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Bruins 2012 Report Card: Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Nathan Horton

Bobby Doherty — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:10 +0000

Injuries kept this line from building on a strong first season together. Several different players filled the vacant spot at right-wing left by Nathan Horton. If Horton is healthy heading into next season, this line will likely stay together and play at a high level.

Report Cards: Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin | Lucic-Krejci-Horton

Milan Lucic C+

Coming off of his most productive scoring season as a Bruin, Lucic had a strong regular season. Still at times, he shows that he lacks top-line forward scoring skill. His best stretch of hockey during the season came while playing on a line with Tyler Segiun, as the speedy winger forced Lucic to keep his feet moving.

With 26 goals and 62 points from Lucic, there are no complaints, but with no goals during the playoffs there are huge concerns. On top of only having 12 points during the cup run last season, he seems to disappear during the playoffs. Next year, he needs to take his game to the next level in the second season.

David Krejci C+

Krejci got a $5 million contract at the beginning of the season and only produced 23 goals and 62 points. He is an extremely streaky player, and losing Nathan Horton for almost the entire season really hurt his game. As we all know, Krejci is a fantastic play maker and having a big bodied winger who can snipe like Horton is exactly what he needs on his line.

Like the rest of the Bruins forwards, minus a few guys, Krejci had a sub-par playoffs. The way the season ended should motivate Krejci to be more than ready to start next season. This should be the year that he shows what he is, a 60-point second-line center or an 80-point top-line center.

Nathan Horton B

Horton played in only 46 games due to concussion problems. He tallied 17 goals and 32 points in that time, and he would have been around the 30-goal mark if he could stay healthy. The Bruins front office expects Horton to be ready to go at the start of next season, but with concussion issues, you just don’t know what is going to happen.

Horton was missed greatly in the playoffs and on the power play, as a winger that can score from anywhere with a shot is a great threat. If Horton can return with no concussion problems, he will be primed to join the 30-goal club for the second time in his career.

Hey Ladies: Tyler Seguin is Single

KC Downey — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:36:46 +0000

Just in case you were wondering, Bruins forward Tyler Seguin is single.

How do I know? He said so on Twitter.

Yes I am single

— Tyler Seguin (@tylerseguin92) May 3, 2012

Connelly’s Top Ten: Hey Bruins…The Better Team Won

Michael — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:42 +0000

1. Misc:

* The better team won
* Bruins played at Washington’s pace and speed letting them dictate tempo and thus forcing their will upon the Bruins
* Bruins needed to make this series a street fight and instead they shot pucks into Capitals shin pads
* Ironic that a shot that was directed toward corner was blocked and led to a 2-on-1
* Never were desperate

2. Offense:

* Bruins had a power play to win it late in third period and threw up on Dean Wormer
* Just not enough firepower
* Chara is the third greatest defenseman in Bruins history and certainly top ten in NHL history – but over seven games you can’t get your shot blocked 100 times
* Why do they finally get the puck below faceoff circle and pass back to point?
* Tyler Seguin, when he is interested, is a superior player
* Seemed to lose every big faceoff – David Krejci lost 10 of 15 faceoffs

3. Defense:

* What a block by Siedenberg in the penalty kill with no stick
* Tim Thomas is so casual and uncomfortable with the puck behind the net
* Andrew Ferrence grade – F
* Thought Mottau was their third best defenseman, especially moving the puck

4. Washington:

* More talented / more desperate (as proven by shots blocked) / and who would have said this before the series – better goaltender
* Ovechkin time played in Game 7 – 16 minutes out of 63
* They are boring – NHL is not happy with big markets going home

5. Brad Marchand:

Last year’s post season vs. this season

* 2011 – 25 games – 11 goals and 8 assists
* 2012 – 7 games – 1 goal and 1 assist

6. Milan Lucic:

* Zero shots in 19 shifts in Game 7 – that’s zero
* Seven games – zero goals
* More giveaways than anyone in the league
* Loses 70% of the one-on-one battles (despite strength)
* Loses puck in his feet
* Puts more passes on other team’s tape than anyone in league

7. Management:

* Never addressed the power play infertility issues in the offseason
* They need to shake up this team – trade Krecji, Lucic and pick up a stud defensemen, a sniper
* Need to sit with Seguin and tell him being average with extrodinary gifts is not acceptable

8. Taxes:

After just finishing my taxes – Washington now has twice had a negative impact on my April

9. Just a Little Bit Outside:

Love the Goal album from the early 70′s Bruins

10. Randomocity:

* Jack Edwards great job at identifying every “Let’s Go Bruins” chant
* Actually a “boring” series considering the fact that every game was decided by 1 goal
* Too many random icings
* At least Peter Chirelli won’t have to take anymore of those crazy lefty high fives from Cam
* Hockey has to do something about the broken sticks
* Red Sox can’t hide anymore
* The final four teams from last year are not in the final eight – Boston, Vancouver, Tampa and San Jose

Seguin’s OT Goal Sends Series Back to Boston for Game 7

Pete Rampino — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:05:40 +0000

The Bruins had the city of Boston on the edge of their seats all through Game 6 in Washington. The B’s repeatedly gave up their one-goal lead through three periods, but were ultimately victorious in overtime 4-3 thanks top the heroics of Tyler Seguin.

Boston started off strong and broke young goaltender Braden Holtby less than six minutes into the game as Rich Peverley scored his third goal of the series. As has been the case for the series, the celebration was short-lived as the Capitals answered back less than five minutes later on a goal by Mike Green. Dangerously close to going into the first intermission tied, David Krejci netted his first goal of the series as Boston was able to take advantage of a power play (1-5 on the day). It was 2-1 B’s after the 1st period.

The majority of the 2nd period was an offensive stalemate characterized with sloppy turnovers. With less than a minute remaining, Washington’s Jason Chimera was able to put one past Thomas to tie the game at 2-2. Washington outshot the Bruins 15-5 in the period.

Andrew Ference made his presence known early in the 3rd period as he took advantage of a rebound and put the Bruins ahead 3-2. Tyler Seguin made the goal possible by stripping Alexander Semin of the puck.

Patrice Bergeron was noticeably absent on faceoffs due to an injury and this led to the next opportunity for the Caps. A faceoff in the Boston zone was taken by Rich Peverley, but won by Nicklas Backstrom, who dumped it back to Alex Ovechkin, who promptly slapped it into the net to tie it at 3-3 with 4:42 remaining.

A lot of the game was highlighted by some sloppy defense and giveaways. This theme carried over into OT and Boston was not to be on the losing end again. After winning the faceoff in the Washington zone, Nicklas Backstrom promptly gave the puck away to David Krejci. Krejci slid the puck to Milan Lucic and then to Seguin who made a beautiful move on Holtby to score the game winner and send the series back to Boston for Game 7. Seguin had a goal and an assist in this game; it was hist first points of the entire series.

Game 7 will be in Boston on Wednesday night.

Game Notes

Tim Thomas: 36 saves
Number of hits embellished by Brad Marchand: 1 (which led to Chimera’s goal)
Every game in the series has been decided by one goal (3 OT games)

Photo: Tim Thomas Likes Ron Paul (Do You Care?)

KC Downey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:31:18 +0000

Tim Thomas spent his off-day hanging out with a conservative/Libertarian group called Freedom Works, and showed off his support for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul.

How much did he enjoy himself there? Enough to take a photo with one of the supporters while holding up a Ron Paul bumper sticker…

(Photo from @JulieBorowski on Twitter)

Do you care anymore about Thomas’s clearly outspoken political views? Does anyone care? Well, anyone besides WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan?

Photo: Andrew Ference, Zdeno Chara Reenact Titanic Scene

KC Downey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:21:21 +0000

Normally, I’m all for team bonding experiences, but maybe Andrew Ference and Zdeno Chara took it one step further during their day off on Wednesday.

The two visited the National Geographic’s new Titanic exhibit…

(Image from Bruins on Facebook)

Some Capitals Fans to Wear Obama Masks Mocking Tim Thomas

KC Downey — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:54:52 +0000

Remember when Tim Thomas skipped the team’s visit to the White House? Well, that got some Washington Capitals fans thinking…

Hell bent on figuring out how to score on Thomas, Washington fans have resorted to the ridiculous. But, hey, you have to admire their creativity.

Caps fans are encouraged to wear Barack Obama masks:

(Photo from Boston.com)

Nice.

Holtby Steps Up Again as Bruins Fall to Capitals in Double OT

Brendan Page — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:47:33 +0000

When the Capitals two goaltenders Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth went down late in the season with injuries, most people thought the playoffs were practically over for them. Well, that hasn’t been the case, as 22-year-old Brandon Holtby has been as good as his predecessors, if not better. He stood on his head in Game 1 to send it to overtime (a 1-0 win for the B’s) and in Game 2, he was good enough to get his team the win in double overtime.

Game 2 seemed it was going to be another defensive battle, as at the end of the first period, both teams were scoreless. Both teams did generate a solid amount of shots, though. The Bruins had ten shots, while the Capitals had nine.

Period two was more of the same, with an occasional scoring opportunity and a big hit, until the Capitals broke the ice late in the period when Troy Brouwer poked the puck through Thomas’s legs to put the Capitals up 1-0 going into the third period.

The Bruins needed to put one in the net badly to tie the game. It seemed highly unlikely due to the Capitals prolific shot-blocking and the play of Holtby. With more than half of the final period over, Brian Rolston took a shot that was ways away from the net, leaving the puck in the slot in a battle for the puck between Bruins forward Benoit Pouliot and Holtby. Pouliot was able to chip the puck over Holtby’s shoulder into the back of the net. The goal would force overtime.

This game went to a second overtime after a scoreless first OT frame. On a faceoff won by the Bruins, there seemed to be a miscue between players and in a last second attempt, Johnny Boychuck tried to chip the puck to a Bruin forward, but he missed the puck. The Capitals took advantage when the puck landed on forward Nicklas Backstrom’s stick and he put the puck right under Thomas’s arm and into the net to end the game.

The Capitals’ 2-1 win evens up the series at 1-1 heading into Washington D.C. The Bruins and Caps will meet Monday night in a big game to see who will take the lead in the series.

Bruins Replace “Playoff Jacket” With Chain Necklace

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:36:41 +0000

Remember last year’s ridiculously awesome playoff jacket? After each playoff win, the Bruin who played a big role in the victory that night would wear the jacket during post-game interviews. It was used as a symbol of team unity.

This year, the team has turned to a Mr. T chain-link necklace.

(Photo Credit: Bruins on Twitter)

“20 players dress, 20 links in the chain.” – Bruins Twitter Account

Kelly’s Overtime Goal Lifts Bruins in Game 1 over Capitals

KC Downey — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:08:25 +0000

In last year’s playoff run, the Bruins were 1-3 in Game 1′s. So, Thursday night’s playoff opener was anything but a guarantee for the Bruins against the 7th-seeded Capitals.

Then, when the Bruins were unable to get any goals by young Caps goalie Braden Holtby in regulation, you had to wonder if they’d ever score.

Finally, just 1:18 into overtime, Chris Kelly answered that question with authority, blasting a shot by Holtby to give the Bruins a 1-0 series lead.

Thomas Dominant, Holtby Damn Good Too

Tim Thomas picked up right where he left off in Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Finals, pitching yet another playoff shutout by stopping all 17 shots he faced.

Rarely tested over the first two periods (the Caps had just 2 shots on goal in the 2nd!), Thomas made some terrific stops to keep his team alive in the third.

Early in overtime, his kick save helped set up the B’s on the attack, with the puck eventually getting to Chris Kelly and then the back of the net.

But, we can’t forget how well Holtby played for the Capitals, who are supposedly goalie-challenged. Instead, Holtby was pretty challenging (like the word play there?), stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced and making several key saves, especially in the second period (17 saves in that period alone).

B’s Physicality

The Bruins, specifically Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, were extremely physical throughout the game. The B’s roughed up Washington star Alex Ovechkin whenever they could.

In one instance, Seidenberg delivered a vicious hit to Ovechkin in the second period, sending both players to the ice and Ovechkin to the bench moments later.

Looking Ahead

The Bruins will look to take a 2-0 series lead Saturday against the Caps.

The team is just 15 more victories away from winning the Stanley Cup. (They have a long way to go.)