Is the Bruins loss the biggest choke job ever?
- Thread starter SpinningEdge
- Start date
Kranix
Deranged Homer
- Jun 27, 2012
- 18,771
- 16,913
no. Florida was a darkhorse, but they were a juggernaut last year with a clueless coach. They swapped 30 year old Huberdeau, and Mackenzie "unforced error" Weegar for Matthew Tkachuk, and Paul Maurice, a guy who's been coaching teams to NHL wins for pretty much Bettman's entire tenure as commish.
That and Boston road Ullmark's Terry Sawchuk impression until he wasn't doing that anymore
That and Boston road Ullmark's Terry Sawchuk impression until he wasn't doing that anymore
SImpelton
Registered User
- Mar 1, 2018
- 602
- 742
You mean in the seccond round? After already having won a playoff series against the Sabers that year?
That alone takes 2010 out of the picture IMHO. That team was severely flawed and were lucky to get as far as they were.
but the extenuating circumstances in 2010 were also way worse. That Bruins team basically had the worst offense in the NHL and somehow made it to the second round. They ran out of gas when their best center was hurt, and after Krejci was down, they had Vladimir Sobotka as the second line center, which tells you what dire straits they were in.
I'm just saying, running out of gas in that situation is relatively understandable and it's not even in the running for the worst choke job anyway because the team actually WON a playoff round.
- Feb 24, 2003
- 29,961
- 3,055
I think Tampa losing to the Blue Jackets is the bigger shock - or choke if you will - given it was a sweep and how the first period of G1 went. That said, as much as rising to the moment is necessary to be successful in pro sports, ANYONE can lose 4 times in 7 games. Understandably, we project regular season records onto playoff matchups, but 82 games versus 7 aren't even in the same universe. None of that is to really defend Boston - they're an evil, irredeemable, empire after all - but just putting into context that losing 4 times in 7 games is a bad two weeks in January in the regular season, and the end of the season in the playoffs. No excuses or complaints, those are the breaks, but viewing this as a huge shock probably does a disservice to a really good Florida team, the sample size of playoff hockey, and the shadow of a regular season where there's much more time for the cream to rise to the top.
Icarium
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2010
- 4,047
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It kind of depends on how you define choke. If it's finding a way to lose against a really inferior team, then Capitals vs Habs in 2010 was a bigger choke, IMO. This Florida team is flawed but has mostly the same roster than won that President's Trophy last year. That Montreal team was basically Halak standing on his head and an opportunistic power play. In the last two games of the series the shots were 96 to 35, yet Montreal somehow prevailed because Halak channeled the ghost of Hasek.
But if it's having a gazillion chances to finish the job and blowing them all, in addition to being the heavy favourite on paper, this series is up there. It was like a Hollywood script - the Marchand breakaway miss in the final seconds of Game 5, Ullmark gifting the GWG, BOS not scoring on a too many men penalty near the end of Game 5 (or was it 6?), BOS coming back after being two goals down, thanks to some suspect calls, only for a tying goal with a minute to go and then an OT winner. If it were a movie, people would say it's too contrived and cliche, lol.
But if it's having a gazillion chances to finish the job and blowing them all, in addition to being the heavy favourite on paper, this series is up there. It was like a Hollywood script - the Marchand breakaway miss in the final seconds of Game 5, Ullmark gifting the GWG, BOS not scoring on a too many men penalty near the end of Game 5 (or was it 6?), BOS coming back after being two goals down, thanks to some suspect calls, only for a tying goal with a minute to go and then an OT winner. If it were a movie, people would say it's too contrived and cliche, lol.
Channelcat
Unhinged user
Maybe, but I always think back to that Canucks Bruins final in 2011. That Canuck team was one of the best ever assembled imho. And they blew it.
- Sep 28, 2014
- 78,160
- 125,703
I think this is bigger than the choke job in 2010 against the Flyers. Despite that being a 3-0 series lead and 3-0 Game 7 lead, those teams were very evenly matched up. The Flyers actually won 2 more games than Boston that season, and were considered to be one of the preseason Cup favorites. They only stumbled into the Playoffs due to injuries, particularly in net. Additionally, half way through the series the Flyers got Gagne back and the Bruins lost Krejci.
Blowing a 3-1 series lead against a team you had 43 more points than is unfathomable.
Blowing a 3-1 series lead against a team you had 43 more points than is unfathomable.
Edgelord
All I have is substantially vapid opinions
- May 3, 2016
- 9,163
- 5,572
But 43 point difference, Have a gander at the standings and see who would have to beat who with a 43pt difference to get a feel for how huge of a choke job this is
MetalGoalie35
Registered User
Parity is a truly beautiful thing.
Having grown up during the Habs' heyday, it's hard to adequately express the extent to which their dominance sucked the fun out of hockey for any of us who didn't happen to be Habs fans. League dominance - especially extended periods of it - are hard to swallow. (Imagine trying to be excited about watching a continuous loop of Team Canada vs. Team Turkey games.)
The last thing in the world that the hockey community (or the world) needed was another Stanley Cup for the Bruins. Last night's victory for Florida was a victory for the entire planet.
- Mar 4, 2004
- 30,076
- 29,939
Agreed.
This was enjoyable but isn't even the biggest choke in Bruins history let alone the NHL.
And I still rank Tampa's higher because they got swept not even winning a single playoff game after what was a record setting season at the time is a bigger failure.
Tom Polakis
Next expansion
I lived through that period as well. The team was so much more stacked than any other, and it made the sport far less interesting to follow than it is today.
Sports without salary caps, baseball in particular, have a set of a half dozen or so teams that will always be near the top by outspending small-market teams. The cap makes following the moves of general managers more fun, and brings about great upsets in the playoffs like this one.
SirClintonPortis
ProudCapitalsTraitor
It's a repeat of history....
There was another crusher in which the Bruins lost 4-3, led by 1, got tied with under a minute, and lost in OT.....Announcer says 1:27 to go....(1:28 in the Panthers game)
I'm glad the new generation of Bruins fans get to feel what their grandpas felt. ENJOY THE SALT.
awinninghabit.com
There was another crusher in which the Bruins lost 4-3, led by 1, got tied with under a minute, and lost in OT.....Announcer says 1:27 to go....(1:28 in the Panthers game)
I'm glad the new generation of Bruins fans get to feel what their grandpas felt. ENJOY THE SALT.
Watch: Guy Lafleur Ties Game 7 With A Minute Left
One of the greatest playoff series in NHL history - 1979 Semi Finals between the Bruins and Canadiens. Watch Guy Lafleur and his teammates create history.
awinninghabit.com
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Boy Hedican
Homer Jr, friends call me Ho-Ju
BrookswasHere44
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- Jun 22, 2009
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Rob Sense
Registered User
- Apr 26, 2015
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orby
Registered User
I don't know if it's more embarrassing than Tampa getting swept by Columbus in 2019, but in any case they are 1 and 2 for worst chokes of the salary cap era.
ViewsFromThe6ix
Zachary on the Attackary
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
NorthStar4Canes
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2007
- 2,782
- 792
A Tampa-choke is like taking 1 bite of food then promptly dying on the floor under the table at the restaurant because nobody there knows the Heimlich. Almost before you realize you're in trouble, the world goes black. No time to think about anything else, just fleeting desperation then Boom. Game over.
This Bruins choke, on the other hand, was more like having tasty appetizers and a delicious main course, then for no good reason halfway through a soft dessert accidentally inhaling some whipped cream that makes you try to clear your throat, then a cough or two as you pay your bill and leave, no big deal. Driving home, however, the throat clearing and coughing become more insistent and the frustration begins. As it worsens into nonstop hacking you begin to sweat and the irritation turns into a bit of pain which grows when you feel your throat begin to constrict. You realize now you're wheezing too. Hacking and wheezing, unable to speak, driving is becoming a problem.
Thinking there must be something more to this than whipped cream and trying to nip the little bud of panic sprouting in your gut because it's hard to take a breath now, you manage to detour yourself to a nearby hospital ER where everything should be taken care of and it'll all be fine, right? But the doctor looks a bit concerned and even anxious after you say "Aaaaaaah" as he finds no obvious obstruction and now you're into a full blown, nonstop coughing jag. Suddenly they're lying you on a gurney and you're being wheeled to a room for some sort of scan or x-ray as more help gathers. They haven't even asked you about insurance yet so you know this is becoming serious.
By now it all feels surreal and the the panic has taken root and spreading. This can't be happening. Only minutes before it seems you'd been comfortably feasting and relaxing and now they're trying to hold you down because the bile-ball of fear is convulsing your stomach and there's the feeling of your lungs trying to rip from your chest and come out of your mouth while an invisible hand is also squeezing your throat so they can't. Something's gotta give!
You're faintly aware the doctors now attending to you discussing the possibly a dislodged diaphragm displacing your lower esophagus which in turn could be pinching off the trachea plus that you've also managed to swallow your own tongue which is now stuck in your upper esophagus. It sounds like your insides are as snarled as a plate of spaghetti despite you having had the prime rib, speaking of which yours now feel like they're each trying to stab themselves out your back.
As grim as the assessment of your condition sounds, it's denial that's foremost in your mind. Denial that there's no future. That this is it. This can't be happening, just can't, because you were supposed to spend the upcoming long weekend with the most smokin' hot woman in existence, the One of your dreams. In fact, the weeks and months ahead were planned-out in your head; the wining and dining and celebrating good times until you'd win her completely, connected forever and sanctified by your name being tattooed on her ass and you wearing a ring. It was all going to be so sweet!
As you begin to gray-out, however, "what's happening what's happening" becomes the refrain in your brain and a horrible sense of doom grips you as hard, then harder as the invisible hand grips your throat so painfully you feel like the guy in Roadhouse that Patrick Swayze did a number on. Something does indeed give and "No it can't end this waaaaaaa..!!" becomes your final, silent scream as gray turns to black.
Then you're floating, looking down from above at your own flat-lined body while the docs have already moved their conversation on from how in the hell did you manage to swallow your entire tongue to the normal post-mortem banter of golf handicaps and Beemers vs Porches.
But do you get to go mercifully into the good night, floating away to leave it all behind? Nope, not so fast, bud. As a special sort of hell and now that she's completely out of your reach, you're forced to witness all the other still-alive guys go through the spring and summer chasing her, guys you just KNOW deep-down you were better than except for the fact you're dead and they're not. If you had only not swallowed your own tongue, or the docs had been better, or if you'd taken eating whipped cream more seriously, or, or, or....
In the end, you watch in bitterness as some lesser, undeserving puke who out-lucked all the other pukes hoists the girl of your dreams, YOUR girl, over his head and then kisses her...the exact same move you were going to do! But when you were going to do it, it would look cool and be cool as you gave a good ole' Canadian "F***ing Rights!" shoutout, but someone else doing it looks like a bad pantomime of that stupid Dirty Dancing chick flick you always hated. Totally not cool and what a stupid movie.
So which choke is worse? Beats me, but they are different. Pick your poison.
This Bruins choke, on the other hand, was more like having tasty appetizers and a delicious main course, then for no good reason halfway through a soft dessert accidentally inhaling some whipped cream that makes you try to clear your throat, then a cough or two as you pay your bill and leave, no big deal. Driving home, however, the throat clearing and coughing become more insistent and the frustration begins. As it worsens into nonstop hacking you begin to sweat and the irritation turns into a bit of pain which grows when you feel your throat begin to constrict. You realize now you're wheezing too. Hacking and wheezing, unable to speak, driving is becoming a problem.
Thinking there must be something more to this than whipped cream and trying to nip the little bud of panic sprouting in your gut because it's hard to take a breath now, you manage to detour yourself to a nearby hospital ER where everything should be taken care of and it'll all be fine, right? But the doctor looks a bit concerned and even anxious after you say "Aaaaaaah" as he finds no obvious obstruction and now you're into a full blown, nonstop coughing jag. Suddenly they're lying you on a gurney and you're being wheeled to a room for some sort of scan or x-ray as more help gathers. They haven't even asked you about insurance yet so you know this is becoming serious.
By now it all feels surreal and the the panic has taken root and spreading. This can't be happening. Only minutes before it seems you'd been comfortably feasting and relaxing and now they're trying to hold you down because the bile-ball of fear is convulsing your stomach and there's the feeling of your lungs trying to rip from your chest and come out of your mouth while an invisible hand is also squeezing your throat so they can't. Something's gotta give!
You're faintly aware the doctors now attending to you discussing the possibly a dislodged diaphragm displacing your lower esophagus which in turn could be pinching off the trachea plus that you've also managed to swallow your own tongue which is now stuck in your upper esophagus. It sounds like your insides are as snarled as a plate of spaghetti despite you having had the prime rib, speaking of which yours now feel like they're each trying to stab themselves out your back.
As grim as the assessment of your condition sounds, it's denial that's foremost in your mind. Denial that there's no future. That this is it. This can't be happening, just can't, because you were supposed to spend the upcoming long weekend with the most smokin' hot woman in existence, the One of your dreams. In fact, the weeks and months ahead were planned-out in your head; the wining and dining and celebrating good times until you'd win her completely, connected forever and sanctified by your name being tattooed on her ass and you wearing a ring. It was all going to be so sweet!
As you begin to gray-out, however, "what's happening what's happening" becomes the refrain in your brain and a horrible sense of doom grips you as hard, then harder as the invisible hand grips your throat so painfully you feel like the guy in Roadhouse that Patrick Swayze did a number on. Something does indeed give and "No it can't end this waaaaaaa..!!" becomes your final, silent scream as gray turns to black.
Then you're floating, looking down from above at your own flat-lined body while the docs have already moved their conversation on from how in the hell did you manage to swallow your entire tongue to the normal post-mortem banter of golf handicaps and Beemers vs Porches.
But do you get to go mercifully into the good night, floating away to leave it all behind? Nope, not so fast, bud. As a special sort of hell and now that she's completely out of your reach, you're forced to witness all the other still-alive guys go through the spring and summer chasing her, guys you just KNOW deep-down you were better than except for the fact you're dead and they're not. If you had only not swallowed your own tongue, or the docs had been better, or if you'd taken eating whipped cream more seriously, or, or, or....
In the end, you watch in bitterness as some lesser, undeserving puke who out-lucked all the other pukes hoists the girl of your dreams, YOUR girl, over his head and then kisses her...the exact same move you were going to do! But when you were going to do it, it would look cool and be cool as you gave a good ole' Canadian "F***ing Rights!" shoutout, but someone else doing it looks like a bad pantomime of that stupid Dirty Dancing chick flick you always hated. Totally not cool and what a stupid movie.
So which choke is worse? Beats me, but they are different. Pick your poison.
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BLNY
Registered User
No.
IMO, the Panthers underachieved during the regular season. That roster is better than 92 points. I still contend that the 2010 Canadiens defeat of the Caps is the biggest even if the gap in points was 30 some odd instead of 43. That roster had no business getting out of the first round.
IMO, the Panthers underachieved during the regular season. That roster is better than 92 points. I still contend that the 2010 Canadiens defeat of the Caps is the biggest even if the gap in points was 30 some odd instead of 43. That roster had no business getting out of the first round.
