This is fucking awesome. I hope whoever starts the next game thread includes it.This series needs to become better known as the "Wreck of the Edmundson Fitzgerald"
The legend lives on from chippy Chara on down
To the center they called 'David Krejci'
The Garden, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the race for Lord Stanley turns gloomy
As lower seeds go, the Blues were better than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Ending player dreams by beating 3 good West teams
When they left fully loaded for Boston
With a softened ice floor and seventeen thousand fans more
The B's watched Edmundsons elbow get nasty
The good Bruin crew was a bone to be chewed
When the goals from St. Louis came early
The first was a drive past Tuukka's glove side
From a turnover by the defense to Braydan
The second came quick, a blast off Tarasenko's stick
Playoff Tuukka had no chance to save it
Later that night when the first foghorn bell rang
Could it be a nor'easter they'd been feelin'?
And every Blue knew, as their fans did too,
T'was Bobby Orr's karma come stealin'
Clifton answered back and McAvoy sustained the attack
While the gales of all 4 lines came smashin'
When the 3rd Period came it was Kuraly's name
With assists from Zedeno and Acciari
With 34 saves, Binnington was on ice sayin'
Fellas, it's too rough t'hold ya
A bit after 10 when Binnington was pulled in, he said
Fellas, it's been good t'know ya
Pietrangelo wired in he had Marchand comin' in
And the St.Louis Blues were in peril
Shortly thereafter Krug sent Thomas to the rafters
and came the wreck of the Edmundson Fitzgerald
Does St. Louis know where the love of God goes
When black waves turn the minutes to hours?
The sportscasters say they'd have taken the first game
If they'd put just three more goals behind her
They might have split wide or pinched on the outside
Or other tactics that held off the slaughter
And all that remains are the faces and the names
Of the players that became SportsCenter fodder
Agreed, and I'll even add not a minor thing to me either. Sets the tone for the TEAM from start to finish. Pure Belichickan.Also, this is a minor thing, but I absolutely love that the 4th line was starting. I know Cassidy has gone this way a lot this year, but these guys don't get the whole experience of standing at the line while your name gets called on the PA and National Television, and that had to be pretty cool for those guys.
Did PSK die last night along with the myth of the Blues supercomputer goalie?This is fucking awesome. I hope whoever starts the next game thread includes it.
What's amazing is I believe Patrice got off to a slow start.Bergy 14-6 on faceoffs too. Seemed like he won each important faceoff.
Blues are going to make some adjustments because this will be over in 5 or under if they can’t.
Geez, Krug works quick. He's already slapped a registered trademark on that hit!
Man I was thinking the same. Could have been a game changing penalty because he was clearly operating on lizard brain level.On the Krug hit. Good thing Perron ran for the bench as fast as he could. If Krug had been able to catch him before he got off the ice, that was going to be a potential 5 minute major and a disconduct, because he was going to light him up like a Christmas tree.
You have to expect they'll play better in game 2, but at the same time, they didn't seem particularly dangerous very much in the second or third period last night. They should have been able to generate some responses here or there and it didn't really happen and I don't think that bodes well for them the rest of the seriesCouldn't game thread, but would just like to say how much I love this team.
I expect St Louis to play much better in game 2, but if they don't this series is not going to be close.
One adjustment they cant make is to "skate faster." They can try to use their size on D to pound the B's, but once they got their legs, they did the right thing --- just skate right at (and past) the big guys. Clifton & Coyle's plays stand out. They just went out on the "go" route and beat the corners down the field.Bergy 14-6 on faceoffs too. Seemed like he won each important faceoff.
Blues are going to make some adjustments because this will be over in 5 or under if they can’t.
Great article from The Athletic's Justin Bourne about the horrid gap control by the Blues defensemen. In the 2nd and 3rd periods the Bruins had complete freedom in the neutral zone and at the offensive blue line to just waltz in at will. If they don't fix that, they don't stand a chance.One adjustment they cant make is to "skate faster." They can try to use their size on D to pound the B's, but once they got their legs, they did the right thing --- just skate right at (and past) the big guys. Clifton & Coyle's plays stand out. They just went out on the "go" route and beat the corners down the field.
No corner dumps to get pounded in.
Schenn's line was the only one that could hold its own.
B's again appear to be too deep for the opposition.
I'd love to see each Bruin photoshopped into the other photo. But alas, I am photo-shop inept.
Perron owes him a carton of Peter JacksonsI missed it during the game, but Thomas didn’t play again after that hit. Krug may have rung his bell and knocked him out.
That's a really great article that lays out what my eyes thought they were seeing. Thanks for sharing.Great article from The Athletic's Justin Bourne about the horrid gap control by the Blues defensemen. In the 2nd and 3rd periods the Bruins had complete freedom in the neutral zone and at the offensive blue line to just waltz in at will. If they don't fix that, they don't stand a chance.
https://theathletic.com/997645/2019/05/28/bourne-adjustments-blues-d-corps-must-make-to-their-gap-control-after-poor-showing-in-game-1/
Seabrook and Keith v. 2.0 (and better)Super impressed by what Carlo and McAvoy have been doing at 21/22. Both have been immense.
He's quicker than Z so less chance of a SH screwup.The Clifton and Kuraly show, wow, basically your 16th and 19th guys. Good win
And when did Clifton bump Chara from the #4 D on the PP?
Chara has averaged under 10 secs on the PP all season and playoffs. B's roll out 4 forwards + Krug on the top PP unit and Grz/McAvoy on the 2nd unit. I think Clifton took Pasta's spot late in the 3rd protecting the 1 goal lead.The Clifton and Kuraly show, wow, basically your 16th and 19th guys. Good win
And when did Clifton bump Chara from the #4 D on the PP?
I understand the "why's" of the rule, but it is clearly the players choice at that point. Having said that, then there also needs to be a penalty for a player removing another players helmet while on the ice - Krug's didn't come off by accident. An exception for things that happen during a fight perhaps - but there was a concerted effort to remove his helmet by Perron - not once, but twice in that exchange. If they are stating that playing with it off is an issue - then taking the helmet off a player has to be just as egregious an issue.The GMs voted in favor of a rule change for next year where a player has to go to the bench immediately upon losing their helmet. Krug’s hit could be the last helmet-less hit in the NHL...
Speaking of which, would there be some kind of minor penalty if the opponent removes your helmet like Perron did to Krug last night? The articles I read say they’re thinking about penalizing a player that stays on the ice without a helmet.
They easily could have penalized Perron for roughing, but it's also not a stretch to penalize him for unsportsmanlike conduct. Rule 75.2 statesI understand the "why's" of the rule, but it is clearly the players choice at that point. Having said that, then there also needs to be a penalty for a player removing another players helmet while on the ice - Krug's didn't come off by accident. An exception for things that happen during a fight perhaps - but there was a concerted effort to remove his helmet by Perron - not once, but twice in that exchange. If they are stating that playing with it off is an issue - then taking the helmet off a player has to be just as egregious an issue.
Edit: clarity
emphasis mine75.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:
(ii) Any player or goalkeeper who is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to hair-pulling, biting, grabbing hold of a face mask, etc. If warranted, and specifically when injury results, the referee may apply Rule 21 - Match Penalties
I thought Marchand sucked in the first period. Multiple mishandles and slow in decision making. Then he looked amazing in the second and third.Marchand had a really solid game too, but completely agree on those three. Johansson was a beast.
Am I the only one who wonders how, with modern climate control, you can't keep an indoor rink cold enough to counter higher-than-desired outdoor temperature?The ice did look like shit, especially in the third. High of 58 and cloudy on Wednesday, so it should be better tomorrow night.
Saw him a lot a Quinnipiac (I've had season tix last decade or so). He was Captain his final year. Solid Dman, more d than o oriented, and had as much of an edge/saltiness as a college D can have an not get game-misconducted to oblivion. Would not have predicted this success, but not surprised he took advantange of the opportunity, and this is just so joyful to watch him do this with my favorite NHL team.I loved him the moment I saw him in Dallas (the night of Bergeron's sternoclavicular injury), and his interview after that game was absolutely hilarious. I'm so glad he looks like he is going to stick.
This deserves some love, even if it took me a sec to figure it outGeez, Krug works quick. He's already slapped a registered trademark on that hit!
I saw a feature during the last Winter Olympics where they talked to this ice expert who was in charge of the rinks for the Olympics and he talked about how he could and would control the ice such that he could provide different surfaces for figure skating vs speed skating vs hockey.Am I the only one who wonders how, with modern climate control, you can't keep an indoor rink cold enough to counter higher-than-desired outdoor temperature?
This is the easy part -- ice temp. is different for different events. Figure skating gets warmer, softer ice.I saw a feature during the last Winter Olympics where they talked to this ice expert who was in charge of the rinks for the Olympics and he talked about how he could and would control the ice such that he could provide different surfaces for figure skating vs speed skating vs hockey.
See, I think the version with a genuine Bluesman is the best Gloria Riposte. (I suck at embedding).
On the Krug hit. Good thing Perron ran for the bench as fast as he could. If Krug had been able to catch him before he got off the ice, that was going to be a potential 5 minute major and a disconduct, because he was going to light him up like a Christmas tree.
Nah, he had a chance to level him in the back and made a conscious decision to veer off and hit whomever was near the puck. It was impressive restraint.Man I was thinking the same. Could have been a game changing penalty because he was clearly operating on lizard brain level.
Also, f’awesome.