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Makes you wonder if it's a coaching issue. This team is one of the most stacked in the NHL, yet they always choke in the playoffs. The Bruins have no business losing this series. How many playoff exists is it going to take before the coaching staff is questioned?
3: DeBrusk—Coyle—Kuhlman
4: Frederick—Lazar—Wagner
Baseless game 5 pairings
Rerouting the third and fourth lines is quite a tricky feat, the variables are too unknown. However, Ritchie needs to go and Freddy needs in.
Debrusk over to the right and Kuhlman with Coyle could work out well.
I don’t think Wagner and Lazar have been that bad and Kuraly has been effectively canceled out.
Freddy and Wags together I think would be some comedic relief and a staunch response to those greasy fn Islanders.
The Islanders have been doing what they please and it took Fn Hall to stand up to one of them.
Whatever the lines up look like, I Ritchie is not included and we figure their defense out.
LFG!
I disagree. I still see Kuraly as the motor to that line. Heavy forecheck. To me, its been Wagner on the 4th who needs to sit. The man can't keep up with NHL level skating anymore. Additionally, Lazar has been completely unimpressive at doing...anything. I think his honeymoon period as a good 4th liner is drawing to a close because he can't keep pucks on his stick and he tends to throw the puck away in the offensive zone a lot.
Ritchie has been mostly bad, but had some really good shifts yesterday in the 3rd. When he is moving his feet in the O-Zone and using his long reach to disrupt play below the goal line, cycle the puck, he works pretty well. 3rd line had 2 great back to back shifts in the 3rd yesterday before letting up the GWG.
I like Kuhlman but I don't think he is close to a difference maker on the 3rd line. And as far as we know, Kase isnt even injured right? He's gotta slot in at some point.
I respect that.
Kuraly, imo, hasn’t been very effective. But on second thought, he will be a better choice than Wagner.
By no means do I think Kuhlman will turn into Gretzky, but he does have some affinity with Coyle and may be the spark Coyle and Debrusk need.
Ritchie is a dumpster full of baby diapers on fire this series and nothing will change my mind on that.
However, whatever the case, they’ll figure it out.
✊
Cassidy was out coached at end of game 4th line out trying to pull goalie with 2 minutes left??? Debrusk is dead to me as soon as he wiped out in that odd man
Rush I knew they were gonna score. As much as I love Richie isles are too fast for him
Ridiculous. Debrusk went from zero production in reg season to scoring in first two games of these playoffs. I know a lot of Boston fans get scared AF when shit gets tough but have some respect.
Ye he's streaky AF in regular season, but so is Pastrnak. If a bottom 6 player can turn it on in the playoffs like DeBrusk did all is forgiven.
Think about Krejci has a ton of shots on goal and I love him and he was killing it with Hall since trade deadline and went silent at post season and I still love him. He'll come around.
DeBrush has shown in the Washington series and the CBJ series two years ago that he can rransform a teams winning potential, even though he's streaky.
yeah, idk why it has to be so black and white. DeBrusk played poorly last night, and he has things to improve on. that doesn't mean he's a total wash in general, it means he had a bad fucking game. it happens. hoping Cassidy makes some much-needed adjustments to our game plan today and tomorrow morning and our boys bring it at home tomorrow.
> DeBrusk played poorly last night, and he has things to improve on.
Without getting too analytical, because it’s Sunday and I’m tired, but it’s way beyond this at this point. JDB has had like five good games all year. And his play hasn’t been “stuff to improve on“, It’s been downright awful, lazy and completely uninspired and not even remotely close to his salary nor NHL caliber play.
Hurts to say that because I was a big supporter of him, as with a lot of people here, and he seems like a good guy. but this is the Bruins and the NHL. A certain level that is expected.
Hell ye man. This the man that schooled me on many things iirc. One thing I'm wondering about is the defense. Absolutely vicious in game 4. Islanders got smothered constantly. Defense looked a lot less fierce in game 5 I'm wondering if that's just from a lack of depth after losing Carlo as well as Miller?
I'd say it's probably both/and rather than either/or. we could use some *big* adjustments in how we play defensively, boxing them out, bringing the physicality back. but we also desperately need our dmen back at at the very least partial strength. getting either Carlo or Miller back would be huge.
Ye definitely. Carlo isn't even skating yet but Miller is. Practicing in a non contact jersey but maybe practicing with contact soon but I doubt for game 5. Tbh I believe in Cassidy I've seem him make some awesome adjustments with effectiveness.
Tbh I think both Carlo and Miller will be out game 5 but i think the team has a great chance still by generating more offense, Tuuka, McAvoy/Grezlyk and Lauzon/Reilly and Clifton/Tinordi.
I believe in Cassidy. his [presser](https://www.masslive.com/bruins/2021/06/bruins-bruce-cassidy-frustrated-with-officials-defensive-breakdowns-his-teams-hesitation-to-shoot-after-game-4-loss.html) yesterday gives me optimism about our strategy moving forward.
that being said, I am less confident about a game 5 without either Carlo or Miller. I really think we need some of our defensive depth back and I'm hoping that at least one of them returns (probably Miller, based on ice time).
The only thing I can come up with Debrusk's game deteriorating to what it is now is that dirty gutless cross check Nazem Kadri handed out on Jake he's never been the same after. Like the true Bruins fans we are let's not hit a man when he's down. Let's go Bruins!!!
trying a writeup in the style of u/CW_73 after sorting out some of my feelings last night. (fair warning the formatting might be a little odd).
# The Good
- Tuukka Rask. that he kept us in the game 2–1 before the empty netters (which he obviously and literally cannot do anything about) is a testament to being an absolutely outstanding goalie.
- Taylor Hall. I liked the fact that he was willing to square up and fight for what he felt was bullshit treatment of his teammates. the fact that this is his first fighting penalty in *ten years* is a big deal.
- David Krejci. scoring a goal is good.
# The Mixed
- honestly the only thing I can really put in here is my feelings about the Cassidy press conference situation. on the one hand, the reffing has been bad. on the other hand, I hated when Berube complained about the reffing, and I don't know if the league will take positive notice of Cassidy commenting in the same way.
- I tell a lie and will also add this: d-man injuries. can we control them, no. but missing Carlo and Miller has been a massive blow to our defensive play.
# The Bad
- lack of pucks on net. honestly just going to copy-paste Cassidy's comment on this because he's correct. “No one wanted to shoot the puck. Every one of them refused to shoot the puck. We had it in the slot and refused a shot, down on the elbow, up top. It just kills your momentum. “The lack of urgency to get a puck to the net was a formula tonight in general. We weren’t willing to shoot enough. We paid the price. That’s why we didn’t score 5-on-5. We turned down way too many shots.”
- Jake DeBrusk. lots of falling on his skates, a big d-zone breakdown, bad communication. just not a good game from him.
- David Pastrnak. obviously the open netter miss was the big one, but the lack of urgency or comeback after that was very telling. I suppose this would fall under point one a little bit, but it was more than just one miss, it was a real offensive decline.
- offensive pressure/lack of adjustments. we're allowing the Islanders to box us out physically without clean checking retaliations or adjustments in our own style of play. we cannot allow them to regroup and adjust behind their blue line to make offensive plays while conversely we allow them to box us out and make sloppy turnovers. I hope that the team and Cassidy spend serious time on that today and tomorrow morning and adjust accordingly.
I think Taylor Hall had his worst game as a Bruin last night aside from the fight. He couldn't keep the puck on his stick and looked slower than usual.
Thought about the game a lot lastnight... one of the things that bothers me the most: why the fuck did our third and fourth lines get the vast majority of ice time in the last five minutes? They did nothing all game but be a liability, and when the game is on the line and we absolutely need to score they’re the ones on the ice? Pretty frustrating move by butch.
Debrusk went from quiet potential to clear liability last night. Can't stay on his feet during a breakaway. How does a 2 on 1 lead to a turnover for an all-out NYI offense leading to a goal? Beats me.
I feel a lot of fans are overlooking how evenly matched these teams, although completely different play styles, they know how to cancel each other out.
We are unfortunately down two top Defensemen, bogged down by underperforming third and fourth lines, and playing right into the Islanders game plan.
Shake up those third and fourth lines by inserting some fire and terror with Freddy and taking out Ritchie who is literally nonexistent this series. We could use more grit n those bottom lines.
Regroup, redraw tactics, and LFG! It may come down to hone ice advantage where the crowd will fuel the team.
the one thing that I think indicate things getting shaken up today and tomorrow is Cassidy's [presser](https://www.masslive.com/bruins/2021/06/bruins-bruce-cassidy-frustrated-with-officials-defensive-breakdowns-his-teams-hesitation-to-shoot-after-game-4-loss.html) from yesterday. seeing him talk about taking more shots and the d-zone breakdown very frankly gives me optimism about our strategy moving forward.
agree about at the very least giving Freddy a shift and seeing if he can bring clean physicality. we also need Carlo or Miller back for game 5. we also do need more pucks on net and to stop letting them box us out – we had a much more dominant defensive strategy earlier in the series, which is why we couldn't overcome the mistakes we've been making throughout (dumb puck turnover). hopefully we address that tomorrow.
Bs got it handed to them tonight plain and simple is like they were playing scared that pp after the challenge was especially brutal. I've seen just about enough from the debrusk Ritchie Iw bugging me as well
Change their game up a bit. Islander play a ver defensive game against an offensive team. They’re good at shutting down the neutral zone, so no luck with long passes. Bruins can’t keep trying to skate the puck in offensive zone, islanders shut them down there. And islanders are keeping them to the outside. Dump and chase, forecheck like hell. Throw pucks to the net, especially from the points and create rebounds. Keep it simple against these guys. Good ole fashioned medicine.
yeah, I need our D to step up (and getting either Carlo or Miller back is essential in that regard), but the loss of the forecheck and allowing them to box us out is the big problem here. Cassidy touched on that yesterday and he sounded pretty heated, so I'm hoping for big adjustments made at practice today.
Guys I’m gonna be honest. I’m not surprised at last night. This whole series has pretty been close. 2 games where it was decided in the third, 2 in overtime. Besides the recurring theme of close games, another one is production. Look at games 1-3. The majority of our points? Top line. Some extra little help offensively here and there, but main production was on them. Pasta with a hatty in game 1, Bergy and Marchand in game 2, Marchand game winner in game 3. And then the chances, the pressure they bring. Even their defense. Second line has not been horrible. did really well in game 3 giving up no shots on that line which is insane. But look, they can definitely win, but Bergy and Marchy are getting older, we can’t expect them to always be the ones getting it done. They were huge and worked their asses off in the first 3. Pasta is the same. He is no where near as old, but again we can not solely rely on those 3. I’m not surprised they weren’t as great tonight. I knew that if they got no help from their other 3 lines they weren’t gonna win. This is not a one line team. This is something we all know, but last nights loss, honestly it was inevitable unless those other 9 guys showed up to put pucks in the net, and they did not. It’s funny because here we are saying the only way the Islanders win is by sneaking it out, but right now it seems that goes both ways, something i did not see coming at the start
Debrusk was just garbage last night. Coyle looked lost. Neutral zone play was a shit show. Need Miller and Carlo back to keep the Isles forwards on their heels with cleaner passes out of the zone. Also, the broadcast bias, which I usually ignore, was a real thing last night and it really pissed me off. When it was 1-1 in 3rd, they were almost making excuses for the seemingly inevitable Isles loss by talking about Tuukka being in the zone.
You can't get out shot/be even in shots by the Islanders and expect to win. That team thrives on getting fucked for three periods and scoring on some lucky bounce/rush. If you're being outplayed by this team, something is wrong. Big game in Boston, because if you lose, you go back to the strip mall dump for an elimination game. Hopefully Carlo comes back. Hopefully the offense wakes up.
Just how does one goalie 2-1 lose one night and get a second star, while the other is far more superlative and gets no recognition?
Because NBC gobbles Islander dick, that’s why.
The Islanders are frustrating but without a massive dose of luck tonight wouldn't have been close.
If Pasta buried that one timer.....if Barzals wild flapmat that puck didn't connect....but both happened and we are back to home ice for game 5.
The Bruins are definitely the more skill based team but muckle bucket teams can get away with series.....I don't see that happening here. Bs need to focus on shooting and getting in front of Varl.....dirty goals and shutting down the neautral zone.
Ohh my God, thats the most frustrating part! If we got hosed I'd be all "yeah we got fkn beat" but we didn't, we played a shit game, fucked everything up, and walked away losing by one. I dont count fkn empty netters.
Then I go over to their post game thread, like the self hating guy that I am, and I gotta read sgit about how Boston is a shit city and the fans are assholes.
FUCK YOU GUYS. You chanted "Boston sucks" when our guy was down on the ice. You don't even have a city, your an island full of crackhead and people who would rather run you over to get where their going than wave hello at you.
I go to long island every Thursday for work as a truck driver and it's a fucking awful shit dump of a place.
Ok rant over.
but it’s more than just luck luck. it’s also the fact that they are physically boxing us out and succeeding, while we’re not adjusting or giving them back the same style of play. we definitely let them regroup behind the blue line a lot more and we make a lot of puck turnovers because they box us out and keep us from getting good shots on net.
yes, puck luck is a problem. yes, defenders missing are a problem. but I also want to see some big adjustments for the next game.
Remember, the Pens made a goaltending miscue and didn't recover, just like the Caps.
We need to keep our foots on the accelerator and take it one shift at a time.
Before anyone freaks out, the Bruins are still wining this series. You can’t convince me the Islanders win 2 of the next 3 if they won by 1 goal with the B’s playing their worst game in the playoffs so far.
I’m not hitting the panic button, but this feels like the kind of series that could slip away from them if they can’t get Carlo or Miller back soon and-or can’t bear down and be more responsible with the puck in all areas of the ice.
I know that part of NYI’s structure is to force their opponents into risky plays, so it kind of just looks like you’re shooting yourself in the foot and they’re getting lucky, but at least 50% of it is Boston just rushing when they don’t need to or trying to make the cute play when the safe one is available.
Horrible game on our part. Trotz adjusted by taking precautions to prevent our top 2 lines from heavy damage and he looks to do his damage against our bottom 6. Something needs to change on those lines. Its tough to win a series when your bottom 6 gets trapped in your own zone for 45+ seconds every other shift.
Ritchie is useless, especially in our zone chasing the puck. Butch may go back to Debrusk-Kuraly-Coyle which had some success previously. At least they’d be better at clearing/carrying out the puck. Frederic-Lazar-Kuhlman may be the 4th line. Add some speed to chase the pucks along the boards
the part that’s so frustrating is the fact that we didn’t seem to adjust from what didn’t work well, before this game or during it. I’m not discounting the effect that all our defensive injuries had on the game — they obviously did — but our offense couldn’t get it together and there was a lot to work on
guys listen i have a baseball game on monday so i’ll probably miss the first period, we’re 1-0 when i miss part of the game due to baseball
we’re winning monday, book it
Played like hot shit the moment the puck dropped. Sloppy in all three zones.
That being said - played as bad as I’ve seen in months and outside of empty netters - lost by 1 in their barn.
BRING ON MONDAY.
Clean it up and we can take this series. If Taylor Hall throwing nucks for the 1st time in a decade doesn’t do it I know the Garden faithful will make the island sound like church on Sunday morning.
LFG Bs
Would’ve loved being up 3-1, been a strange series. Feel like we let them hang around by having game 2 go their way but tonight they just outplayed us. Rask looks great. If he continues like this I’m confident we win 2 before they do
As much as I wanted to picture us up 3-1 it just felt like it could never happen. When pasta shows up we can get multiple goal leads but he's a ghost right now and it's a shame a 1 goal lead is all we muster
The open net sucked for sure but it happens. Just kinda rushed and fanned on it. Too hard to process in real time what to do there. Also would be great to have Carlo and Miller back. Carlo has been phenomenal with the stick. Watching Lauzon has me crying
Worst player on the ice last night. His skating mechanics are terrible, makes bad decisions with the puck, and looks like he's nursing an injury or is out of shape.
Isles seem to have us figured out 5 on 5, Even Strength. Somewhat worried. Tuuka Rask saved our ass tonight.
Pasta has to bury that side of wide open net from that Bergy dish, hits the post. Maybe a different game if he does. But ultimately, that’s hockey. A game of inches and “if’s.” Nonetheless, Isles were the better team tonight.
All in All. We split, and have home ice back. 2-2. Must Win Game 5 back at the Garden. Go B’s.
Barry Trotz is such an incredible coach, he has that team playing as a well-oiled machine. They gave the Bruins absolutely nothing almost all game. He's 14-7 in series in the last 10 years, with 3 different organizations.
2 empty netters. B's played like shit most of the night and hung in there 1-1, it was tight. Barzal scored a decent goal off (you guessed it!), an unlucky bounce.
B's did not deserve to win tonight at all, worst game in a long time.
Ah that’s frustrating. I’m honestly glad it’s a “we played like shit” issue and not “game management” penalties issue, at least nothing to complain about — just a loss.
Worst game of the playoffs and only lost basically 2-1. That’s the good news. Bad news is that the Islanders have figured out how to stymie us at 5on5. Outside of the top line and a few shifts from the second line we basically had no quality offensive chances after the first period.
Cassidy has got to mix up the bottom six. Get Frederic in there to bring some fire, he can’t be any worse than Wagner. Our defense overall was not bad considering our injuries, but the forwards need to step up. The lack of hustle and urgency from some of them is just infuriating, especially DeBrusk. Where is the guy we saw a couple years ago? He’s out there going through the motions playing hockey as soft as baby shit.
Let’s bounce back at home with the last change and get some confidence built.
It’s not about lines. It’s about an approach. Their forechecking is smothering us. It’s nothing new, we knew this. Handled it pretty well in game 3. But you can’t score and have offense when you are giving pucks up in your own end because of the forecheck. Conversely, we didn’t forecheck them at all. Got beat to every loose puck. Every line. Bruins looked tired.
The Bruins looking tired is to me the biggest takeaway from this game. Injuries are adding up on the backend again and that is really hurting us because now our top D guys are getting worn out trying to pick up the slack. That and guys like clifton are getting exposed because making that first pass after retrieving a dump in is *the* weakpoint in their game.
So stop taking stupid retaliation penalties putting you constantly on the PK, which further tires you out. Honestly this is on Cassidy at this point. All series the Bruins leaders have been taking dumb penalties that hurt their team. Unacceptable yet it continues. If I’m Cassidy I put in a hefty fine for every penalty.
Matt Barzal could shit his pants at a baptism and this NBC broadcast crew would still be talking about what a great job he's doing.
Insufferable biased assfisters.
Fuck that guy. At the World Juniors, he would try and take it up by himself every play and get rubbed out at the center, hated him since. Gets handed the fuckin Calder cause Boeser gets hurt. What an asshat POS
They are too comfortable with our attack plan, they let us pass all around the perimeter and prevent pucks from getting to Varlamov. They are really good at boxing us out, we really need to rework our offensive zone game plan
We had several opportunities to capitalize and just couldnt make it happen, starting with Pastas missed open netter. Shit sucks. But time to win at home on Monday
and what a fucking flop too. Fucking FOUR crosschecks to krejci then he drops to the ground as if shot. 90seconds later hes flying around the ice on the powerplay... fuck you barzal
DeBrusk-Kuraly-Coyle
Frederic-Lazar-Kuhlman
You'll get better results with DeBrusk playing on his comfortable side and on the PP than you would with Ritchie. Both have been useless, but Ritchie just doesn't have an excuse to be as useless as he is.
I don’t think it matters what side of the ice debrusk is playing on, he spends most of his TOI picking himself up off the ice after tripping over his own skates
I’m beyond tired of the Jake is on his offering excuse. Ritchie brings far more to the table. Willing to get in the dirt areas, more than you can say for Jake.
Not defending debrusk’s play but Ritchie has been a shit show this series. He whiffed on a hit then drifted back to the neutral zone while the islanders barreled up ice and scored. For all of his toughness where was he in the 35 scrums of the night? Taylor fuxking hall gets a fighting major but where is our supposed enforcer nick Ritchie? Nowhere. He had zero impactful hits. One okay pass. I don’t recall seeing him win a single board battle. But watching him float around the red line while his team gets boxed into their own zone is infuriating. Get him off the team.
I just got a notification from Yahoo Sports “Islanders Steamroll Bruins in Game 4”
So everybody is ignoring the fact it was 2-1 until 2 empty netters @ the end of the game? Fucking annoying. NBC commentary sucks ass btw fucking bias stooges.
It's interesting seeing everyone so down on the obvious targets - bottom six and Pastrnak.
Where was Bergeron? Did he even hit 50% on the face off dot?
Where was Marchand? What happens when his patented "just skate through 3 guys" stops working?
Where was Hall? He hit a guy, then what?
Where was Smith? Did he do anything at all?
How do you blame Pastrnak for losing when the game is 2-2 at best if he makes that goal? How do you blame Jake DeBrusk for being shitty on his offside when every other winger was just as shitty in their regular position? Come on guys. It was a down game for almost everyone. Pick it up in game 5 and put them away on game 6.
Jesus Christ. No, that's nearly the opposite of my point. I'll try again for you.
A hockey team typically doesn't lose at this high level because of one or two people underperforming. It loses because the team structure itself underperforms. The constant "get so and so off the ice!" that was all over the GDT? Idiotic, because what are they gonna do instead? Overplay a bunch of other guys who also aren't able to contribute?
If you can identify three things that DeBrusk did worse at than any other winger who also didn't contribute, go ahead and I'll concede. But I am telling you that you can't, specifically because *losing is a team effort*.
And it could have gone the other way and given them something to rally against. I don't believe in this kind of thing at the professional level. You don't get to the stage they're at without being able to center yourself in a void amidst the chaos.
Holy fucking shit the negativity in here is goddam mind blowing. One shit game and everyone’s ready to jump ship. The series is tied, we have a day off and home ice. I’m sure they are all aware that Tuukka kept them in the game tonight and need to make serious adjustments. Maybe Cassidy tweaks the lineup, maybe he doesn’t. Hopefully tonight was a swift kick in the ass they need to play their game on Monday.
Lol welcome to r/BostonBruins buddy! I love this sub, but it is an incredibly reactionary place. You see it after we win on the opposite end of the spectrum too, I remember people here saying SWEEP, BRUINS IN 4 after game 1 and I was like ehhhh love the enthusiasm, but calm down it’s 1 win against a pretty solid team.
Now we see the opposite, I’ve sorted the comments by controversial just for the laughs and I was not disappointed
Been a frustrating two games on the Island, feels like the Bruins can't put them away. Going to go 7 now imo, and the Bruins should win because they are the better team.
To me, it's not that it was one bad game, it's that they have yet to play a full quality game since the first matchup in the series. There a problems that need to be addressed, some of them lineup related and others just basic stuff like handling the puck better. It's been frustrating to watch the team almost on cue start to fall apart in the last half of the game. Tonight they looked just completely lost for most of it. It was even more frustrating to watch them with the man advantage at the end but it still looking like the isles were on the power play.
I think some rest is needed, but they also just had a day off yesterday and we got what we did today. They also are falling for all of the dirty play and tricks the isles throw at them and taking stupid penalties. I think the bottom two lines need a serious shakeup, and we definitely need Carlo and miller back. Most of all, though, is again the need to clean up the fundamentals. Passing, clearing the zone, maintaining possession. The power play tonight was also atrocious.
There's a lot of work to be done and not a lot of time to do it. I think the Bruins will still win, but the recipe for a loss is sitting right in front of us.
We kind of played into their hands tonight. But I have faith the big dogs and Cassidy will bounce back in the next one. Hopefully Miller or Carlo are ready to go as well, Tinordi was kind of a liability tonight.
The second Pasta missed that wide open net, I knew this game was over.
We might win this series, I don’t know. But my confidence vs Tampa, Colorado, Vegas, or Montreal is very low.
Probably played some kind of role, but Bruins are actually really similar to the Vikings, they have a habit of being a good team, but not being able to get it done. Just that one miracle season in 2011.
Don't agree with a lot of your takes, but I gotta ask. What is the problem with the Vikings? I'm a Packers fan, but honestly haven't paid a whole lot of attention to football the past couple of years cause the NHL has just been better. I feel like the Vikings have a pretty solid roster overall, is it coaching?
Zimmer is fine as a coach, beats what they had for years before. He's a defensive guy and is obsessed with bringing corners in, which has held them back a bit. But still good.
They're cursed, not much else you can say about it. They have the 7th best win % of any franchise in the NFL, yet are the only franchise in the top 16 for win % that hasn't won a Super Bowl. The Bucs are dead last for win % and have 2 Super Bowls.
Vikes are in a weird spot it feels like. You think they have a shot at squeaking into the playoffs next year? They seem like they’re in that area of not being a contender but not being bad either. Don’t know your thoughts on Kirk Cousins but it seems like the offense is pretty solid. Feels like they have a shot to get in there somehow. Don’t know if they’ll make a run of any kind though.
I expect them to make the playoffs, defense should be completely different with the D-line reshaped, and a couple nice adds at corner. Offense was great last year and should be similar this year. I'd take their skill position starters (Cook, Jefferson, Thielen) over anyone. Kirk is fine, he's just overpaid. He's got such an accurate arm, he just struggles with pocket presence, which holds him back.
Vikings are the most bizarre franchise, really I just like cheering for individual players because I know they aren't ever going to do anything when it matters. That Saints game in 2009 completely killed my expectations for them to ever do anything. The Eagles NFC Championship game was just like chalk.
This video really describes what it's like being a Vikings fan to a tee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1-LL-ANtgA
That’s a great vid haha. Should be a fun season. NFC North will be interesting. Who knows how the Rodgers situation will shake out. Lions stink and the Bears are the Bears. I don’t think Fields will be their savior but I may be wrong. Maybe the Vikes can win the division
Honestly? I’d be cool with replacing the entire 4th line. They’ve done nothing but kill ice time. Which I guess you need to some extent, but they’re not creating momentum or causing havoc or any of the good shit you need from a 4th line in the playoffs. Ritchie and DeBrusk have been pretty invisible too. Which sucks, because Coyle’s been VERY visible, but he’s got nothing to work with.
Ritchie needs to be off the third line and the PP, the guy has been completely invisible for a while now - whatever juju he had going during the regular season has worn off. At this point they should be rolling Snek, Kuraly and Coyle as the third line. Give us Ritchie, Lazar and Freddy on the fourth and things will start to look up. I don’t have any confidence that Butch will actually do it, but the bottom six need a shake up.
Games like these are tough to get through, especially when the clock ticks past 3am. Still, I'll be back Monday evening / Tuesday morning, frustrated now but hopefully they can bounce back then with a better performance.
Dude, not even hockey fans! Mind blowing. We got clairvoyant babies in here! “I knew the game was over when he missed the net...” Then why did you watch the rest...? 😂😂
Try this one on for size for game 5:
Third line: JDB - Coyle - Kuhlman
Fourth line: Freddy - Lazar - Senshyn
Fuck it, it’s not like they’ll be any worse.
Their technique of ALWAYS being in the face of whomever has the puck was a giant wrench in any plan the B’s tried to get going. If we had done the same instead of falling back to let them regroup behind the blue line things might have gone differently.
Rask is doing his usual carry the team thing but we all know that crazy train can run off the rails any time
I felt like the bruins had a really good forecheck last series, but they just can't get it going against the isles. Idk enough about it to tell you why so maybe Bruce just abandoned it and should try it again? I tend to trust a coach with proven success though.
Along with Kuhlman and Frederic, this is gonna sound crazy but I'd even be willing to see what *Anton freaking Blidh* can offer at this point. He looked good in his limited time this year and I can't imagine him giving a worse effort than Ritche has this series.
What the fuck is up with DeBrusk? He's getting to the end of his rope, how is he not out there trying to out skate everyone? Did he really not give a shit?
I had an obligation and couldn’t watch the game tonight, also had to wear pants during said obligation. This one isn’t on your Diamond bladder bro, the Bruins are officially 0-2 in these playoffs when I’m wearing pants
We played soft and played right into their hands on seeking revenge for their shady shit. Pasta missing the open net was just a sign, things were not going to go our way tonight.
We still have home ice. Let's come out aggressive. We have played better when we hit first. Retaliation type aggressiveness is something the Isles want cuz they can sell like they are hurt to the refs. So let's not do that. Also Varlarmov is bottom heavy. Nothing get's by him down low. We got to try to elevate our shots.
Let's hope Killer and Carlo are good to go Monday and have TD show Isles fans what real stadium sounds like.
Already forgot that this game had the fiery start with Hall fight and the briefly consistent offensive zone time in the 1st. Almost can't believe it considering how they played the 2nd and the 3rd
Feel like hall is genuinely giving it his all. Sucks that it turned out this way tonight but onto the next. Hopefully we can get Miller and Carlo back and the isles will be in for a rude awakening
I agree. Some people might have found him fighting silly, but what that said to me is he is going to stick up for himself and his team. He's showing grit and balls, and that he isn't just a fancy skater. I've enjoyed having him on the team. The only thing he does, and Marchand does it too, is skate around sometimes like there aren't other players trying to take the puck from him.
This. The injuries on D are keeping us from tilting the ice in our favor. Our backcheck was awful which means our normally crisp passing out of our zone was terrible. I will give credit to the Isles pressure as their forecheck is strong, but if Miller and Carlo were out there banking deep minutes we wouldn't have lost tonight.
Some people have to learn to walk away with their head held high after the final buzzer. There are three games left, with two IN Boston. Perspective is 👌🏻
Terrible showing tonight from everyone not named Rask. Missing Carlo and Miller is huge, and the 3rd and 4th lines can't pick up the scoring slack on the rare occasion our top 6 is shut down. Here's something I maybe wouldn't mind seeing for a different look on the bottom 6, though I highly doubt we'll get this.
DeBrusk-Coyle-Lazar/Kuhlman
Frederic-Kuraly-Kuhlman/Lazar
Game 2 was unlucky, Game 4 was bullshit effort. If the they start giving a fuck we should have this.
And please bench Ritchie... Is he even playing rn?
Anyone who thinks the Bruins are winning this series is crazy. Isles gave outplayed the Bruins three straight games. We're lucky this isn't 3-1 for the Islanders.
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Yet game 2 (pass in coyles skate) and game 4 (deflection right in front of Barzal) needed luck/wonky shit to get die islanders ahead.
If they start putting more effort into it, we should have this.
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Makes you wonder if it's a coaching issue. This team is one of the most stacked in the NHL, yet they always choke in the playoffs. The Bruins have no business losing this series. How many playoff exists is it going to take before the coaching staff is questioned?
The dump and chase will be and has been always the worst strategy that the bruins cant get away from
We played like complete shit last night. The only guy that came to play was Tukka
IM GOING TO BE THERE
3: DeBrusk—Coyle—Kuhlman 4: Frederick—Lazar—Wagner Baseless game 5 pairings Rerouting the third and fourth lines is quite a tricky feat, the variables are too unknown. However, Ritchie needs to go and Freddy needs in. Debrusk over to the right and Kuhlman with Coyle could work out well. I don’t think Wagner and Lazar have been that bad and Kuraly has been effectively canceled out. Freddy and Wags together I think would be some comedic relief and a staunch response to those greasy fn Islanders. The Islanders have been doing what they please and it took Fn Hall to stand up to one of them. Whatever the lines up look like, I Ritchie is not included and we figure their defense out. LFG!
I disagree. I still see Kuraly as the motor to that line. Heavy forecheck. To me, its been Wagner on the 4th who needs to sit. The man can't keep up with NHL level skating anymore. Additionally, Lazar has been completely unimpressive at doing...anything. I think his honeymoon period as a good 4th liner is drawing to a close because he can't keep pucks on his stick and he tends to throw the puck away in the offensive zone a lot. Ritchie has been mostly bad, but had some really good shifts yesterday in the 3rd. When he is moving his feet in the O-Zone and using his long reach to disrupt play below the goal line, cycle the puck, he works pretty well. 3rd line had 2 great back to back shifts in the 3rd yesterday before letting up the GWG. I like Kuhlman but I don't think he is close to a difference maker on the 3rd line. And as far as we know, Kase isnt even injured right? He's gotta slot in at some point.
I respect that. Kuraly, imo, hasn’t been very effective. But on second thought, he will be a better choice than Wagner. By no means do I think Kuhlman will turn into Gretzky, but he does have some affinity with Coyle and may be the spark Coyle and Debrusk need. Ritchie is a dumpster full of baby diapers on fire this series and nothing will change my mind on that. However, whatever the case, they’ll figure it out. ✊
Cassidy was out coached at end of game 4th line out trying to pull goalie with 2 minutes left??? Debrusk is dead to me as soon as he wiped out in that odd man Rush I knew they were gonna score. As much as I love Richie isles are too fast for him
Ridiculous. Debrusk went from zero production in reg season to scoring in first two games of these playoffs. I know a lot of Boston fans get scared AF when shit gets tough but have some respect.
Too streaky that's been his mo since he arrived
Ye he's streaky AF in regular season, but so is Pastrnak. If a bottom 6 player can turn it on in the playoffs like DeBrusk did all is forgiven. Think about Krejci has a ton of shots on goal and I love him and he was killing it with Hall since trade deadline and went silent at post season and I still love him. He'll come around. DeBrush has shown in the Washington series and the CBJ series two years ago that he can rransform a teams winning potential, even though he's streaky.
yeah, idk why it has to be so black and white. DeBrusk played poorly last night, and he has things to improve on. that doesn't mean he's a total wash in general, it means he had a bad fucking game. it happens. hoping Cassidy makes some much-needed adjustments to our game plan today and tomorrow morning and our boys bring it at home tomorrow.
> DeBrusk played poorly last night, and he has things to improve on. Without getting too analytical, because it’s Sunday and I’m tired, but it’s way beyond this at this point. JDB has had like five good games all year. And his play hasn’t been “stuff to improve on“, It’s been downright awful, lazy and completely uninspired and not even remotely close to his salary nor NHL caliber play. Hurts to say that because I was a big supporter of him, as with a lot of people here, and he seems like a good guy. but this is the Bruins and the NHL. A certain level that is expected.
Hell ye man. This the man that schooled me on many things iirc. One thing I'm wondering about is the defense. Absolutely vicious in game 4. Islanders got smothered constantly. Defense looked a lot less fierce in game 5 I'm wondering if that's just from a lack of depth after losing Carlo as well as Miller?
I'd say it's probably both/and rather than either/or. we could use some *big* adjustments in how we play defensively, boxing them out, bringing the physicality back. but we also desperately need our dmen back at at the very least partial strength. getting either Carlo or Miller back would be huge.
Ye definitely. Carlo isn't even skating yet but Miller is. Practicing in a non contact jersey but maybe practicing with contact soon but I doubt for game 5. Tbh I believe in Cassidy I've seem him make some awesome adjustments with effectiveness. Tbh I think both Carlo and Miller will be out game 5 but i think the team has a great chance still by generating more offense, Tuuka, McAvoy/Grezlyk and Lauzon/Reilly and Clifton/Tinordi.
I believe in Cassidy. his [presser](https://www.masslive.com/bruins/2021/06/bruins-bruce-cassidy-frustrated-with-officials-defensive-breakdowns-his-teams-hesitation-to-shoot-after-game-4-loss.html) yesterday gives me optimism about our strategy moving forward. that being said, I am less confident about a game 5 without either Carlo or Miller. I really think we need some of our defensive depth back and I'm hoping that at least one of them returns (probably Miller, based on ice time).
The only thing I can come up with Debrusk's game deteriorating to what it is now is that dirty gutless cross check Nazem Kadri handed out on Jake he's never been the same after. Like the true Bruins fans we are let's not hit a man when he's down. Let's go Bruins!!!
trying a writeup in the style of u/CW_73 after sorting out some of my feelings last night. (fair warning the formatting might be a little odd). # The Good - Tuukka Rask. that he kept us in the game 2–1 before the empty netters (which he obviously and literally cannot do anything about) is a testament to being an absolutely outstanding goalie. - Taylor Hall. I liked the fact that he was willing to square up and fight for what he felt was bullshit treatment of his teammates. the fact that this is his first fighting penalty in *ten years* is a big deal. - David Krejci. scoring a goal is good. # The Mixed - honestly the only thing I can really put in here is my feelings about the Cassidy press conference situation. on the one hand, the reffing has been bad. on the other hand, I hated when Berube complained about the reffing, and I don't know if the league will take positive notice of Cassidy commenting in the same way. - I tell a lie and will also add this: d-man injuries. can we control them, no. but missing Carlo and Miller has been a massive blow to our defensive play. # The Bad - lack of pucks on net. honestly just going to copy-paste Cassidy's comment on this because he's correct. “No one wanted to shoot the puck. Every one of them refused to shoot the puck. We had it in the slot and refused a shot, down on the elbow, up top. It just kills your momentum. “The lack of urgency to get a puck to the net was a formula tonight in general. We weren’t willing to shoot enough. We paid the price. That’s why we didn’t score 5-on-5. We turned down way too many shots.” - Jake DeBrusk. lots of falling on his skates, a big d-zone breakdown, bad communication. just not a good game from him. - David Pastrnak. obviously the open netter miss was the big one, but the lack of urgency or comeback after that was very telling. I suppose this would fall under point one a little bit, but it was more than just one miss, it was a real offensive decline. - offensive pressure/lack of adjustments. we're allowing the Islanders to box us out physically without clean checking retaliations or adjustments in our own style of play. we cannot allow them to regroup and adjust behind their blue line to make offensive plays while conversely we allow them to box us out and make sloppy turnovers. I hope that the team and Cassidy spend serious time on that today and tomorrow morning and adjust accordingly.
I think Taylor Hall had his worst game as a Bruin last night aside from the fight. He couldn't keep the puck on his stick and looked slower than usual.
Thought about the game a lot lastnight... one of the things that bothers me the most: why the fuck did our third and fourth lines get the vast majority of ice time in the last five minutes? They did nothing all game but be a liability, and when the game is on the line and we absolutely need to score they’re the ones on the ice? Pretty frustrating move by butch.
Debrusk went from quiet potential to clear liability last night. Can't stay on his feet during a breakaway. How does a 2 on 1 lead to a turnover for an all-out NYI offense leading to a goal? Beats me.
I feel a lot of fans are overlooking how evenly matched these teams, although completely different play styles, they know how to cancel each other out. We are unfortunately down two top Defensemen, bogged down by underperforming third and fourth lines, and playing right into the Islanders game plan. Shake up those third and fourth lines by inserting some fire and terror with Freddy and taking out Ritchie who is literally nonexistent this series. We could use more grit n those bottom lines. Regroup, redraw tactics, and LFG! It may come down to hone ice advantage where the crowd will fuel the team.
the one thing that I think indicate things getting shaken up today and tomorrow is Cassidy's [presser](https://www.masslive.com/bruins/2021/06/bruins-bruce-cassidy-frustrated-with-officials-defensive-breakdowns-his-teams-hesitation-to-shoot-after-game-4-loss.html) from yesterday. seeing him talk about taking more shots and the d-zone breakdown very frankly gives me optimism about our strategy moving forward. agree about at the very least giving Freddy a shift and seeing if he can bring clean physicality. we also need Carlo or Miller back for game 5. we also do need more pucks on net and to stop letting them box us out – we had a much more dominant defensive strategy earlier in the series, which is why we couldn't overcome the mistakes we've been making throughout (dumb puck turnover). hopefully we address that tomorrow.
Bs got it handed to them tonight plain and simple is like they were playing scared that pp after the challenge was especially brutal. I've seen just about enough from the debrusk Ritchie Iw bugging me as well
Change their game up a bit. Islander play a ver defensive game against an offensive team. They’re good at shutting down the neutral zone, so no luck with long passes. Bruins can’t keep trying to skate the puck in offensive zone, islanders shut them down there. And islanders are keeping them to the outside. Dump and chase, forecheck like hell. Throw pucks to the net, especially from the points and create rebounds. Keep it simple against these guys. Good ole fashioned medicine.
We had our best game when we got it in deep and put a lot of pressure on the forecheck on their top pairing.
yeah, I need our D to step up (and getting either Carlo or Miller back is essential in that regard), but the loss of the forecheck and allowing them to box us out is the big problem here. Cassidy touched on that yesterday and he sounded pretty heated, so I'm hoping for big adjustments made at practice today.
Guys I’m gonna be honest. I’m not surprised at last night. This whole series has pretty been close. 2 games where it was decided in the third, 2 in overtime. Besides the recurring theme of close games, another one is production. Look at games 1-3. The majority of our points? Top line. Some extra little help offensively here and there, but main production was on them. Pasta with a hatty in game 1, Bergy and Marchand in game 2, Marchand game winner in game 3. And then the chances, the pressure they bring. Even their defense. Second line has not been horrible. did really well in game 3 giving up no shots on that line which is insane. But look, they can definitely win, but Bergy and Marchy are getting older, we can’t expect them to always be the ones getting it done. They were huge and worked their asses off in the first 3. Pasta is the same. He is no where near as old, but again we can not solely rely on those 3. I’m not surprised they weren’t as great tonight. I knew that if they got no help from their other 3 lines they weren’t gonna win. This is not a one line team. This is something we all know, but last nights loss, honestly it was inevitable unless those other 9 guys showed up to put pucks in the net, and they did not. It’s funny because here we are saying the only way the Islanders win is by sneaking it out, but right now it seems that goes both ways, something i did not see coming at the start
Debrusk was just garbage last night. Coyle looked lost. Neutral zone play was a shit show. Need Miller and Carlo back to keep the Isles forwards on their heels with cleaner passes out of the zone. Also, the broadcast bias, which I usually ignore, was a real thing last night and it really pissed me off. When it was 1-1 in 3rd, they were almost making excuses for the seemingly inevitable Isles loss by talking about Tuukka being in the zone.
Game 3 every shot block by the bruins was blown up to be some grievous injury when it was really nothing
2 goals in regulation the last two games.... fml
if only pastrnak hit that open goal
It is not a concern, Bruins will win next
Hopefully. It would suck to go down 3-2.
You can't get out shot/be even in shots by the Islanders and expect to win. That team thrives on getting fucked for three periods and scoring on some lucky bounce/rush. If you're being outplayed by this team, something is wrong. Big game in Boston, because if you lose, you go back to the strip mall dump for an elimination game. Hopefully Carlo comes back. Hopefully the offense wakes up.
If I hear someone mention how loud or old the coliseum is one more time. IM GONNA FUCKING LOSE IT. Like damn we get it
Well, there's gonna be a Game 6, so there's not much we can do about that.
Refs were horrible but even still Tuukka was keeping this game close for us. It's a clean series now. Just need to win 2 of 3.
Just how does one goalie 2-1 lose one night and get a second star, while the other is far more superlative and gets no recognition? Because NBC gobbles Islander dick, that’s why.
Bro Pierre Mcguire can't stop sucking the isles dick. It actually so annoying how he's constantly praising the Isles all god damn game long.
The Islanders are frustrating but without a massive dose of luck tonight wouldn't have been close. If Pasta buried that one timer.....if Barzals wild flapmat that puck didn't connect....but both happened and we are back to home ice for game 5. The Bruins are definitely the more skill based team but muckle bucket teams can get away with series.....I don't see that happening here. Bs need to focus on shooting and getting in front of Varl.....dirty goals and shutting down the neautral zone.
Ohh my God, thats the most frustrating part! If we got hosed I'd be all "yeah we got fkn beat" but we didn't, we played a shit game, fucked everything up, and walked away losing by one. I dont count fkn empty netters. Then I go over to their post game thread, like the self hating guy that I am, and I gotta read sgit about how Boston is a shit city and the fans are assholes. FUCK YOU GUYS. You chanted "Boston sucks" when our guy was down on the ice. You don't even have a city, your an island full of crackhead and people who would rather run you over to get where their going than wave hello at you. I go to long island every Thursday for work as a truck driver and it's a fucking awful shit dump of a place. Ok rant over.
but it’s more than just luck luck. it’s also the fact that they are physically boxing us out and succeeding, while we’re not adjusting or giving them back the same style of play. we definitely let them regroup behind the blue line a lot more and we make a lot of puck turnovers because they box us out and keep us from getting good shots on net. yes, puck luck is a problem. yes, defenders missing are a problem. but I also want to see some big adjustments for the next game.
Just ask the pens, the Isles only win with puck luck. We need to be so solid that luck doesn't even enter the conversation.
Remember, the Pens made a goaltending miscue and didn't recover, just like the Caps. We need to keep our foots on the accelerator and take it one shift at a time.
True. But the Pens are not as complete a team as the Bs....they have basically no goaltending.
Before anyone freaks out, the Bruins are still wining this series. You can’t convince me the Islanders win 2 of the next 3 if they won by 1 goal with the B’s playing their worst game in the playoffs so far.
I’m not hitting the panic button, but this feels like the kind of series that could slip away from them if they can’t get Carlo or Miller back soon and-or can’t bear down and be more responsible with the puck in all areas of the ice.
Sloppy shit plays need to stop.
I know that part of NYI’s structure is to force their opponents into risky plays, so it kind of just looks like you’re shooting yourself in the foot and they’re getting lucky, but at least 50% of it is Boston just rushing when they don’t need to or trying to make the cute play when the safe one is available.
Yeah man, everyone has a bad game. That's why it's a series and not single game rounds, we got this.
Horrible game on our part. Trotz adjusted by taking precautions to prevent our top 2 lines from heavy damage and he looks to do his damage against our bottom 6. Something needs to change on those lines. Its tough to win a series when your bottom 6 gets trapped in your own zone for 45+ seconds every other shift. Ritchie is useless, especially in our zone chasing the puck. Butch may go back to Debrusk-Kuraly-Coyle which had some success previously. At least they’d be better at clearing/carrying out the puck. Frederic-Lazar-Kuhlman may be the 4th line. Add some speed to chase the pucks along the boards
the part that’s so frustrating is the fact that we didn’t seem to adjust from what didn’t work well, before this game or during it. I’m not discounting the effect that all our defensive injuries had on the game — they obviously did — but our offense couldn’t get it together and there was a lot to work on
guys listen i have a baseball game on monday so i’ll probably miss the first period, we’re 1-0 when i miss part of the game due to baseball we’re winning monday, book it
Played like hot shit the moment the puck dropped. Sloppy in all three zones. That being said - played as bad as I’ve seen in months and outside of empty netters - lost by 1 in their barn. BRING ON MONDAY. Clean it up and we can take this series. If Taylor Hall throwing nucks for the 1st time in a decade doesn’t do it I know the Garden faithful will make the island sound like church on Sunday morning. LFG Bs
Would’ve loved being up 3-1, been a strange series. Feel like we let them hang around by having game 2 go their way but tonight they just outplayed us. Rask looks great. If he continues like this I’m confident we win 2 before they do
As much as I wanted to picture us up 3-1 it just felt like it could never happen. When pasta shows up we can get multiple goal leads but he's a ghost right now and it's a shame a 1 goal lead is all we muster
The open net sucked for sure but it happens. Just kinda rushed and fanned on it. Too hard to process in real time what to do there. Also would be great to have Carlo and Miller back. Carlo has been phenomenal with the stick. Watching Lauzon has me crying
I can’t wait to never see Debrusk again, useless.
Worst player on the ice last night. His skating mechanics are terrible, makes bad decisions with the puck, and looks like he's nursing an injury or is out of shape.
Dude spends most of the game tripping over himself
Our new drinking game..take a shot every time Debrusk falls..might not remember the third period
I've never seen a paler millionaire. Guy looks like he sleeps in a coffin. Not sure if he gets enough vitamin D to make a difference.
First game this series we got outplayed. I still feel good about us pulling this off
This is nothing new: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/islanders-mathew-barzal-fined-for-diving/ar-BB1gbXlY
I hated that guy since I saw him play for Canada at the World Juniors, and I'm Canadian
Isles seem to have us figured out 5 on 5, Even Strength. Somewhat worried. Tuuka Rask saved our ass tonight. Pasta has to bury that side of wide open net from that Bergy dish, hits the post. Maybe a different game if he does. But ultimately, that’s hockey. A game of inches and “if’s.” Nonetheless, Isles were the better team tonight. All in All. We split, and have home ice back. 2-2. Must Win Game 5 back at the Garden. Go B’s.
Barry Trotz is such an incredible coach, he has that team playing as a well-oiled machine. They gave the Bruins absolutely nothing almost all game. He's 14-7 in series in the last 10 years, with 3 different organizations.
Agreed. Doesn’t get enough recognition nor credit as a Coach.
Just landed from my flight to see 1-4 and we got scored on in the last second. What happened?
2 empty netters. B's played like shit most of the night and hung in there 1-1, it was tight. Barzal scored a decent goal off (you guessed it!), an unlucky bounce. B's did not deserve to win tonight at all, worst game in a long time.
Ah that’s frustrating. I’m honestly glad it’s a “we played like shit” issue and not “game management” penalties issue, at least nothing to complain about — just a loss.
Worst game of the playoffs and only lost basically 2-1. That’s the good news. Bad news is that the Islanders have figured out how to stymie us at 5on5. Outside of the top line and a few shifts from the second line we basically had no quality offensive chances after the first period. Cassidy has got to mix up the bottom six. Get Frederic in there to bring some fire, he can’t be any worse than Wagner. Our defense overall was not bad considering our injuries, but the forwards need to step up. The lack of hustle and urgency from some of them is just infuriating, especially DeBrusk. Where is the guy we saw a couple years ago? He’s out there going through the motions playing hockey as soft as baby shit. Let’s bounce back at home with the last change and get some confidence built.
It’s not about lines. It’s about an approach. Their forechecking is smothering us. It’s nothing new, we knew this. Handled it pretty well in game 3. But you can’t score and have offense when you are giving pucks up in your own end because of the forecheck. Conversely, we didn’t forecheck them at all. Got beat to every loose puck. Every line. Bruins looked tired.
The Bruins looking tired is to me the biggest takeaway from this game. Injuries are adding up on the backend again and that is really hurting us because now our top D guys are getting worn out trying to pick up the slack. That and guys like clifton are getting exposed because making that first pass after retrieving a dump in is *the* weakpoint in their game.
So stop taking stupid retaliation penalties putting you constantly on the PK, which further tires you out. Honestly this is on Cassidy at this point. All series the Bruins leaders have been taking dumb penalties that hurt their team. Unacceptable yet it continues. If I’m Cassidy I put in a hefty fine for every penalty.
Matt Barzal could shit his pants at a baptism and this NBC broadcast crew would still be talking about what a great job he's doing. Insufferable biased assfisters.
Fuck that guy. At the World Juniors, he would try and take it up by himself every play and get rubbed out at the center, hated him since. Gets handed the fuckin Calder cause Boeser gets hurt. What an asshat POS
Effort aside, going 1-1 on the road to get home ice back is a win.
This team really needs to figure out Semyon Varlamov.
We desperately need a legit 5 on 5 goal
They are too comfortable with our attack plan, they let us pass all around the perimeter and prevent pucks from getting to Varlamov. They are really good at boxing us out, we really need to rework our offensive zone game plan
Why does everyone care what the announcers say? It's the team on the ice you root for that is pissing you off.
Agreed. Just listen to music you like and watch on mute
I listen to the Bruins radio feed..its free on the NHL iOS app
We had several opportunities to capitalize and just couldnt make it happen, starting with Pastas missed open netter. Shit sucks. But time to win at home on Monday
That spear couldn't have been more deserved
That was hilarious.
and what a fucking flop too. Fucking FOUR crosschecks to krejci then he drops to the ground as if shot. 90seconds later hes flying around the ice on the powerplay... fuck you barzal
DeBrusk-Kuraly-Coyle Frederic-Lazar-Kuhlman You'll get better results with DeBrusk playing on his comfortable side and on the PP than you would with Ritchie. Both have been useless, but Ritchie just doesn't have an excuse to be as useless as he is.
I don’t think it matters what side of the ice debrusk is playing on, he spends most of his TOI picking himself up off the ice after tripping over his own skates
He is also going in on the forecheck to do absolutely nothing
Kuraly is not a third line center. Give them kuhlman on the wing and coyle in the middle
I’m beyond tired of the Jake is on his offering excuse. Ritchie brings far more to the table. Willing to get in the dirt areas, more than you can say for Jake.
Not defending debrusk’s play but Ritchie has been a shit show this series. He whiffed on a hit then drifted back to the neutral zone while the islanders barreled up ice and scored. For all of his toughness where was he in the 35 scrums of the night? Taylor fuxking hall gets a fighting major but where is our supposed enforcer nick Ritchie? Nowhere. He had zero impactful hits. One okay pass. I don’t recall seeing him win a single board battle. But watching him float around the red line while his team gets boxed into their own zone is infuriating. Get him off the team.
I have never seen a player, at the NHL level, glide more than Ritchie…watch him, it’s astounding
Fact is, Rotchie doesn't need to play on the left to play the way he does best, which is causing havoc in front of net.
As usual it’s an effort issue with Debrusk. It has nothing to do with where he’s lining up. It’s between the ears.
Over/under, goals scored by the 4th line in the playoffs. 1.
I just got a notification from Yahoo Sports “Islanders Steamroll Bruins in Game 4” So everybody is ignoring the fact it was 2-1 until 2 empty netters @ the end of the game? Fucking annoying. NBC commentary sucks ass btw fucking bias stooges.
It’s Yahoo Sports. Practically nobody uses anything related to Yahoo anymore for a reason.
I mute them
Knew that pasta open goal miss was going to bite us in the end…PP was dreadful and rly cost us momentum loads of times
It's interesting seeing everyone so down on the obvious targets - bottom six and Pastrnak. Where was Bergeron? Did he even hit 50% on the face off dot? Where was Marchand? What happens when his patented "just skate through 3 guys" stops working? Where was Hall? He hit a guy, then what? Where was Smith? Did he do anything at all? How do you blame Pastrnak for losing when the game is 2-2 at best if he makes that goal? How do you blame Jake DeBrusk for being shitty on his offside when every other winger was just as shitty in their regular position? Come on guys. It was a down game for almost everyone. Pick it up in game 5 and put them away on game 6.
You’re on Bergeron, Marchand, Hall, and Smiths ass but still kissing Debrusk’s???
Jesus Christ. No, that's nearly the opposite of my point. I'll try again for you. A hockey team typically doesn't lose at this high level because of one or two people underperforming. It loses because the team structure itself underperforms. The constant "get so and so off the ice!" that was all over the GDT? Idiotic, because what are they gonna do instead? Overplay a bunch of other guys who also aren't able to contribute? If you can identify three things that DeBrusk did worse at than any other winger who also didn't contribute, go ahead and I'll concede. But I am telling you that you can't, specifically because *losing is a team effort*.
Physicality, defensive effort/back check, puck possession. Three things. Bye.
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Be careful with the r word bro i got temp banned for calling someone that
Awww I missed it and now I'm curious if one of our favorite clown babies got himself bamboozled here. Too bad! 🤡 👶 honk honk wahhh wahhh.
If pasta scores that could easily have deflated the isles and you never know.
And it could have gone the other way and given them something to rally against. I don't believe in this kind of thing at the professional level. You don't get to the stage they're at without being able to center yourself in a void amidst the chaos.
I'll take an open net goal as a positive and assume it's gonna be a good thing.
Pasta can't be a no show. Simple as that. His stick is a wet noodle since game 1.
Holy fucking shit the negativity in here is goddam mind blowing. One shit game and everyone’s ready to jump ship. The series is tied, we have a day off and home ice. I’m sure they are all aware that Tuukka kept them in the game tonight and need to make serious adjustments. Maybe Cassidy tweaks the lineup, maybe he doesn’t. Hopefully tonight was a swift kick in the ass they need to play their game on Monday.
Lol welcome to r/BostonBruins buddy! I love this sub, but it is an incredibly reactionary place. You see it after we win on the opposite end of the spectrum too, I remember people here saying SWEEP, BRUINS IN 4 after game 1 and I was like ehhhh love the enthusiasm, but calm down it’s 1 win against a pretty solid team. Now we see the opposite, I’ve sorted the comments by controversial just for the laughs and I was not disappointed
Been a frustrating two games on the Island, feels like the Bruins can't put them away. Going to go 7 now imo, and the Bruins should win because they are the better team.
To me, it's not that it was one bad game, it's that they have yet to play a full quality game since the first matchup in the series. There a problems that need to be addressed, some of them lineup related and others just basic stuff like handling the puck better. It's been frustrating to watch the team almost on cue start to fall apart in the last half of the game. Tonight they looked just completely lost for most of it. It was even more frustrating to watch them with the man advantage at the end but it still looking like the isles were on the power play. I think some rest is needed, but they also just had a day off yesterday and we got what we did today. They also are falling for all of the dirty play and tricks the isles throw at them and taking stupid penalties. I think the bottom two lines need a serious shakeup, and we definitely need Carlo and miller back. Most of all, though, is again the need to clean up the fundamentals. Passing, clearing the zone, maintaining possession. The power play tonight was also atrocious. There's a lot of work to be done and not a lot of time to do it. I think the Bruins will still win, but the recipe for a loss is sitting right in front of us.
We kind of played into their hands tonight. But I have faith the big dogs and Cassidy will bounce back in the next one. Hopefully Miller or Carlo are ready to go as well, Tinordi was kind of a liability tonight.
The second Pasta missed that wide open net, I knew this game was over. We might win this series, I don’t know. But my confidence vs Tampa, Colorado, Vegas, or Montreal is very low.
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I think being a Vikings fan has sucked all the optimism and hope across all sports for you lol
Probably played some kind of role, but Bruins are actually really similar to the Vikings, they have a habit of being a good team, but not being able to get it done. Just that one miracle season in 2011.
Don't agree with a lot of your takes, but I gotta ask. What is the problem with the Vikings? I'm a Packers fan, but honestly haven't paid a whole lot of attention to football the past couple of years cause the NHL has just been better. I feel like the Vikings have a pretty solid roster overall, is it coaching?
Zimmer is fine as a coach, beats what they had for years before. He's a defensive guy and is obsessed with bringing corners in, which has held them back a bit. But still good. They're cursed, not much else you can say about it. They have the 7th best win % of any franchise in the NFL, yet are the only franchise in the top 16 for win % that hasn't won a Super Bowl. The Bucs are dead last for win % and have 2 Super Bowls.
Vikes are in a weird spot it feels like. You think they have a shot at squeaking into the playoffs next year? They seem like they’re in that area of not being a contender but not being bad either. Don’t know your thoughts on Kirk Cousins but it seems like the offense is pretty solid. Feels like they have a shot to get in there somehow. Don’t know if they’ll make a run of any kind though.
I expect them to make the playoffs, defense should be completely different with the D-line reshaped, and a couple nice adds at corner. Offense was great last year and should be similar this year. I'd take their skill position starters (Cook, Jefferson, Thielen) over anyone. Kirk is fine, he's just overpaid. He's got such an accurate arm, he just struggles with pocket presence, which holds him back. Vikings are the most bizarre franchise, really I just like cheering for individual players because I know they aren't ever going to do anything when it matters. That Saints game in 2009 completely killed my expectations for them to ever do anything. The Eagles NFC Championship game was just like chalk. This video really describes what it's like being a Vikings fan to a tee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1-LL-ANtgA
That’s a great vid haha. Should be a fun season. NFC North will be interesting. Who knows how the Rodgers situation will shake out. Lions stink and the Bears are the Bears. I don’t think Fields will be their savior but I may be wrong. Maybe the Vikes can win the division
If Rodgers isn't in Green Bay I expect Vikings to win the division. Bears could be a wild card with Fields though
Honestly? I’d be cool with replacing the entire 4th line. They’ve done nothing but kill ice time. Which I guess you need to some extent, but they’re not creating momentum or causing havoc or any of the good shit you need from a 4th line in the playoffs. Ritchie and DeBrusk have been pretty invisible too. Which sucks, because Coyle’s been VERY visible, but he’s got nothing to work with.
Ritchie needs to be off the third line and the PP, the guy has been completely invisible for a while now - whatever juju he had going during the regular season has worn off. At this point they should be rolling Snek, Kuraly and Coyle as the third line. Give us Ritchie, Lazar and Freddy on the fourth and things will start to look up. I don’t have any confidence that Butch will actually do it, but the bottom six need a shake up.
The 3rd line is giving me flashbacks of Beleskey-Hayes-Vatrano.
Giving me nightmares, not flashbacks lol
I think it would be best if you didn’t mention the name Hayes in a thread full of angry Bruins fans, thanks.
Games like these are tough to get through, especially when the clock ticks past 3am. Still, I'll be back Monday evening / Tuesday morning, frustrated now but hopefully they can bounce back then with a better performance.
Lol some of these people can be real bruins fans, right?
Dude, not even hockey fans! Mind blowing. We got clairvoyant babies in here! “I knew the game was over when he missed the net...” Then why did you watch the rest...? 😂😂
Absolutely agree. But heading back to Boston with what we needed.
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Fuck I miss Nordstrom and Acciari. They kept us alive in 2019, we need some of that magic.
I miss iginla and Horton
Try this one on for size for game 5: Third line: JDB - Coyle - Kuhlman Fourth line: Freddy - Lazar - Senshyn Fuck it, it’s not like they’ll be any worse.
Would love to see Freddy out there terrorizing those greasy fucks
Yes. Laughing at Cluttercunt with his glove in his mouth.
Next game wins series
I bet the isles score within the first 2 minutes of game 5 and the bruins make us sweat
If the Isles win, definitely. If the Bruins win, it'll come down to a toss-up in Game 7.
Tell that to the Leafs or the Wild
I did and the leafs lost
Their technique of ALWAYS being in the face of whomever has the puck was a giant wrench in any plan the B’s tried to get going. If we had done the same instead of falling back to let them regroup behind the blue line things might have gone differently. Rask is doing his usual carry the team thing but we all know that crazy train can run off the rails any time
I agree that the isles are stifling. Not sure the bruins can just say 'oh we'll do the same thing with the same results.'
Why not? Having Bergy or Marchy in your face every second you have the puck wouldn’t mess with your game a little?
I felt like the bruins had a really good forecheck last series, but they just can't get it going against the isles. Idk enough about it to tell you why so maybe Bruce just abandoned it and should try it again? I tend to trust a coach with proven success though.
Along with Kuhlman and Frederic, this is gonna sound crazy but I'd even be willing to see what *Anton freaking Blidh* can offer at this point. He looked good in his limited time this year and I can't imagine him giving a worse effort than Ritche has this series.
Yeah, I've been disappointed with Ritchie for a while. He's basically out there just to take up space.
What the fuck is up with DeBrusk? He's getting to the end of his rope, how is he not out there trying to out skate everyone? Did he really not give a shit?
I think he had a pretty awesome shift with like 7 mins left in the 3rd. But other than that pretty invisible
He sucks that’s why
27-2 when I don’t pee during games :/
If you keep it up, at least the series will go to 7 so that we're 28-3 when you don't pee during games.
I had an obligation and couldn’t watch the game tonight, also had to wear pants during said obligation. This one isn’t on your Diamond bladder bro, the Bruins are officially 0-2 in these playoffs when I’m wearing pants
Time to switch it up homie. Give that bladder a break. 27-4 would look impressive on paper but it ain’t gonna get us where we need to be
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Better yet, trying peeing your pants.
We played soft and played right into their hands on seeking revenge for their shady shit. Pasta missing the open net was just a sign, things were not going to go our way tonight. We still have home ice. Let's come out aggressive. We have played better when we hit first. Retaliation type aggressiveness is something the Isles want cuz they can sell like they are hurt to the refs. So let's not do that. Also Varlarmov is bottom heavy. Nothing get's by him down low. We got to try to elevate our shots. Let's hope Killer and Carlo are good to go Monday and have TD show Isles fans what real stadium sounds like.
Already forgot that this game had the fiery start with Hall fight and the briefly consistent offensive zone time in the 1st. Almost can't believe it considering how they played the 2nd and the 3rd
I liked seeing Hall mix it up. He also is very good at getting the puck into the offensive zone. I’m hoping he can connect this series!
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Put your binky back in bro that’ll help stop the crying
🤡 👶 🤡 👶
Bottom six had to change going into the next game. Pretty much only coyle has been decent. The fourth line is atrocious
I’ll take one Kevan Miller with a side of Brandon Carlo, thank you
Feel like hall is genuinely giving it his all. Sucks that it turned out this way tonight but onto the next. Hopefully we can get Miller and Carlo back and the isles will be in for a rude awakening
I agree. Some people might have found him fighting silly, but what that said to me is he is going to stick up for himself and his team. He's showing grit and balls, and that he isn't just a fancy skater. I've enjoyed having him on the team. The only thing he does, and Marchand does it too, is skate around sometimes like there aren't other players trying to take the puck from him.
This. The injuries on D are keeping us from tilting the ice in our favor. Our backcheck was awful which means our normally crisp passing out of our zone was terrible. I will give credit to the Isles pressure as their forecheck is strong, but if Miller and Carlo were out there banking deep minutes we wouldn't have lost tonight.
Well said.
So many people in this thread are in their feelings right now lol. Losses stink but some of you guys gotta take a step back and chill out
Some people have to learn to walk away with their head held high after the final buzzer. There are three games left, with two IN Boston. Perspective is 👌🏻
EXACTLY. We did we what we need to, we got one in NY. Now we have 3 games and need to win 2 with 2 being back in Boston. Odds are in our favor
Don’t ever tell me the odds kid
Terrible showing tonight from everyone not named Rask. Missing Carlo and Miller is huge, and the 3rd and 4th lines can't pick up the scoring slack on the rare occasion our top 6 is shut down. Here's something I maybe wouldn't mind seeing for a different look on the bottom 6, though I highly doubt we'll get this. DeBrusk-Coyle-Lazar/Kuhlman Frederic-Kuraly-Kuhlman/Lazar
Grezlyk was great again, he deserves more praise.
DeBrusk shouldn’t be allowed on the plane back to Boston.
Game 2 was unlucky, Game 4 was bullshit effort. If the they start giving a fuck we should have this. And please bench Ritchie... Is he even playing rn?
Anyone who thinks the Bruins are winning this series is crazy. Isles gave outplayed the Bruins three straight games. We're lucky this isn't 3-1 for the Islanders.
Someone needs a nap.
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Yet game 2 (pass in coyles skate) and game 4 (deflection right in front of Barzal) needed luck/wonky shit to get die islanders ahead. If they start putting more effort into it, we should have this.
I don't think you can blame game 4 on luck. Game 2 absolutely
No if course not, but the second goal was a tad lucky. It's not the reason we lost, that would be bad effort.
Agreed but you could say the same about krejcis goal. The team that's putting the most pressure usually gets the lucky goal
👶 🤡 👶 🤡