I've spent the last week or so complaining that The Bruins weren't playing hard enough,that they needed to crash the net more, that they needed to jump all over Holtby's rebounds, but maybe I haven't been giving the Capitals their due. We are now heading into game 6 and the Bruins still seem unable to get things started down low. One game might be a bad effort. Two or three games might be a rut. Fives games tends to suggest the Capitals have a game plan that's working. The amount of shots they are blocking is staggering. The way they tie up every Bruin stick that comes below the face off circle is impressive. As a kid I never bought into the idea that Patrick Roy was the best goalie in the world. He use to give up a ton of rebounds and always left the top of the net open. All you had to do was elevate the puck or jump on the rebounds and Roy would be discovered to be human. Except, my theory seemed to be harder to put into practice because those rebounds were always just out of reach and the puck could never get just high enough. The reality of things was the Montreal defense didn't let you get the rebounds. It was frustrating as hell to see that puck sitting in front of a wide open net, yet no Bruin there to knock it in. That's how I've been feeling all series. Yeah, Holtby seems beatable, just get to those juicy rebounds, except the Washington defense isn't letting it happen.
The Bruins are down to their last chance, so they are going to have to figure out the Washington defense fast. They may have to do it without Bergeron. The fact of the matter is Washington is playing stronger and faster right now and the Bruins want to win they are going to have to turn the tables. Last year, this was where the B's were at their best, with their backs against the wall. I hope this team has the same moxie. Seguin needs to wake up and figure out how to get a puck in the net. Thomas needs to find some of that magic he uses whenever people say he can't. The Bruins defense needs to figure out how to tie up the Capitals in the same fashion they have been tying up us for 5 games. I don't feel this team is doomed, but if they don't pick up the intensity, today will be the last Bruins game we get to watch this year.
Some other notes...
-- I hate to blame the refs for wins and losses, but this is the second game in a row the refs helped Washington win. Last game was with a horribly weak call on Bergeron that gave the Capitals the power play that led to the final goal. In this game I can't say Pouliot shouldn't have been called for slashing, he took two good whacks at Backstrom's leg, but if you're going to call that then you have to call tripping on Denis Wideman a minute later. Wideman clearly low bridged Paille as he tried to skate the puck into the Capital's zone. That penalty would have negated the power play and might have prevented the final goal.
-- I guess it's legal for the Capitals to elbow people. Not sure when the rule was put in place, but Chara gets elbowed in the head, drops to the ice and lays there for a minute and the refs don't even stop play, forget about calling a penalty. Then Bergeron takes an elbow and only plays a couple shifts the rest of the game. Again, nothing. So, I can only conclude that it's now legal for the Caps.
-- Might be without Bergeron and Corvo in game 6. Would have been nice to have a day between games. Can anyone explain to me why these teams got two day between games 3 and 4 which were both in Washington and required no travel, but get no rest between games 5 and 6 which required the teams to head south? Thanks for that scheduling gem NHL!
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