Let's be honest, there aren't many hockey games won by a team that starts the game with a 4 minute power play and the second period with an almost full 2 minute 5 on 3 and doesn't score a goal on either. As has been documented on this blog and almost any form of media dealing with this year's hockey playoffs, the biggest Achilles heel of this Bruins team is the power play and last night was probably the most glaring example we've seen. You have to score in at least one of those situations, if not both, if you want to win the Cup. Did the power play look better then it did against Tampa, who spent two minutes each power play throwing Boston's dump-ins back down the ice? Sure, but the results were the same. Vancouver's power play wasn't any better, and that is certainly a positive, but they didn't have a prolonged 5 on 3 or 4 straight minutes up a man. I know I'm kind of repeating myself, but there is just no excuse.
The unfortunate thing about last night was the Bruins played a better 59 minutes and 42 seconds then they have played all year and it wasn't good enough. It's the first time they got a great performance from Thomas that didn't end in a win and that's not a good sign. Maybe a bounce of a puck here or a bounce there and the result will be different... maybe. But I can't help feeling, after last night's game, that the best the Bruins have just isn't going to be enough against this team. As much as last night was Boston's best effort, I don't think we saw the best of Vancouver (they have a 30% power play that went 0-6). And let's not forget how sluggish the Bruins looked in the third period. All playoffs long the Bruins have lagged in the third. They just don't seem to have the legs to play 60 minutes against faster teams and I don't seem them jumping to any 3 or 4 goal leads in this series.
What was Johnny Boychuck thinking? Why take that risk with 18 seconds left? And if you do, you have to make sure of one of two things, you have to either make sure you get the puck or make sure you take out the player. Johnny seemed to get caught in between and ended up with neither. And then he dragged getting back into the play. He could have caught Torres if he rushed back into the play, but instead he lumbered back in leaving him open for the pass. I hate to slam him because I love Boychuck's potential and his physical play, but he has been on the ice for the last seven goals scored on Boston and hasn't looked good in the process. I'm not going to suggest Julian sit him, because Julian isn't going to sit anyone not injured at this point, but he has certainly proven to be the weak point on the blue line. Even Kaberle looked more then useless last night, which was a mild surprise.
Two more quick notes on last night’s physical play (it looks like this could be a chippy one)...
How blind is the NBC broadcasters that it took them over a period of watching replay after replay of the Hamhuis hit on Lucic before they realized that Krejic didn't really cross check him and he in fact hurt himself. Hey, Hamhuis, maybe if you tried to hit Lucic like a man, instead of ducking to hit him below the waist, you would have finished the game.
And of course, Alex Burrows is now enemy number one. The biting incident wasn't the only example of cheap, dirty play out of this joker. And of course the NHL, like always when dealing with people taking liberties with the Bruins, had decided to ignore it. Glad to see Colin Campbell's legacy will be continued. Game on boys, let's treat Mr. Burrows like Evander Holyfield in a Tyson fight, everyone gets a piece of ear.
I'd like to think this series is far from over, but now game two is a must win for Boston. Let's Go Bruins!!
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