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02-10-2021, 08:19 AM
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#1 |
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Rookie
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Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
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02-10-2021, 11:31 AM
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#2 |
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Bruins Beat: 20/21 Season Preview
 Brad Marchand made headlines by stating that he was at 80% last season due to injury, and is excited to be back at 100% heading into this season. Forwards First Line Brad Marchand (91 OVR) - Patrice Bergeron (91 OVR) - David Pastrnak (91 OVR) - The perfection line reunites once again. Many B's fans have wondered whether this line should be split up to help balance the team's scoring, and Bruce Cassidy hasn't been afraid to do exactly that, but it never seems to work out as well as when this trio is together. Both Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are coming off off-season surgeries, so don't be surprised if they get off to a little bit of a slow start. Second Line Jake DeBrusk (83 OVR) - David Krejci (85 OVR) - Ondrej Kase (82 OVR) - Ondrej Kase has yet to score a goal for the Bruins, and has tallied just five assists in 19 games with the team. The B's hope that a regular shift alongside David Krejci will help Kase find his offensive game. The team also gave out a modest contract to Jake DeBrusk, who will need to prove himself over the next two years if he wants to remain in Boston. Third Line Nick Ritchie (81 OVR) - Charlie Coyle (83 OVR) - Craig Smith (81 OVR) - The big addition of the off-season for the B's was certainly Craig Smith. Smith won't be scoring 40 goals, but he's a solid two-way player and loves throwing the puck on net - something that has been a problem for this Boston team in the past. Nick Ritchie was a bust last year and drew the ire of many Bruins' fans, but just like with Kase, a more traditional role and season should help him. His spot in the lineup is far from guaranteed, however. Fourth Line Anders Bjork (78 OVR) - Sean Kuraly (79 OVR) - Chris Wagner (77 OVR) - Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner remain mainstays on this fourth line, although the team hopes both are better than they were in the bubble last year. Anders Bjork beats out Trent Frederic for the last spot, but the time is ticking on him to find his game. Bjork has the skills to be a top six forward but never seems to put it together. Extra Par Lindholm (77 OVR) - Trent Frederic (75 OVR) - Don't be surprised if Frederic gets a look early. Cassidy loves his game and physical presence, and he could replace Ritchie or Bjork in the lineup. Lindholm is there for depth purposes and because the team wants Jack Studnicka to get a regular shift rather than sitting in the press box (more on that below). Defense First Pair Jeremy Lauzon (77 OVR) - Charlie McAvoy (86 OVR) - Jeremy Lauzon has played 46 NHL games in his career. He's replacing a guy who played over 1500 games. That's a tall order, and no one expects Lauzon to replicate what Chara did for this team, but he's getting the first opportunity to play alongside Charlie McAvoy. Second Pair Matt Grzelcyk (80 OVR) - Brandon Carlo (81 OVR) - If Lauzon feels like he's replacing a legend, Matt Grzelcyk is right there with him. While no one will mistake Torey Krug for Zdeno Chara, Krug was a local legend and an outstanding offensive player. Grzelcyk has shown some potential, and this pairing has the chance to be better defensively as Krug did struggle during 5-on-5 play. Third Pair Jakub Zboril (74 OVR) - Kevan Miller (80 OVR) - This pair is a complete wildcard. Zboril has played just 13 career games, and Kevan Miller hasn't played in nearly two years. Miller is finally healthy, and will be asked to replace some of the physicality the team lost with Chara leaving. Zboril was Providence's best defenseman last year, but his spot is far from guaranteed. Extras Connor Clifton (77 OVR) - Just like with Studnicka, the team wants Urho Vaakanainen to get a regular shift. Connor Clifton beats out John Moore for the last spot on the roster, but don't be surprised if he gets a look early in the year, especially if Zboril or Miller struggle to find their game. Goalies Tuukka Rask (90 OVR) - Jaroslav Halak (83 OVR) - Rask remains one of the best goaltenders in the league. He also bailed on the team in the bubble last year, and has been public enemy number one in Boston for a while now. This may be his last opportunity to prove he has what it takes to win a Stanley Cup, as his contract expires at the end of this season. Halak remains a quality backup but last year's playoffs proved just that - he's a backup. Power Play #1 Nick Ritchie - Patrice Bergeron - Brad Marchand David Krejci - David Pastrnak - How will the Bruins replace Torey Krug on the power play? Apparently with five forwards. Bruce Cassidy has decided to put his four best skill players on the ice together, with Nick Ritchie standing in front of the net. They may give up some shorthanded goals, but they may put up the most power play goals in the league. Power Play #2 Craig Smith - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk Charlie McAvoy - Matt Grzelcyk - A pretty good second unit. If the first unit fails to score or gets a little to reckless, don't be surprised if McAvoy or Grzelcyk get a look to help shore up the backend. Penalty Kill #1 Patrice Bergeron - Brad Marchand Jeremy Lauzon - Brandon Carlo - For the first time in over a decade, the B's penalty kill won't be led by Zdeno Chara. Bergeron, Marchand, and Carlo remain, and the team will give Lauzon a chance on the top unit to start the year. Marchand remains as arguably the most dangerous shorthanded player in the league. Penalty Kill #2 Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner Charlie McAvoy - Kevan Miller - Kuraly, Wagner, and McAvoy remain on the second unit, with Miller adding some toughness in front of the net. The B's had one of the best penalty kill units in the league last year, but losing Chara will likely affect that, at least early in the year. Providence Players to Watch Jack Studnicka (77 OVR) - Zach Senyshyn (72 OVR) - John Moore (80 OVR) - Urho Vaakanainen (78 OVR) - Dan Vladar (76 OVR) - Studnicka and Vaakanainen had a shot to make this team out of camp, but neither did enough to earn a spot with significant playing time. As a result, it makes more sense for both players to get a regular shift in Providence, at least to start the year. The clock is ticking on Senyshyn, who could go down as one of the biggest busts in Bruins' draft history. The clock is also ticking for John Moore, who's contract looks worse and worse by the day. One interesting player to keep an eye on? Goaltender Dan Vladar, who was lit up by Tampa Bay last year in the playoffs but has the potential to be a solid goaltender. Will he be the B's starter next year, should Rask depart? Five Questions for the B's 1. How do you replace Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug? - Chara is in Washington, and Krug is in St. Louis. And the B's added...no one. Instead, the B's will turn to their own young guns in Lauzon, Zboril, and Grzelcyk, and hope that Kevan Miller returns to his pre-injury form. It's a big ask, and the answer to this question could make or break the Bruins' entire season. 2. Will the team finally find some secondary scoring? - While Craig Smith is the only new addition to the lineup, we should also include Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie into this discussion, as they never got settled in the weirdness of last season. Smith and Coyle seem like a great match, and the B's hope that Kase finds some chemistry alongside David Krecji. At the end of the day, this team has been too top heavy for too long - it needs somebody to step up and support the first line. 3. Will Pasta reach 50? - He would have last year had the season not been cut short due to COVID. David Pastrnak is one of the top five players in the league, and he has a chance to cement that this year by breaking the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career. 4. Is it Charlie McAvoy's breakout year? - He won't have Big Z beside him for the first time in his career. And in a weird way, that might be a...good thing? McAvoy had to cover for the deficiencies in Chara's game, and as a result wasn't as free to roam the ice. That's no longer the case, as Jeremy Lauzon is a much better skater and puck mover. McAvoy will easily lead the team in minutes, and he has a real chance to establish himself as one of the best defenseman in the NHL. 5. How will Tuukka Rask respond? - Rask took a lot of heat for leaving the bubble last year. In fact, there were even rumours that he would be traded in the offseason. While that didn't happen, there also has been very little talk about a contract extension for the Finnish netminder. Rask has long said he'll only play in Boston, but will the B's want him back? This remains a situation to watch. |
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02-10-2021, 07:26 PM
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Goals, goals, goals! Led by Perfection Line, B's offense explodes to start the year (October 3rd - October 18th)
 O Captain, My Captain! Patrice Bergeron has totalled 15 points so far and wasn't afraid to throw down after knocking Connor McDavid out of the game. Results WIN 2-1 @ Washington Capitals LOSE 5-4 @ Buffalo Sabres LOSE 4-3 (OT) vs Ottawa Senators WIN 8-1 vs Edmonton Oilers WIN 5-3 vs Detroit Red Wings LOSE 6-5 (SO) @ Calgary Flames WIN 5-2 @ Edmonton Oilers Record: 4-1-2 (Overall - 4-1-2, 10 points), 3rd in Atlantic Game of the Week: 2-1 win at Washington Capitals
If you're a Boston sports fan, it probably seemed only fitting that Zdeno Chara, after playing 14 years with the Boston Bruins and winning a Stanley Cup back in 2011, would not only leave Boston, but go to Washington, a team the Bruins have only beaten twice since 2014. Even more fitting? The B's opened their 2020/2021 season in...Washington. The Capitals carried the play for the majority of the first period, with Tuukka Rask the only reason for the score to remain tied at zero heading into the second. That's when the Perfection Line got going against Chara of all people, working a beautiful cycle which eventually resulted in Brad Marchand taking a pass from Patrice Bergeron and ripping one past Henrik Lundqvist, the Caps' new netminder, for a 1-0 lead. Washington would tie the game late in the third, and looked poised to steal one late after a tripping call on Sean Kuraly sent them to the power play. It was the Bruins, however, who struck the killing blow. Bergeron and Marchand, always dangerous shorthanded, set up a beautiful give and go which resulted in Bergy ripping home the eventual game winner. It was an impressive start to the season for the B's, who not only beat their former captain, but also picked up a win against a team they've had more than their fair share of struggles with over the last decade.  Even the fourth line was getting in on the action as Chris Wagner notches his first of the year, although Boston would come up just short against Buffalo. Other Notes... - The B's failed to respond after their strong opening night performance, as they blew 3-1 leads in both their losses to the Sabres (5-4) and Senators (4-3 in overtime). The penalty kill, which was terrific against the Capitals, was abysmal, allowing four power play goals in the two losses. - The Bruins took out their frustrations on the poor Edmonton Oilers, who must have left Boston as quickly as they could following an 8-1 debacle. Patrice Bergeron was simply ridiculous - he scored his third and fourth goals of the year, added two more assists, hammered Connor McDavid and won a fight. After the game it was revealed that McDavid separated his shoulder on the hit and will be out at least a month. - After a relatively routine win over the Red Wings, thanks in large part to two goals by David Krejci, the team came up short against the Calgary Flames in a shootout. This time they rallied from down 3-1 with three goals in a span of just 58 seconds, but couldn't quite deliver the knockout punch. Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk were both -3 in the loss. - Many thought this game could get ugly after the hit by Bergeron on McDavid just a few days earlier, but the Oilers came out with very little energy and actually fell behind 5-0 before adding two late goals. Bergeron once again scored twice, as the Oilers, who were outscored 13-3 in two games against the Bruins, thank the hockey gods they won't see Boston again this season. Who's Hot Offense - So far so good for this Bruins' offense, as they are tied with Carolina for the league lead in goals with 32 in just seven games so far. 10 different players have scored for Boston, while Patrice Bergeron leads the way with seven so far (more on him below). Perfection Line - What more can be said about this trio? In just seven games, the top line for the B's have combined for 18 goals, 41 points, and an absurd +50 rating. +50 in seven games!! Outrageous. Charlie McAvoy - McAvoy looks like he's ready to take the next step as the clear number one defenseman in Boston. He's tallied nine assists so far this year, leads the team with 17 hits and 20 takeaways, is playing 25:46 a night, and is already +15. Not a bad start to the year. Who's Not Power Play - It's amazing that the B's lead the league in scoring and yet have struggled mightily on the power play. Boston is just 1-13 with the man advantage so far, which ranks dead last in the league. Bruce Cassidy has said he's going to stick with the five forward grouping for now, but don't be surprised if a change comes sooner rather than later should the team continue to struggle. Matt Grzelcyk - Not a great start to the year for Grz, who has yet to register a point and is a -3 so far. More concerning is the fact that he's registered just four shots on goal. The team needs Grzelcyk to provide some offense from the backend to help replace Torey Krug. Providence Report 3-3-0, 20 goals for, 19 goals against - Jakub Lauko 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points - Jack Studnicka 5 assists, 5 points  The Perfection Line is off to a ridiculous start with 18 goals and a +50 rating in just seven games so far this year. |
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02-12-2021, 07:15 PM
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Bruins continue to light up the scoreboard, move into 1st in the Atlantic Division (October 19th - November 1st)
 Anders Bjork, playing alongside David Krejci for the first time this season, scores the game-winning goal against the Habs with just seven seconds remaining - his second goal in the contest. Results WIN 3-2 @ Vancouver Canucks LOSE 2-1 (OT) @ Ottawa Senators WIN 6-3 vs Philadelphia Flyers WIN 4-3 vs Montreal Canadiens WIN 4-3 (OT) @ Carolina Hurricanes Record: 4-0-1 (Overall - 8-1-3, 19 points), 1st in Atlantic Game of the Week: 4-3 win vs Montreal Canadiens
You can't go wrong with a Bruins-Habs tilt, especially when both teams are playing great hockey. The Habs came into Boston on a three-game win streak and just two points behind them in the standings. The story of the game, however, was a lineup shuffle by the Bruins. It's not very often a team tinkers with a lineup that has scored the most goals in the NHL, but that's exactly what Bruce Cassidy did before this matchup with the rival Canadiens. It's no secret that Ondrej Kase has struggled since he arrived in Boston last March, and after netting just two assists and a poor -3 rating alongside David Krejci, Cassidy decided to sit him down. Enter Anders Bjork. Well, more accurately, hello Anders Bjork. Bjork has played in every game this season, but stuck on the fourth line, he failed to generate much, if any, offense. That certainly changed against the Habs. Bjork picked up a goal and an assist in the first period alongside his new linemates, Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, and was all over the ice. With the game tied at three late in the third, it was Bjork who delivered the dagger, ripping a shot past Carey Price with just seven seconds remaining to give the Bruins the regulation victory. In 15:39 minutes of ice time, Bjork picked up three points, was a +2, fired three shots on net and added two hits in arguably his best game as a Bruin. It will be interesting to see if Bjork can finally establish himself as a top-six winger in the league moving forward.  Sporting the reverse retros for the first time, the Bruins exploded for six goals against the Flyers, including two from Brad Marchand. Other Notes... - A solid, if uneventful, win to start the week against the Canucks. Craig Smith scored his first goal as a Bruin, while Patrice Bergeron netted the winner in the third period - his eighth goal already. - The B's must be happy that they won't find the Senators on their schedule for the foreseeable future. After losing to Ottawa in overtime last week, they again came up short in extra time in a frustrating 2-1 loss. The Bruins outshot the Senators 42-25 but, for the first time this season, struggled to find the back of the net. - It didn't take long for the Bruins to find their scoring touch again as they lit up the Flyers for six goals, with two coming on the power play. The Flyers, missing Carter Hart to injury, had no answer for the Bruins' top two lines, which combined to score five of the six goals. - An early candidate for victory of the year in Carolina. The Hurricanes, looking for some revenge after they were eliminated by Boston in last year's bubble, took a 3-2 lead with just over a minute remaining in the third period. They had no answer for David Pastrnak, however, who tied the game just moments later with his third goal of the contest. Pasta then set up the winner in overtime, springing David Krejci on a breakaway for the winner. Who's Hot David Krejci - Despite some inconsistency from his wingers (what else is new?), Krejci has been excellent so far this year. He's already scored six goals and has 10 points in the team's 12 games. It will be interesting to see if Krejci tests free agency at the end of this year for the first time in his career, or if he'll look for an extension with the team. Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy is getting a lot of the attention right now, and for good reason - but how about his partner? Although not directly replacing Zdeno Chara, Lauzon is taking over his role alongside McAvoy, and so far he's been terrific. He's averaging 24:01 minutes per game, leads the team with 27 hits, is a ridiculous +16, and has contributed a goal and six assists. Anders Bjork - An outstanding performance against Montreal means Bjork will remain on the second line for the time being. The question now is whether or not he can find some consistency in his game? If he can, he'll likely be in the top-six for the rest of the season. Who's Not Ondrej Kase - Kase has yet to score a goal as a Boston Bruin. It doesn't help that the minute he was replaced on the second line, it exploded for three goals. With the team winning on a consistent basis, it may be a while before Kase finds himself back in the line-up, as Trent Frederic is a far better fit on the fourth line. Jaroslav Halak - Halak wasn't terrible by any means, but he wasn't great either. He'd likely want to have the overtime goal in the Senators loss back, and he has just an .887 save percentage in five games so far this season. Charlie Coyle - Again, we are nitpicking a little here, but it was a quiet stretch of games for Coyle as he added just one assist. Coyle only has five points on the year and is a -3, but perhaps more concerning is the fact that he's averaging just 14:09 minutes per game. Bruce Cassidy will likely try to get his big center move involved in the coming weeks. Providence Report 5-7-0, 35 goals for, 39 goals against - Not a great stretch for Providence as their defense continues to let them down, along with some spotty goaltending. The big club would like to see more from Vladar moving forward. - Jakub Lauko 7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points - Jack Studnicka 5 assists, 5 points - Karson Kuhlman 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points - Dan Vladar 5-7-0, 3.23, .885%  It took eight games, but Craig Smith finally scores his first goal as a Bruin, beating new Canucks' goaltender Braden Holtby. |
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02-13-2021, 02:13 PM
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
B's come up short in two big tests but remain in first in the Atlantic Division (November 2nd - November 15th)
 Bruins' captain Patrice Bergeron comes to the defense of his teammate Brad Marchand after a questionable hit from Ryan Reaves. Although Bergeron basically just held on for dear life, it was a gesture that the team no doubt appreciated and respected. Results WIN 3-1 @ Nashville Predators WIN 4-3 vs Dallas Stars WIN 5-2 vs Vancouver Canucks LOSE 5-2 vs Toronto Maple Leafs LOSE 4-2 vs Vegas Golden Knights WIN 5-2 @ Colorado Avalanche Record: 4-2-0 (Overall - 12-3-3, 27 points), 1st in Atlantic Game of the Week: 5-2 loss vs Toronto Maple Leafs
The standings fluctuate so much over the course of the first month of the year, and it can be foolish to make bold claims about teams before they've even reached the quarter pole of the season. But this much is certain - the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights will make some noise in the playoffs this year. And the Boston Bruins came up short against both of them on back-to-back nights. It started with Toronto. After scoreless first period, Brad Marchand gave the B's an early 1-0 lead in the second. Things soon fell apart after that, however, as the Leafs were able to get three past Jaroslav Halak before the end of the period to give them a solid two-goal lead heading into the final frame. Another early goal by Marchand seemed to give the Bruins some life, but they failed to capitalize on a few chances before the Leafs added two more to give them the victory. These teams will meet again, in Toronto, in just over a week.  A brief injury scare against the Golden Knights aside, Brad Marchand was terrific during this six-game stretch, finding the back of the net six times. Other Notes... - It was an impressive start to the week for the Bruins, who collectively preached the need to improve the team's defensive structure. It worked against the Predators who, despite totalling 35 shots on net, failed to generate many scoring chances and were only able to get one past Tuukka Rask. Trent Frederic scored his first career goal in the victory. - An outstanding special teams performance by Boston helped them squeak out a 4-3 victory against last year's Stanley Cup finalists. The Bruins scored two power play goals, killed two penalties and added a shorthanded goal in the win. - Like Edmonton, Vancouver is probably glad to be done with Boston for the year. After losing their first matchup 3-2, the Canucks were thoroughly outplayed in Boston as five different Bruins scored to give the B's a solid 5-2 victory. - Following a frustrating loss to the Maple Leafs, the B's came out flat against the Vegas Golden Knights - arguably the best team in the Western Conference. And before they knew it, they were down 3-0. Although Craig Smith and Anders Bjork would score to cut the lead to 3-2, the Golden Knights would add a late tally to take home the win and give the B's consecutive regulation losses for the first time this year. - A tough matchup to end the week in Denver, but coming off back-to-back losses, the Bruins found some urgency in their game against the Avalanche, and it showed. The team scored three goals in the first 10 minutes, two of which came on the power play, and cruised to a relatively routine 5-2 victory over one of the better teams in the league. Chris Wagner did leave the game with an injury, however, and will be replaced by Ondrej Kase for the time being. Who's Hot Charlie Coyle - After we called him out last time, Coyle responded with his best stretch of the year, picking up three goals and three assists. He seems to have found some chemistry with Craig Smith - will he be able to do the same with Kase, who will jump up alongside him while replacing the injured Wagner? Brad Marchand - A huge scare against the Golden Knights when Marchand took a high hit from Ryan Reaves and didn't return, but luckily he was completely fine. He had an outstanding stretch of games, finding the back of the net six times, and now leads the team in goals with 13. Power play - After starting the year 1-13, good for last in the league, the Bruins have been on a tear with the man advantage. In fact, they are now second in the league with a 32.4% success rate, thanks to a ridiculous 10-21 stretch. Who's Not Goaltending - While neither Halak nor Rask have been terrible, they also haven't been great. Rask, a notorious slow starter, currently sports a .907 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average while Halak sits at an .882 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average. The Bruins need both guys to be a bit better. Brandon Carlo - Carlo had a rough weekend against the Leafs and Golden Knights, as he was frequently pinned in his own end alongside Matt Grzlcyk. Carlo hasn't been terrible, but he was a -3 in those two games and sits at -4 on the year. Providence Report (6-10-0, 43 GF, 48 GA) - Providence continues to struggle to keep the puck out of their net, although the team has to like what they've seen from Jakub Lauko so far this year. John Moore has also been playing great hockey and may be improving his trade value. - Jakub Lauko 9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points - Jack Studnicka 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points - Karson Kuhlman 6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points - John Moore 1 goal, 9 assists, 10 points - Zach Senyshyn 5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points - Dan Vladar 6-10-0, 2.91, .895%  Playing alongside two youngsters in Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork seems to have boosted David Krejci's game, as he scores here against the Canucks - his seventh goal of the year. Last edited by TheJoker12; 02-13-2021 at 03:01 PM. |
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02-14-2021, 08:37 AM
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Perfection Line keeps dominating as the Bruins continue to fill the back of the net (November 16th - November 29th)
 David Pastrnak scores his second goal of the game (and 16th of the season) against the Habs, which would ultimately serve as the game winner. Results LOSE 4-3 (OT) @ Dallas Stars WIN 3-1 @ Arizona Coyotes WIN 8-4 @ Detroit Red Wings WIN 4-1 vs Pittsburgh Penguins WIN 4-3 @ Montreal Canadiens LOSE 4-3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs WIN 4-1 vs New York Islanders Record: 5-1-1 (Overall - 17-4-4, 38 points), 1st in Atlantic Game of the Week: 4-3 win at Montreal Canadiens
It's been nearly seven years since the Bruins and Canadiens met in the playoffs, and it's still far too early to make predictions. But how good would a series between these two teams be in 2021? If this game was any indication, it would be outstanding. The Habs, sporting their blue reverse retro jerseys, were outplayed by the Bruins for most of the game, but hung around thanks in large part to having four power play attempts and converting on one of them. For the Bruins, it was the Perfection Line - again. Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand combined for three goals and eight points in the victory as the repeatedly kept the Canadiens pinned in their own end. They weren't the only players who scored, however. Jakub Zboril, who had just two games of NHL experience before this season, recorded his first career goal in the first period. It wasn't pretty - a harmless shot from the point that deflected off Shea Weber and completely changed direction to beat Jake Allen - but still a memorable experience for the youngster, who has played very well so far this season.  Teammates mob Jakub Zboril after he scores his first career goal. Other Notes... - Tough start to the week with a loss in overtime against the Stars. The Bruins rallied back from deficits three times in the game but couldn't punch in the go ahead goal, although they do steal a point. - The Arizona Coyotes don't pack a very big punch offensively, and they gave a relatively lifeless effort on home ice against the Bruins who cruised to a 3-1 victory. The second line led the way for Boston, with Anders Bjork and Jake DeBrusk both scoring on feeds from David Krejci. - For the second time this year, the Bruins scored eight goals against an opponent - this time, the hapless Red Wings, who may be the worst team in the league. Chris Wagner returned to the lineup after missing two games due to injury, and scored twice. The Perfection Line totalled 11 points, while Charlie McAvoy found the back of the net for his first goal of the year. - More secondary scoring led the way for the B's against the Penguins, as Nick Ritchie, Craig Smith, and Jeremy Lauzon all scored en route to a routine 4-1 victory. The Penguins, once a powerhouse, look like their better days may be in the rearview mirror. - The Maple Leafs continue to be a thorn in the side of the Bruins. After a frustrating 5-2 loss to Toronto last week, the B's found themselves down 3-0 midway through the second period. This time, however, they rallied, thanks again to the trio of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak. All three scored goals to tie the game at three, but it was the Leafs who got the last laugh with a late goal in the third. We NEED to see a playoff matchup between these two powerhouses. - Unlike their last loss to the Leafs, where they failed to show up against a very good Golden Knights team, this time the B's responded with an impressive 4-1 win over the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak played, perhaps, his best game of the year, stopping 34 of 35 shots in the victory. Who's Hot Perfection Line - What else is there to say? The line continues to dominate the league. They've combined to score 51 goals in just 25 games, and are a combined +93. They routinely pin teams in their own ends for extended periods of time. As good as this line has been in the past, this may be the best we've ever seen it perform. Jakub Zboril - Apart from scoring his first career goal, Zboril has been very steady on the backend during his first NHL season. Although he isn't being asked to do much (averaging just 12:48 of ice-time per game), Zboril has played mistake free hokey. He has three points and is a solid +6 so far. Who's Not Matt Grzelcyk/Brandon Carlo - On paper this should be an excellent defensive pairing - but so far this hasn't been the case. Both Grz and Carlo had a tough stretch of games this week, and are both -7 on the year. Grzelcyk, hoping to replace some of the departed Torey Krug's offense, has failed to score. It may be time for Bruce Cassidy to mix things up on the backend unless this pair can figure it out. Providence Report (6-15-1, 52 GF, 64 GA) - Horrible stretch for Providence, as they go 0-5-1 and drop to second last in their division. While Vladar hasn't been horrible, the team has struggled to score goals. Urho Vaakanainen looks lost with a brutal -9 rating, although Lauko continues to impress and is somehow +10 on a team that has scored 12 fewer goals than they've allowed. - Jakub Lauko 10 goals, 8 assists, 18 points - Jack Studnicka 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points - Karson Kuhlman 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points - Urho Vaakanainen 0 goals, 9 assists, 9 points - Dan Vladar 6-15-1, 2.79, .896%  Although the Bruins rallied from a 3-0 deficit against the Maple Leafs, they ultimately lost 4-3 and are now 0-2 against Toronto this season. |
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02-15-2021, 10:27 AM
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#7 |
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Bruins Spotlight: Perfection Line
 No team in the league so far this season has had an answer for the Bruins' first line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. *every so often I plan on running a spotlight on a certain aspect of the B's organization - players, lines, prospects, etc...* The national media love to refer to the trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak as the Perfection Line, much to chagrin of the Bruins' faithful. In fact, in Boston, fans and analysts have been wondering for years now whether this line should even be together. While there's no line in the league that performs better, it makes the Bruins' lineup too top heavy - something that has been a problem in recent playoff disappointments. Even those critics have gone silent this season. The simple truth is - the Perfection Line is terrorizing the league so far in 2020. The Bruins have scored exactly 100 goals this season - an average of 4.00 per game. It's one of the main reasons why they currently sit at 17-4-4, tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Perfection Line has combined to score more than half of those goals. That's right - Bergeron has 18, Pastrnak 17, and Marchand 16, which makes them responsible for 51 of the team's 100 goals this year. What's more ridiculous - the Bruins have scored 15 times this year where all three players recorded a point. Again - that means some combination of a goal and two assists from this line for 15% of the team's goals this season. Here are some more stats that you simply have to see to believe:
Maybe the team should have given Bergeron the 'C' years ago, because he's currently scoring at a pace he hasn't seen since junior hockey. He's also been unbelievable defensively this year, as evident by his 62% in the face off circle and +31 rating. Both Marchand and Pastrnak have successfully recovered from offseason surgery and are doing what they do best - Marchand as a pest and Pastrnak as a sniper. So how does this line compare to some of the best lines in NHL history? Let's have a brief look. The Skyline - Pittsburgh Penguins (1992/1993) What do you get when you add Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr? Domination. Throw in a little Kevin Stevens and you get one of the most powerful lines in hockey. The Skyline terrorized the league in 1992, combining for 158 goals and 365 points. Lemieux was responsible for 160 of those points in just 60 games. The Trio Grande - New York Islanders (1978/1979) This line was perhaps the main reason why the Islanders were able to win four Stanley Cups in a row in the 80s - but we went with the year where they came up just short. Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Clark Gillies were all under 25 but that didn't stop them from lighting up the scoreboard. The trio combined for 151 goals - 69 of which from the deadly sniper Bossy - and 351 points.  It's hard to find a more dangerous line in NHL history than Wayne Gretzky in between the two Finns - Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen. The Legion of Doom - Philadelphia Flyers (1996/1997) Perhaps the main reason why the Flyers nearly won the Cup in 1997, Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Mikael Renberg were nearly impossible to handle for defenders - even with the clutching and grabbing of the late 90s. They combined to score 104 goals (and for 259 penalty minutes) as Lindros fed LeClair for goal after goal after goal. The Finnish Sandwich - Edmonton Oilers (1986/1987 Wayne Gretzky could make this list as just himself - but add in two Finns and it's easy to see how the Oilers dominated the league in the late 80s. Gretzky scored 62 goals and reached 183 points by himself in the 86/87 season, which resulted in another Stanley Cup win for Edmonton. He played between Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen, who chipped in with a combined 88 goals and 186 points themselves. It's unlikely, in fact nearly impossible, that the Bruins top line will reach some of these point totals, considering how the game has changed. Granted, if they continue to score at this ridiculous rate, the Bruins' Perfection Line may go down as one of the best in NHL history, if it isn't there already. |
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02-15-2021, 06:59 PM
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#8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rookie
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Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)
Bruins finally beat Toronto, push win streak to seven games (November 30th - December 13th)
 The combination of the Bruins' offense and the strong play from Tuukka Rask has moved them into first place in the Eastern Conference. Results WIN 3-0 vs Detroit Red Wings WIN 6-2 @ Florida Panthers WIN 3-0 @ Tampa Bay Lightning WIN 5-1 vs Toronto Maple Leafs WIN 3-2 @ Ottawa Senators WIN 3-1 vs Arizona Coyotes Record: 6-0-0 (Overall - 23-4-4, 50 points), 1st in Atlantic Game of the Week: 3-0 win at Tampa Bay Lightning
Call it a Stanley Cup hangover if you want, but the Lightning have not been themselves so far in 2020. They entered the game against the Bruins with a 12-13-4 record, and if the season ended today, would find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time. Luckily for the Lightning, the season doesn't end today, and they had a chance to prove they were still the team to beat in a showdown with the first place Bruins. It did not go well for the Lightning. The Bruins played one of their best defensive games of the season, limiting Tampa to just 24 shots on goal - and only 14 of these at even strength (the Lightning went 0-3 on the power play). Meanwhile, the Perfection Line continued to dominate, something they couldn't quite do in last year's matchup with the Lightning in the bubble. Patrice Bergeron scored two more goals to continue his ridiculous scoring season, while Brad Marchand added a goal and an assist in the victory. It was the first shutout of the year for Tuukka Rask and the second shutout for the B's in the last three games as they complete the Florida sweep after defeating Florida 6-2 two nights earlier.  With both teams sporting the reverse retro jerseys, it was the Bruins who came out on top, thanks to two goals from Anders Bjork. Other Notes... - Bruce Cassidy has stated repeatedly that while he loves the goals the Bruins are scoring, they need to find a way to be more consistent defensively. They've certainly done that during this seven-game win streak, and it started with a 3-0 win against the Red Wings. Jaroslav Halak barely broke a sweat in the victory, stopping all 23 shots while the Bruins' top line again dominated, combining for six points. - The Panthers tend to give the Bruins problems, but that wasn't the case down in Florida as Boston took it to them, both physically and on the scoreboard. Ondrej Kase finally found the back of the net - his first goal as a Bruin - and liked it so much he added a second in the third period. - Perhaps the most anticipated game of the year to this point, the Maple Leafs came to the Garden tied for the Bruins for first place - and having beaten them twice already this year. The B's were certainly up for this one, however, as they rolled all four lines in one of their most impressive victories of the year. The third line, led by Charlie Coyle, was particularly effective, scoring four goals in the 5-1 victory. - The B's were able to get more revenge on a team that has already beaten them twice season as they took down the Senators in a relatively dull affair. The teams only combined for 38 shots on goal, but David Pastrnak was responsible for the most important one was he broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with his 19th goal of the year. - Another solid defensive performance against Arizona. The Coyotes fired 27 shots on net but didn't find many high quality scoring chances or rebound opportunities. Anders Bjork, who has played well enough to remain on the second line so far, scored twice in the win. (Note - before this game I moved the difficulty up to Superstar. The Bruins are definitely good but not this good, so hopefully the record starts to balance out a little bit) Who's Hot Tuukka Rask - Rask is a notorious slow starter, but he's seemed to have found his groove. After a poor performance against the Maple Leafs, in which he allowed four goals on just 18 shots, Rask has won four straight starts and allowed just four goals during that span. He's now 15-3-1 on the year, with a 2.26 goals against average and .917 save percentage. Charlie Coyle - If the Bruins are going to win the Stanley Cup, they are going to need their depth players to perform. Coyle has done just that so far this year after a bit of a slow start. He has seven points in his last six games, and has 21 points on the season. He's also helped shore up the Bruins' penalty kill after replacing Chris Wagner on the second unit. Ondrej Kase - Things were trending down for Kase when he was replaced in the lineup by Trent Frederic, but an injury to Chris Wagner gave him another chance and he's taken advantage of it. Kase seems to have found some chemistry on the third line with Coyle and Craig Smith, and finally scored his first goal as a Boston Bruin. While he only has eight points on the year, he's certainly playing a much more well-rounded game. Who's Not No one! - The B's are 23-4-4, are on a seven-game win streak, have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and are just two points behind Vegas for the best record in the league. Hard to complain about that! Providence Report (10-16-2, 66 GF, 75 GA) - After some tweaks to the line combinations, Providence went on a bit of a run with four wins in six games. Similar to Rask, Dan Vladar seems to have found his groove, although the team is still struggling to score goals on a consistent basis. It doesn't help that they'll be without Lauko for the next few weeks after he suffered a concussion. - Jakub Lauko 11 goals, 8 assists, 19 points - Jack Studnicka 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points - Karson Kuhlman 8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points - John Moore 1 goal, 13 assists, 14 points - Dan Vladar 10-16-2, 2.57, .905%  Patrice Bergeron has never scored 40 goals in his career - he has a realistic shot to reach 50 this year, should he continue at this absurd pace. |
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