Is the Bruins loss the biggest choke job ever?

[CharasLazyWrister]

I’m going to say it again. It wasn’t a “choke”. They straight up lost to a better “playoff team”.

I know no one wants to admit that the Panthers are just straight up better built for the playoffs, but it’s true.

Nothing about the way David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, David Krejci etc played in the playoffs was really all that different from how they played in the regular season. The difference was the way their opponent played them.


A devastating loss and as disappoint a season as one can fathom? Yes. Choke? Nope. Even when they were up 3 to 1 in the series, it felt like Florida had the edge in play. If the Bruins proved they were the better team at any point in the series, I’d agree it was a choke. But as far as playoff hockey goes, they were just outmatched.

 

[tiburon12]

they choke when they lose game seven in SC and they are lucky when they win!!! OK....

Yea that game 7 you're referencing... Bruins played a really great game, right? Bruins had home ice taboot.

 

[tTheVeganWoofMate]

One word
YES
This “core” is great at choking. Biggest series choke and biggest single playoff game choke (2019 game 7)
Bergeron
Krejci
Marchand
Macavoy
Pastrnak
Carlo
Grzelcyk
Debrusk
Sadly they will probably run it back with all these guys sans Grzelcyk.

 

[Bradely]

I’m going to say it again. It wasn’t a “choke”. They straight up lost to a better “playoff team”.

I know no one wants to admit that the Panthers are just straight up better built for the playoffs, but it’s true.

Nothing about the way David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, David Krejci etc played in the playoffs was really all that different from how they played in the regular season. The difference was the way their opponent played them.


A devastating loss and as disappoint a season as one can fathom? Yes. Choke? Nope. Even when they were up 3 to 1 in the series, it felt like Florida had the edge in play. If the Bruins proved they were the better team at any point in the series, I’d agree it was a choke. But as far as playoff hockey goes, they were just outmatched.

They lost to a team that won the President trophy the year before, and they added grit and PO guys in 19 and Bennett to name 2 + Bob is playing like in his best years. Boston is still the best opponent the Panthers had in the current PO. What about the Leafs and the Canes.........I give more credit to the Panthers..... than just say they were lucky and Boston simply chocked.

 

[pvr]

Yes indeed, it is a "parity driven league", but still, 1st vs 17th should represent something that's outside of that parity. That said, with respect to this being the biggest "choke job" of all time, it's debatable due to how Florida has played since the 5th game of that 1st Round series. It could be said to be just as much an 'amazing turnaround' performance by Florida as it could be said to be a "choke job" by Boston. I mean, Boston seemed almost unbeatable during the Regular Season, and now Florida seems almost unbeatable in the Playoffs. Let's hold off and see how the rest of the Playoffs go for Florida before there's a final verdict on this topic/thread.

You can try to spin it any way you want, but it was a choke job of epic proportions. The fact that Marchand also blew it was icing on the cake.

It was a very pleasurable and extremely satisfying outcome for me.

 

[Enniskillen]

Broons are chokers, and Bergeron gets injured every playoff run, while Marchand talks sh.t but disappears at the crucial moments.

 

[CheerstoBeers]

Broons are chokers, and Bergeron gets injured every playoff run, while Marchand talks sh.t but disappears at the crucial moments.

And they both played crucial roles in the Bruins winning the cup in 2011. What a couple of chokers. Guys play their entire career and don't win a cup these two together have won a cup and made it two more SCF. No easy task for sure,

 

[PeteWorrell]

And they both played crucial roles in the Bruins winning the cup in 2011. What a couple of chokers. Guys play their entire career and don't win a cup these two together have won a cup and made it two more SCF. No easy task for sure,

Thomas was playing like a man possessed during that run. He was the biggest factor and he is long gone.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Right now it's the biggest choke.

But by Wednesday there may be a new contender for that title

 

[Coffee]

Yea but after game 1, they were never in that series

Boston was right there and had the commanding hold in the series and choked it

This is such a over exaggeration

Right now it's the biggest choke.

But by Wednesday there may be a new contender for that title

Vegas is not losing, Mahomie.

 

[mac nylander]

leafs up 3-1 against habs does it for me

 

[CheerstoBeers]

Thomas was playing like a man possessed during that run. He was the biggest factor and he is long gone.

He was the biggest factor but certainly not the only factor. Bergeron and Marchand had an amazing run in 2011. Bergeron had 2 goals and Marchand had 2 goals and an assist in the cup deciding game 7. Seems pretty clutch to me.

 

[nORRis8]

The Bruins may have choked but they also had some very key guys playing who likely shouldn't have been.
Ullmark.
Bergeron
Lindholm.

Oddly enuf I would rank the 1971 Bruins doing an extreme choke job vs the Habs losing in 7 games. They were healthy and were the defending SCC.
Losing game #2 7-5 after being up 5-1 was a killer!

 

[nORRis8]

leafs up 3-1 against habs does it for me

That and how TSN were practically mocking the Habs and how they do not belong in the same building as the Leafs.

Don't count your cookies.....

I recall game 7, I missed the first period, checked the stats and Toronto outshot the Habs 24-6...something like that and it was 0-0.
I told my wife "Montreal is going to win, the Leafs are done!!!"
And they were.

 

[authentic]

I’m going to say it again. It wasn’t a “choke”. They straight up lost to a better “playoff team”.

I know no one wants to admit that the Panthers are just straight up better built for the playoffs, but it’s true.

Nothing about the way David Pastrnak, Trent Frederic, David Krejci etc played in the playoffs was really all that different from how they played in the regular season. The difference was the way their opponent played them.


A devastating loss and as disappoint a season as one can fathom? Yes. Choke? Nope. Even when they were up 3 to 1 in the series, it felt like Florida had the edge in play. If the Bruins proved they were the better team at any point in the series, I’d agree it was a choke. But as far as playoff hockey goes, they were just outmatched.

Except for the fact that Krejci was injured, Bergeron was injured and their starting goalie was injured

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He was the biggest factor but certainly not the only factor. Bergeron and Marchand had an amazing run in 2011. Bergeron had 2 goals and Marchand had 2 goals and an assist in the cup deciding game 7. Seems pretty clutch to me.

Krejci was a big factor in that run, same with Lucic and Horton, before the hit.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Except for the fact that Krejci was injured, Bergeron was injured and their starting goalie was injured

Okay.

But then would that not also make it not a choke?

 

[Channelcat]

Tampa getting swept by CBJ after winning the PT feels even worse. Or Vancouver in the finals vs Boston.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Tampa getting swept by CBJ after winning the PT feels even worse. Or Vancouver in the finals vs Boston.

I second the Tampa loss to the BJs. The Bruins lost in 7, which, regardless of records, is hardly a choke. So far, they've given the Cats more resistance than anyone else, although Leafs and Canes fans might say otherwise.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

2010 when they blew a 3-0 lead to the flyers might be worse..

 

[Channelcat]

I second the Tampa loss to the BJs. The Bruins lost in 7, which, regardless of records, is hardly a choke. So far, they've given the Cats more resistance than anyone else, although Leafs and Canes fans might say otherwise.

Agreed. The Bruins played well, as much as no one wants to admit it. TB didn't even show up.

 

[authentic]

Okay.

But then would that not also make it not a choke?

Yes, just not so much "they straight up lost to a better playoff team"

There's not a team in the league that would go 7 games with Florida without their best goalie and top 2 centers atleast fairly healthy, and one of their best defenseman injured as well, I forgot to mention Lindholm.

By all accounts Bergeron and Ullmark were so injured they shouldn't have been playing at all

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Yes, just not so much "they straight up lost to a better playoff team"

There's not a team in the league that would go 7 games with Florida without their best goalie and top 2 centers atleast fairly healthy, and one of their best defenseman injured as well, I forgot to mention Lindholm.

By all accounts Bergeron and Ullmark were so injured they shouldn't have been playing at all

Okay, I am getting lost as to what we are even debating now. And I’m blaming myself as much as anyone else for that.

Given the context, including the injuries, I don’t think the Bruins deserved to win the series. Really at any point. Florida was better, be it because of injuries or all of the other countless factors.

In my mind, it wasn’t a matter of “Bruins dominate and then blow it”. It was more like “Bruins pretty lucky to get up 3-1 in the series and then fail to take it to next level to close it out”.

Clearly they were far less healthy than when they were scalding hot earlier in the year. But they also clearly weren’t playing the playoff Florida Panthers every night to achieve that regular season record. seemed like the whole board still wanted to believe Florida wasn’t a good team after the Bruins “choked”. Then they’ve gone and shredded two more opponents (who have both looked worse than the Bruins) and I’m still being sold the “they choked” narrative. Not buying it. They got outplayed and lost to a legitimately better team that they weren’t on par with at this point in the season. Pretty much from game one through seven.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Cassidy is an elite coach

 

[Chaos2k7]

Honestly, if we had fallen to Boston, they would be in the SCF, disappointing no doubt, but the most complete team we faced in the postseason.