The Bruins: Looking Ahead

The joyful exuberance doesn't have to stop, but as the hockey games have stopped, we can look forward to next season. And there's quite a bit to look forward to. The core group of guys will return. In other words, Tim Thomas will return. Will he duplicate his awe-inspiring performance from this past season? That might be tough. There's no reason to think that he won't be close to it, though, and I'd bet on him having at least one more top quality year left.

Chara, Seidenberg, Ference, Boychuk, and Mcquaid all return. Thankfully. And Tomas Kaberle is an unrestricted free agent. Thankfully. I doubt the Bruins will make any efforts to keep him here. The defense is the strongest part of this team, apart from Thomas. The Bruins don't need to improve much here. The whole idea of a "puck-moving defenseman" has always bugged me. Offense comes from forwards, defensemen can contribute to that, but it shouldn't cost them defensively. I like defensive defensemen that can also play the puck.

I wouldn't mind Kampfer being the #6 defenseman, but I imagine the Bruins will bring in a more experienced hand. And it probably won't be a big name, or a "puck mover."

In the forwards department, the Bruins will likely say goodbye to Michael Ryder. Although he sporadically provided memorable playoff moments, his lack of consistency has been the one consistent part of his career. Mark Recchi is also gone, going out with ring #3.

The top line of Krejci-Lucic-Horton should remain intact. The word from Horton's camp is that he's not experiencing any post-concussion symptoms. So let's be optimistic and assume that this line returns.

Marchand and Bergeron are on the 2nd line and will need a winger. Peverley is the ultimate utility guy and can slot in there. But I'd rather have Peverley on a grinding 3rd line with guys like Chris Kelly.

The Bruins have some cap room available. They have $52.2 million committed to players, and the cap will be $64.3. So that's $11.1 million they'll be able to commit to filling the few roster holes they have. There might be more, depending on what happens with Savard.

I'd like to see them acquire Erik Cole, who is a free agent. Every time the B's play the Hurricanes, Cole impresses me. He's a hard player, he can score (26 goals last year, 184 in his career), and he plays the power play. He's solid. He'll turn 33 in November. He's not a game changer by himself, but I think if he's on a line with Marchand and Bergeron, all three of them become very good players.

The 4th line of Paille, Campbell, and Thornton is a sturdy group, with Paille and Campbell providing invaluable PK minutes. And we all know what Thornton can bring.

I'd like to see Seguin start the year in the AHL, getting plenty of ice time to learn the NHL style of play. I also wouldn't mind him being on the 3rd line with Peverley and Kelly.

Brooks Laich might be the best free agent that the Bruins look at. He can play wing, and he can turn that power play around. I personally think Cole, at a lower price, is a better value.

As we saw in the playoffs, the game isn't played on paper. For the Bruins to repeat, they need the same quality defense and goaltending. They could use a more potent offense, so long as it doesn't lose it's physicality. Scorers get cold. Forecheckers don't.

The whole idea of needing a 40 goal scorer to win is a bit flimsy. Let's look at the 40 goal scorers from last year:

Corey Perry
Steven Stamkos
Jarome Iginla
Daniel Sedin
Ryan Kesler

Iginla's team didn't even make the playoffs. Perry's was out after Round 1. Stamkos made the East finals, we know about Sedin and Kesler. That's a wide range of team results from these 5 guys. Having elite scoring threats is nice, but they can get cold, they can get shut down. Relying on offensive production isn't enough. The Bruins need to improve by adding grinders who can also score.

-The Commodore

Burrows Not Suspended

The NHL decided not to suspend Alexandre Burrows for biting Patrice Bergeron's finger. The NHL explained, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Burrows intentionally bit Bergeron.

I have to shake my head because how does one unintentionally bite another person? I've had people stick their hand in my face, right at my mouth, and my first instinct isn't to chomp down. Quite the opposite. I rarely want someone else's finger in my mouth and never want to bite it. Biting is a voluntary, intentional act.

Burrows has a reputation for dirty play. And even though it is the Finals, this incident was simply too bizarre to go unpunished. This wasn't a gray area hit, or some pushing and shoving that possibly went over the line. There's little room for subjectivity here. The guy used his teeth. Dogs get put to sleep for biting humans. Burrows gets to play in Game 2.

I'm tempted to start a Montreal-type campaign to call up Vancouver's Animal Control (or whatever they call it up there) and report a wild animal that's been biting people's fingers. But then I'd feel bad for the Animal Control people inundated by phone calls just because Burrows got away with biting. Then again, they'd probably be Canucks fans who think that Luongo is better than Thomas and who like hearing the Star Spangled Banner sung in under 60 seconds.

Game 2 tomorrow night. It should be interesting to see how Burrows behaves, and how the Bruins react to any mischief.

-The Commodore

Canucks Are A Bunch Of Pillow Biters

"Wearing an adhesive bandage on his left index finger, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron confirmed following the team's Game 1 loss to the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals that Vancouver winger Alexandre Burrows bit him at the end of the first period.

"Oh yeah, he did," said Bergeron. "He cut me a little bit on my finger, but I'm not going to complain about it. I'll let the league do their job, but he sure did [bite me] (WEEI)."

Who the fuck bites?

I was wondering what happened, because Bergeron never get that upset, and he was going all Evander Holyfield at the end of the first peroid.

I know the NHL is wierd with suspensions, but this guy has to get at least a game. According to Ray Bourque, Burrows has a history of being a dirty player, which is all the more reason I will be pissed if I see him on the ice Saturday.

Bruins 3, Lightning 1

Where would the Bruins be without Tim Thomas? He's not a nominee for the Hart Trophy (MVP). There's that whole "goalies have their own trophy" stigma. Yet without him, the Bruins aren't up 3-2 over Tampa Bay. They don't sweep Philly. And they don't even get past Montreal. They might sneak into the playoffs somehow, but only if they're lucky. He's carried the Bruins on his 37 year old back.

His save on Downie was...

No words to describe it... poetry. They should have sent a poet.

Actually, I'll describe it a bit. His balance is unreal. Wherever he throws his body, his center of balance remains constant. This allows him to flail his stick out, and not only stop the puck, but to have enough leverage to slap it away. If you want to design a 4x4 vehicle, design a chassis based on Tim Thomas.

The Bruins didn't win a beauty pageant last night. They won a playoff hockey game. It was ugly. The B's didn't make many plays. But they didn't screw up. Krejci once again got caught messing around near the blue-line, but it was a forced turnover that resulted in Tampa's goal-scoring breakaway, not an unforced giveaway.

Much later, two perfect passes from Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron found Nathan Horton and Brad Marchand. The goals looked so pretty. Which was ironic considering how much the Bruins had been struggling to make even the simplest of plays.

Seeing Marchand score reminded me of how important Patrice Bergeron has been this postseason. When he went down, we all knew that the Penalty Kill would suffer, that the best defensive forward was out, but I was also worried about Marchand. They just click together. Bergeron's play allows Marchand to play like himself. Marchand never has to help out Bergeron or Recchi. He can just focus on playing his game.

The Power Play is still like watching a pee-wee game. Though, I'm glad they're trying new stuff, like playing Chara down low. I remember the Flyers putting Chris Pronger in the crease in a 5-on-3 situation last series, and if the B's didn't have Chara to defend against him, the Flyers probably would have produced. The Lightning, however, don't have anyone who can withstand Zdeno Chara. So keep him down low, or maybe even roaming from half-wall to half-wall as the 3rd forward.

But so long as the Penalty Kill continues to excel (now 16 of 18 in the series), the special teams battle remains in the Bruins' favor. The B's don't need PP goals. The Lightning thrive on them. The Bruins killed 4 penalties, and although that wasn't what won the game for the Bruins, it's what DIDN'T win the game for the Lightning.

The Bruins Power Play might be frustrating, but the B's can win without it. The Lightning are incapable of winning without theirs.

Game 6, Wednesday night in Florida. I have goosebumps.

-The Commodore

Bruins 2, Lightning 0

In Game 2, the Bruins beat the Lightning at their own game. It was wide open, up and down, fast-paced hockey played in the middle areas of the ice. Game 3 was played against the boards. It was played from zone to zone, a little slower, a lot tougher. This is the type of game the Bruins are built to win. Game 2 was a toss-up, even a loss, if not for Seguin. But last night's game had a black and gold stamp all over it.

The B's played their game well in all three zones. They cycled the puck in the offensive zone, didn't take shots unless they had a shooting lane (the Lightning only blocked 9 shots). They were patient. They kept the puck near the boards where they'd have the advantage. So even when Tampa won the puck back, they had to expend all their energy just to get it. Most importantly, the B's extended their posessions.

A defensive miscue resulted in Krejci's goal in the 1st. Victor Hedman got a bit too eager to help his teammate against Lucic. Krejci wisely stayed in the slot and collected the easy goal. It was also a hyper-aware pass from Lucic.

The second goal was thanks to guys like Kelly and Seguin keeping the puck from squirting out of the zone. Ference got the goal, but it was a team effort by all 5 skaters on the ice.

In the neutral zone, they slowed Tampa down just enough to prevent breakaways from turning deadly. What really helped was not turning the puck over in dangerous spots. The Bruins got the puck in deep to the offensive zone, and even when Tampa collected it, the B's were able to fill the neutral zone with bodies to slow down the Lightning just enough.

And the Bruins controlled the defensive zone. Thomas didn't have to face many second chance shots because defensemen pounced on loose pucks. There were some heart-pounding moments, but considering how good Tampa is, the Bruins did one hell of a good job in their own zone.

The return of Bergeron was huge. He won over 64% of his faceoffs, which mostly came against faceoff expert Lecavalier. And he was his excellent defensive self. He didn't look or play any differently.

Ference and Boychuk continue to play well, supporting Chara and Seidenberg very nicely. The first line is clicking. Krejci's goal was his 4th game-winner of the playoffs, tying Cam Neely's Bruins' playoff record. Seguin didn't have breakaway chances, but he did the little things. His assist on Ference's goal was simple fundamental hockey: keeping a play alive in the offensive zone, continuing the cycle.

The Power Play struggled with entry. And the Bruins were offsides too often. That's about all there is to gripe about from this game. All and all, it played out exactly as you'd draw it up.

Game 3 Saturday afternoon on NBC.

-The Commodore

PS: What is up with Guy Boucher's scar? I did some legitimate research and couldn't find an answer. Boucher says it's not hockey related, but also said he hasn't even told his family where it's from. I don't like to make fun of people for scars and/or deformities, but when they keep the mystery alive by being all shifty about it, it peaks my curiosity. My guess is that it was a second mouth that's been sewn shut.

Bergeron Likely To Play Tonight (UPDATED)

"Given how smoothly Bergeron’s recovery has proceeded, it’s a good bet the Bruins alter nate captain will make his debut in the Eastern Conference finals tonight in Game 3 against the Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum (Boston Herald)."

The latest from Twitter says that he skated this morning and looked good to go. So I would expect him to be playing tonight. If he is 100% this is a huge gain for the Bruins. Bergeron is so good on the penalty kill, and helps the defense a lot with his backchecking skills. The question now is who would sit. I have said from the beginning I think it should be Thornton, but we will update when there is official word on if he is playing, and if he does who is sitting.

***UPDATE***

Yup, he's playing...

"Bruins center Patrice Bergeron will play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning after missing the first two games with a mild concussion, according to a report by ESPN (WEEI).

Sounds Like Bergeron Might Play Game 2 (2 UPDATES)

"Before practice, Bergeron took to the ice and skated in front of general manager Peter Chiarelli before participating in drills focusing on the power play and penalty kill. He was then cleared by the coaching staff to join in full practice. Bergeron participated in a light skate before Saturday morning’s pregame skate at the Garden and skated again Sunday before being cleared for Monday morning’s practice (WEEI)."

Sure sounds like Bergeron is going to play, which I find shocking. Especially after the death of Derek Boogaard, which could be linked to head shots. Bergeron has had a couple of bad concussions in his career, and I am shocked that they would let this happen after seeing Savard's career basically end.

Getting past that and looking to the game, if Bergeron plays like he did before the concussion that could be huge for the Bruins. I hope they stick with Seguin though, as he was probably the Bruins best player in game one. Maybe they can sit Thornton or someone like that. Anyways, this would definitely help the Bruins power play, and they are going to need their best defensive players out there with Tampa's awesome forwards. We'll keep you posted.

***UPDATE***

Bergeron did not don his usual yellow (second-line) jersey, though he did participate in line drills, rotating in on his regular line that now consists of Brad Marchand, Mark Recchi and Rich Peverley. He also took part in special teams drills prior, though he left the ice early without taking contact. While it seems the center is making quick progress, coach Claude Julien didn't offer too much on where the 25-year-old stands.

"He's going through the protocol of what he has to go through," Julien said. "There's not much more to update you guys on except [to say] when he is ready to go, you guys will know it. You can't predict how quickly or how soon it's going to be. It's just one of those situations where right now you see him going through today's skate. That's protocol. Right now we're not ready to make any comments, because he's just going through those stages."

Asked specifically about Bergeron's chances of playing in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals vs. the Lightning on Tuesday, Julien was not ready to lean either way.

"No comments," the coach said. "I don't know (WEEI)."


***UPDATE 2***

Bergeron skated this morning with the team, but as Scan pointed out in the comment section (and was confirmed today) Bergeron will be out Game 2.

Bruins Plans With No Bergeron (UPDATED)

Patrice Bergeron is going to miss at least the first couple games after suffering yet another concussion. That is a big blow to the Bruins, as Rob wrote before, he is the key to the Bruins power play, and the best defensive forward the Bruins have. For now it seems Kelly will take his place on the 2nd line. Kelly has been playing really well, but I hate that they are having to break up these lines.

"Chris Kelly moved into the second-line center slot where Bergeron was, between Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi, while Tyler Seguin was playing right wing on the third line with Rich Peverley at center and Michael Ryder on the left wing (ESPN)."

This still open a roster spot, and that seems like it is going to be filled by Tyler Seguin. I like this just because I want to see how this kid reacts to playoff hockey. Who knows maybe he can help out this awful power play. Plus the Lightning are a juggernaut on offense, and the Bruins could use some guys that are fast and goal scorers. It'll be real interesting to see how he plays.

As for Bergeron, I really doubt we see him again in these playoffs.

***UPDATE***

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was at TD Garden Tuesday, and while he did not practice with his teammates, his mere presence is something the team is taking as a positive sign for the concussed the25-year-old.

"He's doing better," coach Claude Julien said. "He's here and he's doing better, so again, he's dealing with the concussion symptoms and everything else, the protocol of it. He's here today because he's feeling better. I think we're getting some positive feedback from him (WEEI)."

Bruins 5, Flyers 1

No need for anxiety. No need for panic. The Bruins took care of business Friday night and let all their fans relax a little bit.

A few weeks ago, I stressed the importance of improvement in the playoffs. From game to game, from series to series. And the reason the Bruins are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 is because they've improved.

Remember those painful turnovers in Games 1 and 2 of the Canadiens series? Remember Marchand and Horton playing with the jitters?

The turnovers stopped. Marchand and Horton were the Bruins' best forwards in the Philly series. The Power Play actually scored a 5-on-4 goal (eventually). Chara's fully hydrated. And Lucic scored twice in Game 4, ending a long drought.

It was a sweep, but it wasn't utter domination. Thomas stole Game 2. Game 4 was a nail-biter until the late stages. And in those tight games, the Bruins showed some character. They fought the tough battles, won most of them, and that's why they are where they are.

And it's nice sweeping, not just because it's easy on the nerves. Thomas gets a few extra days to rest. Chara and Seidenberg will be worked like mules, and they could use some time to recuperate. Unfortunately, there's not enough time for Bergeron to recover from a concussion. That's a huge loss.

Bergeron is the best defensive forward, best penalty killing forward, best faceoff taker, and he's become an offensive playmaker with Marchand and Recchi.

And against the Lightning, a defensive forward would have been nice to put on the ice against Stamkos. That will be an interesting series. Tampa Bay has some of the most talented forwards in the NHL. The Bruins have some of the best defensemen and the best goalie.

The series will start when the two Western series are decided.

-The Commodore

Bruins 5, Canadiens 4 (OT)

The Bruins spent the week in Lake Placid, NY. Then came out placidly last night, taking 30 minutes to properly wake up. During that time, Montreal unleashed 30 shots against Thomas and took a 3-1 lead. In the second half of the game, they beat Montreal 4-1. It was far from pretty. It was quite painful at times. But you had to love the ending.

I was fed up with Ryder being in the lineup. He hadn't contributed anything and I wanted Seguin to get a chance. I like being wrong sometimes. Ryder scored twice. His breakaway goal in the 2nd might have been more important than his OT winner, because it kept Montreal from pulling too far away.

For both his goals, Ryder was beautifully set-up by his teammates. Kaberle made himself useful and found Ryder with a zone stretching pass to trigger his breakaway. And linemates Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley ground out the possession that resulted in Ryder's second score.

Kelly now has 2 goals, 2 assists, and is +3 in this series. He's the type of guy that randomly has a huge impact in the playoffs. He's accustomed to physical play, he's an adept penalty killer, and he's always involved.

But give Ryder credit for the quality of his shots. His first goal was a snipe over Price's glovehand. His second shot came after he hesitated a fraction of a second. Price stretched his legs wide to get to the post, opening up the hole that Ryder shot through.

Bergeron continues to be the best Bruins' skater in this series. 5 points so far. Another great night in Game 4.

Andrew Ference is the type of guy who can decide a series for you. He can be that bad, and be that good. We've seen him make boneheaded mistakes, and brilliant plays. From shift to shift, the Bruins' fortunes have turned based on what guys like him have done. Last night he took a few hits to move the puck, then wound up in the high slot, and blasted a bullet past Price.

The PK unit may have allowed a goal, but they were excellent in their one kill of the game. Montreal had a golden opportunity to win it late in regulation, thanks to an iffy interference call on Seidenberg. But the PK was intelligently aggressive. Chris Kelly again having an impact.

I'm still waiting for the first line to show up. Lucic, Krejci, and Horton have combined for 2 goals, 0 assists, and are each -2 in this series. Last night, Krejci deked himself out of an unbelievable scoring chance. It was actually three chances in one play, and he messed up all of them. He could have one-timed at a half-empty net, instead he curled toward the crease. He could have forehanded a shot between Price's widely stretched legs, instead he went to the backhand. He could've backhanded a shot over Price's legpads, instead he lost control of the puck.

Then there's Lucic, who looked half-dead on most his shifts. When he did skate, he was electrifying. But for the most part he's still drifting around, barely noticeable on the ice. He played about 17 minutes last night. Do you believe that? How often did you notice he was out there?

So now it's a best-of-three series. The B's need to protect their house. They need to do something on the Power Play. The first line needs to score, or at least grind out good possessions. Guys like Bergeron and Kelly need to continue their good play. And Chara needs to bring his physical game. It doesn't get easier from here.

Game 5 Saturday night in Boston.

-The Commodore