery as you said. Been a while since the Bruins have been in a position to have these sorts of options, so make the most of it.

I think Marchand has mostly done the best he can as captain in difficult circumstances, despite some limitations. He lacks support and it is never easy to be the guy in charge when an era of greatness (or perhaps in this case, near greatness) inevitably comes to an end. He hasn't been able to arrest the decline but I'm not sure anyone could have. Frustration and trying too hard have probably led to some errors but they are understandable. With that said, is he the right guy to captain the team next year? That's also difficult. It could well be time to move on, even if he's not dealt, But there are no really good candidates to replace him. McAvoy would be the frontrunner but I am not convinced that is a great idea. One of many questions that need to be answered going forwards.

Sacco as you say is definitely gone and he knows it. On balance I would probably prefer to see a fresh face and perspective in the GM chair too, but I appreciate that Sweeney's overall record is arguably good enough to fairly earn him the chance to rectify the errors of the last 8 months. So be it. Can only hope he gets more things right this time. If he doesn't, then his own departure really will be assured, and Neely's too.

 

[bbfan419]

I want playoffs so pissed. Looking forward to superbowl with swift getting her ring again. I'm putting some money down that Kelsey proposes after the victory.

I hope Taylor Swift takes a one way trip to Mars via Elon's travel agency.