Post-Game Talk: Pasta with the win - Bruins over Wings

[itsablurr]

What coach besides Claude Julien puts out a player in 3 on 3 OT who has yet to score a clean goal this season? None.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. A stroke of brilliance, in one coach's mind, perhaps.

 

[Dr Hook]

Kevan Miller's problem isn't shift-to-shift, but game-to-game.

One game he'll look like a very solid bottom-pair guy who can even move up a pair if asked.

The next game he'll make a number of glaring errors that make him look AHL-caliber.

It has been impressive how he's moved to his off-side and continued to have decent performances some of the time.

I kind of feel like that about his skating too. The first few games after he came back from the injury at season's start, he was skating really well, then it looked like he didn't have it for a couple after that. When his skating game is on, he looks good, even like a top 4 guy at times. He's not super fast, but he has that good burst acceleration, and decent agility- you see it particularly on those times he makes a net drive with the puck. Then next game, where did it go? If he could become a consistent skater, I think he'd be a good solid player for us that we're happy to have on a nightly basis.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

K Miller having a great season. Faster and so strong. Love what I'm seeing from k man.

Hopefully, he can do all that for another team starting next year.

 

[JEM28]

Hopefully, he can do all that for another team starting next year.

File this one away in the "watch what you ask for, you just might get it" category.

Kevan Miller is a decent D-man. Totally under-rated here. If he's gone because they either made a deal to get someone substantially better OR are biting the bullet and bringing up the kids, that's cool with me.

But this idea that some have that he is an AHL-er I find to be offbase, especially when I see how many similar d-men there are around the league who play a role on their own NHL teams.

 

[Dr Hook]

But this idea that some have that he is an AHL-er I find to be offbase, especially when I see how many similar d-men there are around the league who play a role on their own NHL teams.

I agree he isn't an AHLer, but his problem seems to be what has afflicted the majority of our team this season: inconsistency. When he's on his game, he is no-brainer third pairing guy and I think a second pairing guy even. When he doesn't show up with his skating game and his mind right, he looks poor.

 

[VanIsle]

Hopefully, he can do all that for another team starting next year.

Him or McQuaid, one of them needs to go, they are the same player so hopefully one of them will be pulling the one armed bandits in Vegas next year.

 

[Ratty]

I was mystified to see Riley Nash on the ice for two of the last three minutes in regulation. Guess Coach was resisting up his corners for the 3 on 3. Still baffles me though. I don't see any value in Nash whatsoever.

 

[Sheppy]

Hopefully, he can do all that for another team starting next year.

I like a d-man capable of throwing an effective hit.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

I was mystified to see Riley Nash on the ice for two of the last three minutes in regulation. Guess Coach was resisting up his corners for the 3 on 3. Still baffles me though. I don't see any value in Nash whatsoever.

I just watched some of ot on DVR.
Nash had like a 2 minute shift in OT!!!. Pasta came on the ice for him as he barely had enough energy to get to the bench- then he scores. lol

 

[Aeroforce]

I haven't checked ice time stats for other teams, but the eyeball test suggests Claude isn't the only one using Nash-like players in OT.

I believe the cardio demands of 3-on-3, especially after sixty minutes of hockey, are greater than many realize. When the top players are gassed, playing not to lose has to happen to give them rest. In other words, you can only shorten the bench so much.

Teams have gotten very good at OT puck possession, and they've mastered the art of ragging the puck backward to get their change, but preventing the other team from getting theirs. When that happens, players are going to be stuck on the ice for longer.

Off the top of my head, I've seen Philly use Dale Weise in OT, and Dallas uses Cody Eakin, who is having a Hayes-esque year. Just last night, he missed the net on a 2-on-0 in a game they ultimately lost.

 

[BruinDust]

I haven't checked ice time stats for other teams, but the eyeball test suggests Claude isn't the only one using Nash-like players in OT.

I believe the cardio demands of 3-on-3, especially after sixty minutes of hockey, are greater than many realize. When the top players are gassed, playing not to lose has to happen to give them rest. In other words, you can only shorten the bench so much.

Teams have gotten very good at OT puck possession, and they've mastered the art of ragging the puck backward to get their change, but preventing the other team from getting theirs. When that happens, players are going to be stuck on the ice for longer.

Off the top of my head, I've seen Philly use Dale Weise in OT, and Dallas uses Cody Eakin, who is having a Hayes-esque year. Just last night, he missed the net on a 2-on-0 in a game they ultimately lost.

Your exactly right. Heck, guys like Doughty complained about it at the freakin' all-star game last year.

Unlike 5 on 5, there is so much open ice, you always have to have your feet moving, you can't glide much at all or else you will be burned. It takes it's toll quickly on skaters. Which is why I was confused as to Claude going exclusively with Krug and Carlo last night and not using at least one of the other D-men.

 

[Thirty Seven]

We have to honest about this team. Carlo came out of nowhere to slot in as a #2 D man and Rask has been lights out (most of the time)

^ Both of those scenarios are a long shot on the success of a team. Especially one, that everyone knows is built on defense like the Bruins.

So at the start of the year both the defense and offense where suspect, and Rask has to stand on his head every game to give the team a chance.

^ How does any coach have a prayer when this is the hand he is dealt. There are only a handful that could have a chance at making the playoffs and CJ is one of 3 I believe.

I absolutely agree about Carlo and our defense. My expectations for this team were never really set that high for this season. The most frustrating thing for me with this team is the inconsistency and there should be consequences for those who want to float.

I'm not necessarily saying Claude needs to be canned but a change needs to happen where everyone is on the same page and has the same expectations.

 

[NDiesel]

Not me Susan. He's my boy -- and I don't care at all what anyone thinks of that.

Put him in a bottom six role on many teams in the League IMO.

Kevan is criminally underrated on our boards. He makes some poor decisions sometimes, but that's why he's a 5/6 defenseman. I would argue both Chara and Carlo make just as many mistakes as him, but neither catch the criticism he gets.

I keep Miller over McQuaid, since I do believe we only have room for one consistently in the lineup.

 

[22Brad Park]

Good news in a way .Malkin out vs Bruins Thursday ..Not wishing injury but cannot hide fact him out helps.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

hopefully fleury in net too

 

[DarrenBanks56]

Kevan is criminally underrated on our boards. He makes some poor decisions sometimes, but that's why he's a 5/6 defenseman. I would argue both Chara and Carlo make just as many mistakes as him, but neither catch the criticism he gets.

I keep Miller over McQuaid, since I do believe we only have room for one consistently in the lineup.

miller has been our 2nd or 3rd best defensemen for a good month now.
We missed him for those 4 losses. Not that he would've helped much- but I do think we would've held on in Det last week.

 

[NDiesel]

miller has been our 2nd or 3rd best defensemen for a good month now.
We missed him for those 4 losses. Not that he would've helped much- but I do think we would've held on in Det last week.

Agreed. I would put him in the lineup over McQuaid, Liles, and Morrow most nights.

 

[Noweare]

I'd say it worked pretty well. Spooner ended up getting 2 great chances to end it. I would have liked Nash's shift to be shorter, but when Spooner went off for a change, Carlo got the puck and must have felt overwhelmed because he threw it away and for the next minute Detroit had control so Nash couldn't change.

Re: Carlo, I thought the same thing, he just kind of panicked and gave it up. I like him, he's young. I think he will be a very good defense man.

 

[BRUINS since 1995]

Biggest defense struggling came when K miller is out of the line up. He does bring stability on D. He is an i,portant plyer on this team.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Biggest defense struggling came when K miller is out of the line up. He does bring stability on D. He is an i,portant plyer on this team.

He needs to cut down on scoring goals for the other team . A causal fan might think the Detroit goal the other night that went in off his skate was just " bad luck " but how many times have we seen goals go in off K Miller ? It is an issue with his game .

 

[BruinDust]

Biggest defense struggling came when K miller is out of the line up. He does bring stability on D. He is an i,portant plyer on this team.

Truth is, the best this D looked this season was before the return of Kevan Miller.

How much of that you can attribute to the return of Kevan Miller I don't know. Probably not much considering he's been on the 3rd pairing pretty much his entire time this season.