Bye Bye Bruins Hello Offseason

The Bruins title defense came to an abrupt halt last night in the form of a game 7 loss at home against the 7^th seeded Washington Capitals. Even though he’s had a down year for the most part, I know 38 goals and 27 assists doesn’t seem very ‘down’ but when you’re Alexander Ovechkin it is, if you’d told me before the Eastern Conference’s first round started that the Bruins would hold Ovie to 2 goals and 3 assists I’d make the assumption the Bruins won in 6 or maybe 5 games. That assumption would’ve been totally mistaken because the Bruins top line didn’t show up thru the first 3 games of the series and the Capitals captured lightning in a bottle in the form of rookie 3^rd string G Braden Holtby. In the end the Capitals simply outskated the Bruins for a majority of the series and earned a hard fought round 1 victory and scored a huge upset for their franchise. For years it tended to be the high seeded Caps who would get knocked out early, see: Tampa Bay Lightning sweep Capitals in 2011 Conference Quarterfinals, but this year the Capitals were the ones delivering the fatal blow.

As far as the Bruins are concerned well they should be worried about the fact that the top two lines produced diddlysquat with top scorer Tyler Seguin only chalking up 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) and those two goals occurring in OT of game 6 and as the Bruins lone goal in game 7. I know he’s only 20 years old but if Seguin plans on becoming an elite talent on the same level as Ovechkin, Crosby, and Malkin then he needs to carry his team’s offense when others are unable. David Krejci also didn’t play like the playmaker that we all know, as Bruins fans, that he can be when he wants to be. In last years postseason Krejci chalked up 12 goals and 11 assists over 25 games, in this postseason? 1 goal and 2 assists during the Bruins/Caps matchup. It is unacceptable for your top line center to not put up at least a point per game during the NHL’s second season.

In my eyes no one was more disappointing though then LW Milan Lucic. For the second straight postseason he didn’t show up in the first round recording 0 goals after a 26 goal regular season. Lucic didn’t play his role as bruiser, enforcer, and goal scorer against the Capitals in round 1 and it hurt the Bruins. The Bruins were left looking for offense in unattractive places like the 4^th line and in their defensive pairings. For a team that ranked 2^nd in goals per game during the regular season only scoring 15 goals in a 7 game series was simply unacceptable. This loss isn’t on the defense or even Tim Thomas but the Bruins top two lines. My final thoughts on how the Bruins lost are pretty simple: the Bruins were outskated a majority of the series and were out muscled by a notoriously weaker Capitals team. The Bruins didn’t push around the Caps early and show the Caps that they were the better team and as the old adage goes if you let bad teams hang around they will beat you. The Caps aren’t a great team and had a 3^rd string rookie goalie in net but the Bruins didn’t bury them early and the Capitals took advantage.

With the offseason starting early for the Bruins, GM Peter Chiarelli and President Cam Neely are going to be forced to make a decision on the future of their goaltending position. Tim Thomas is 38 years old and though he played very well throughout this past regular season and had a pretty good series against the Caps it might be time to start passing the baton to youngster Tuuka Rask. Rask is a restricted free agent and I think he’ll definitely be in the fold next year moving forward but if the Bruins don’t show him the love financially and start to show him that they truly believe he is the future netminder of the franchise you can expect him to start to get antsy and possible become a stink bomb in the locker room.

Rask is the ultimate competitor and I doubt he wants to continue to ride the pine with multiply starting opportunities available around the NHL. I’m not saying get rid of Thomas I’m just saying it might be time to move closer to a 50/50 time share or even a 55/45 Rask split. What Tim Thomas did for this town last year was unreal. He had the best postseason a goaltender has had in recent history and that’ll never be forgotten. He single handedly delivered the Cup back to the Hub after a 39-year absence but it’s time to see what the future truly holds and if Rask can be the guy to bring the Cup back to Boston in the next 10 to 15 years. On a side note: as a fan if you expected Thomas to repeat his regular season from last year or his postseason run from 2011 then you were dreaming. That kind of goaltending magic can’t be repeated on a year-to-year basis it’s just physically impossible.

Before wrapping this up and sending you over to the second blog post of the day about the Patriots draft options I want to point out an interesting fact that came about from the Bruins/Capitals first round matchup: this was the first 7 game series in NHL history to have all 7 games decided by a single goal. Great stat Tim Kurkjian style right there too bad the Bruins went 3-4 in those 7 games.

Check out my Patriots draft day breakdown right here: http://vfromthecouch.blogspot.com/2012/04/addressing-patriots-draft-day-needs.html

Geoff Jablonski

A Running Period-by-Period Glance At Bruins vs. Capitals Game 1

After a long, grueling regular season the Bruins and Capitals open up their second season tonight in Boston. The season where legends are born, Tim Thomas, and champions are crowned, 2010-2011 Boston Bruins. After winning the Northeast Division and ending the regular season north of 100 points the Bruins were awarded the 2 seed in the East and home ice advantage in round 1 against the perpetually underachieving Washington Capitals and superstar forward Alex Ovechkin. During the regular season the Caps took 3 out of 4 matchups winning the last 2 after splitting the first 2. During tonight’s game I’ll be giving a breakdown of my thoughts on what’s going on down and what I think is going to happen moving forward at the TD Bank Garden after each period. Enjoy ladies and gents.

End of Period 1: Washington 0  Boston 0

After one period of play the Bruins and Capitals are deadlocked at 0-0. Here are my thoughts, some reflections some streamlines, on what I witnessed during the first 20 minutes of playoff hockey:

-The Bruins did a good job of controlling possession and the tempo of the game throughout the first 20 minutes. Outshot the Caps 9-5.

-Rookie goaltender Braden Holtby has risen to the occasion so far befuddling the Bruins offensive attacks.

-On the other end of the ice Tim Thomas has been solid as usual only allowing two really good attempts by the Capitals, one was a loose puck scramble and the other was a tough angle shot by Alexander Semin.

-Shawn Thorton has been flying all over the ice including two big hits that he’s dished out. Great energy from the 4^th line.

-The captain Zdeno Chara has been doing a good job of keeping Alex Ovechkin in check with his physical play. On one shift Chara chipped Ovechkin around center ice and then Dennis Seidenberg buried him into the corner boards and kept him there.

-David Krejci got rung up for the first penalty of the game with a boarding penalty on Dennis Wideman at the 12:54 mark giving the dangerous, though occasionally enigmatic, Capitals power play an opportunity. On that power play the Capitals looked ugly, couldn’t establish the zone and only got off one shot on Timmy.

-Roughly 5 and a half minutes later David Krejci draws a double minor on Jay Beagle for a high stick that drew blood. Krejci won the faceoff, got tripped up by Beagle, and then Beagle popped him in the nose with the butt end of his stick drawing blood and a 4 minute minor. Bruins power play gets their first opportunity on the power play to end the first and start the second period. The portion before the break was ugly with the Bruins finding it hard to establish the zone just as Washington had a few minutes earlier.

-Per usual Patrice Bergeron did a magnificent job in the faceoff circle setting the tone by consistently winning the draw.

A quick check on the other Eastern Conference matchup (#1 Ranges vs. #8 Senators) shows the Rangers up 1-0 after the 1^st. For the second period I’d like to think that the Bruins are going to finally break through and put one on the board against the Capitals and their inexperience, rookie goaltender but don’t count out the Capitals offense lighting the lamp either. Now, back to the action!

End of Period 2: Washington 0  Boston 0

After two periods of play the teams are still deadlocked in a scoreless pitchers duel. Here’s the breakdown.

-Bruins again dominated play throughout the entire 2^nd period chalking up roughly 4+ minutes of power play time but couldn’t break through. Bruins are outshooting the Caps 25-7 overall and 17-2 in the 2^nd period alone. The crowd seemed to be getting pretty anxious/nervous by the end of that period. Washington is doing a great job hanging around and as coaches always say if you let a lesser team hang around too long they will strike and steal the game.

-The Bruins power play moved the puck efficiently and quickly during their first stretch on the power play but again Holtby was a stonewall in front of the Capitals net. Bruins can’t seem to figure him out. On one play Peverley skated in front all alone then got stoned by Holtby collected his rebound and was again turned away by the rookie goalie.

-The Capitals did a great job killing off the Beagle double minor only to have Troy Brouwer get called for a delay of game penalty that he argued deflected of Tyler Seguin before getting up and out of play. Try again Brouwer the replay showed that you missed hitting Seguin by about a foot. Bruins did a great job of moving the puck at the end of the double minor but looked shoddy on their next power play attempt. Holtby standing on his head considering at the 10:00 mark of the second mark the Bruins are outshooting the Caps 10-0 in the 2^nd.

-Again during the 2^nd period the Bruins sent out Chara and Seidenberg to rough up Ovechkin. Seidenberg landed a big hit around center ice on Ovechkin sending him sprawling against the half wall while simultaneously sending himself back onto his own ass. It looked like Seidenberg actually got the brunt of the hit but the point got across that he’s going to throw his weight around against the Caps star winger.

-Throughout the middle portion of the period there was some intense back and forth hockey with good saves by both goalies.

-You know who’s been playing a hell of a game tonight? Brian Rolston. He looks rejuvenated and is clearly thrilled to be playing in a playoff game.

-Bergeron fed Paille all alone in front of Holtby but again Holtby was tall to the task.

-Krejci and Carlson got into a little scrum after Krejci bumped into and knocked over Holtby leading to a mini breakout between the two teams. In the end Krejci and Carlson are both hauled off for 2 minutes. The intensity that both teams are bringing to the table finally shows itself in true hockey form. Shortly into the 4 on 4 Washington takes another penalty allowing the Bruins a rare 4 on 3. Bruins get great puck movement throughout the 4 on 3 but again Holtby and the Caps defense stands strong and leave the crowd restless. Holtby appears to be building a Berlin wall style brickhouse in front of the Capitals net.

-Capitals have had unlimited opportunites with Ovechkin yet to get off a shot on Timmy Thomas.

Another check on the Rangers/Senators has the Rangers up 4-1 in the 3^rd. Onto the 3^rd period of action between the Caps and Bruins with the Bruins carrying the momentum but the Capitals hanging tough and still in a good position to strike a stake into the Bruins heart.

End 3rd: Washington 0  Bruins 0

Three periods in the books and the Bruins and Capitals are in a dead heat. Nobody has put one on the board yet overtime here we come! Recap of the 3^rd.

-The Capitals came out of the locker room after a sluggish first two periods full of energy and absolutely dominated possession for the entire first part of the period. The Bruins didn’t clear the puck and get a stoppage in play until under 17 minutes to go. One problem with the stoppage that occurred is that it was because of a cross check by Big Z at the 3:12 mark of the 3^rd. Huge opportunity for the Capitals power play to break the deadlock and put them on top early in the 3^rd.

-On the subsequent power play Tim Thomas made a HUGE SAVE on Alex Ovechkin. Sliding across the crease left to right mirroring the pass as it made its way onto Ovechkins stick below the right circle. Big save to keep the Caps and 8 off the board. Thomas again for the second straight postseason proves that a team’s best penalty killer more times than not is its goalkeeper.

-After another sluggish 5 or 6 minutes the Bruins finally turn up the heat with around 9 minutes to go. Great offensive zone pressure leads to Joe Corvo panging one off the right post as Holtby attempted to get deep in his net. Closest call of the night for either time as the iron rang true. Thomas continued to hold strong on the other end of the night as he looks to be getting into a rhythm.

-Ovechkin is trying to get out into space but Chara and Seidenberg refuse to give him any space to work in. He’s being bottled up pretty good tonight by the Bruins top defensive pairing.

-Capitals respond to the Bruins energy burst with one of their own led by Holtby keeping the Bruins off the board after Kelly came in riding the defender on Holtby’s left but couldn’t bring it back to his forehand. When he tried to slide it back to his forehand for a quick shot the puck exploded on him and Pouliot was making a rush to the net but just wasn’t in position in time to stuff it home. Big opportunity missed by the Spoked B.

-Bruins are trying to absorb the blows being delivered by the Capitals here in the 3^rd period after basically being in a complete defensive shell the first 2 period. This looks like a different Capitals team offensively putting pressure on the Bruins D and skating into space. Bruins though seem to still be getting the better scoring chances between Corvo, Kelly, and a centering pass by Seguin that fell on emptiness as neither Bergeron nor Marchand could get in a clean net drive to stuff home the pass.

-As the period neared its end Thomas once again appeared to working up a sweat and getting into a good rhythm as he stonewalled the Capitals forwards and did his best Braden Holtby impression. On the other end of the ice Holtby is doing it all for the Caps.

-That’s the end of the period and we are headed to overtime!

Final check on the Rangers/Senators shows the Rangers chalking up a 4-2 win. No surprise there. The Bruins decided to save their sloppiest period for last but luckily the Capitals weren’t able to capitalize on the Bruins being awestruck throughout the first 10 minutes of the period. Capitals outshoot the Bruins 9-3 in the period. Bruins hold a 29-16 shot advantage through regulation.

Final: Washington 0 Boston 1 ---- Bruins lead the Series 1-0

Onto overtime let’s see what the Bruins and Capitals can provide for extra entertainment.

-GOALLLLLLL!!!! Chris Kelly takes the breakout pass from Benoit Pouliot after Tim Thomas made a huge save on a Capitals one-on-one, Rolston gathered the rebound found Pouliot who looked up and found Kelly. Kelly came down the left side on Holtby’s right, wound up, and fired off a wicked slap shot from just above the circle. Holtby had come out to cut down the angle but there was no stopping Kelly’s blast. It beat Holtby glove side high putting the Bruins on the board 1-0 and giving them the early advantage in this best of 7 series. Goal came 1:18 into overtime and didn’t leave much time for anything else to happen. Thomas save, Rolston lead pass, Pouliot finds Kelly, Kelly shoots he scores. That about sums up overtime. Going back to the beginning of last postseason the Bruins are now 5-1 in games that have gone into overtime with their only loss coming in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Vancouver Canucks.

There you have it folks my live feed of how I felt the game was going from period to period. The Bruins get the hard fought win and take a 1-0 lead with a home ice win in game 1. Capitals put up a hell of a fight though and I don’t see them going away easily they’ll give the hometown Bruins a run for their money it should be a great series from game 1 through game 7, if it goes that long and as a Bruin fan I hope it doesn’t.

Until we cross paths again…GO BRUINS!!

Geoff Jablonski