Game 1: Red Wings @ Bruins

[cshea]

The Bruins just completed one of the most successful regular season campaigns in team history. As awesome as the regular season was, the slate has been wiped clean. The playoffs are a whole new game, and it's time to embark on the post season journey. First up is the Detroit Red Wings, the team that has carried the torch as the model franchise in the NHL over the past two decades. The time has come for the Bruins to take that torch from the Wings. It starts on Friday. 
 
It's the best time of the year. Playoff hockey is upon us, and there really is nothing better. Enjoy the ride. Go B's. 
 

 

[Stanley Steamer]

As if there are ever any "easy" series in the NHL playoffs, this still is a tough matchup for the Bs. A reunion of sorts for the Canadian Olympic coaching staff, so it's not like Clode has a big advantage here. They will know each others tendencies quite well.
This is certainly no gimme for Boston, but if they can get past Detroit, it should bode well for the next round.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

Cool. Playoff game thread. Cool cool cool.

 

[IdiotKicker]

I just spent the last half hour rewatching the highlights from Bruins/Leafs game 7 last year.  Is it Friday yet?

 

[cshea]

So Kelly, Paille and Bartkowski all haven't practiced this week. It's injury lockdown time so it's all guesswork, but I would think all 3 are questionable for tomorrow. Julien seemed confident that Kelly would be good to go a week ago, so perhaps he's a GTD. I'm not sure what's going on with Bart, I assume he's been hit with the flu.

 

[McDrew]

Being down a 3rd and 4th line wing and 3rd pairing D is not THAT much of a problem.  Its not optimal, but we can still roll out these lines
Lucic-Krecji-Iginla
Marchand-Bergeron-Smith
Eriksson-Soderberg-Florek
Thornton-Campbell-Caron
 
Chara-Hamilton
Boychuck-Miller
Meszaros-Krug
(Claude's been really fluid with the D pairings, and I honestly think any of the 6 can play with anyone else and be effective).
 
Other than countering Detroit's top line (based on who's back) with Chara/whomever and the Bergeron line, I'm confident that even with the lineup above, the B's are the favorites. 
 
edit: swapped Florek/Caron based on the lines from practice

 

[cshea]

On the surface, yeah, they can survive. The trickle down affect is more concerning to me if those guys can't go tomorrow, Sunday, whenever. All 3 play regular PK minutes and in Kelly's case they lose their 3rd best faceoff guy (albeit he's less than 50%).

 

[TheRealness]

On the surface, yeah, they can survive. The trickle down affect is more concerning to me if those guys can't go tomorrow, Sunday, whenever. All 3 play regular PK minutes and in Kelly's case they lose their 3rd best faceoff guy (albeit he's less than 50%).

 
I figured Kelly would have practiced today. Same with Bart. I am less concerned about Bart in the first instance, as Mez can fill in well for him. Paille is likely out, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was out on Sunday as well. They could sure use him on the PK, but they should be fine without him or Bart. 
 
The Kelly thing will be interesting. If he practices at morning skate tomorrow, I bet he plays. If not, he's surely out. 
 
Losing both Paille and Kelly will be a big blow to the PK, so hopefully Kelly gets healthy enough. 

 

[Myt1]

I prefer Meszaros over Bartkowski anyway, especially because the playoff refs typically let them play a little bit more.

 

[sachmoney]

Having last change will be huge for the first two games if Kelly is out. I'd assume that the centers will see a lot more time starting shifts in the defensive zone. The "game inside the game" will be interesting.

 

[TFP]

There is Bruins playoff hockey tonight.
 
This m-m-m-m-m-makes me happy.
 

 

[cshea]

Can't freakin wait.

If I had to guess, Kelly plays tonight and Paille's out. Anyone's guess with Bart.

 

[The Napkin]

Is it 7:30 yet?
 
I think I heard T&R say that Goucher said that Kelly doesn't look good just walking around and doubtful for tonight. How's that for solid reporting?
 
Also, they have Ron Poster in studio again. And it's awesome.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Beers is on with Gresh and Zo and says Florek will play on the 3rd line and Caron on the 4th with Potter/Krug if Miller can't go.  He's not counting on Bartkowski for tonight and says Miller is 50/50.

 

[The Napkin]

So it's about time for the afternoon nap, right? Think my boss would mind?

 

[RedOctober3829]

So it's about time for the afternoon nap, right? Think my boss would mind?

It's Good Friday.  Tell him you are extremely religious and that you are going to church for the rest of the day.

 

[Dropkick Izzy]

Cochise to open up F&M ... and I'm officially ready to run through a wall.

Is it 7:30 yet?

 

[TheRealness]

Looks like Paille and Kelly are definitely going to be out, but Miller should play. 

 

[McDrew]

... I'm not complaining too much, but I have Book of Mormon tickets tonight @8 that I bought 3 months ago.  How much is enough to extend the DVR?  3 hours?  4?  The people I'm going with are on full alert that I am on a score embargo until I can get home and watch. 
 
/those fuckers baptized me by proxy, I'm going to go laugh at them. 

 

[Rico Guapo]

Fucking Win.

 

[GLOSS]

In the past, I've done things for the playoffs like going completely sober during the Stanley Cup run of 2011, to completely shaving my playoff beard and head and going sheared through last year's run. This year, I felt I needed to step up the game a bit, and decided a playoff beard wasn't enough. No sir, this year, we were growing a season beard:

I shaved my dome to make it stick out a bit more, but I figure what the hell, here's hoping for 2 more months of growth. Win #1 of 16 is tonight.

(P.S. If anyone wants to do the Beardathon donate thing, my link is http://www.beardathon.com/bruins/GLOSS/profile.aspx)

 

[Nomar813]

Are you Mike Napoli?

 

[timlinin8th]

Are you Mike Napoli?

I was thinking it had more of the Gomes style.

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

This will be the look on the faces of Red Wings fans tonight.
 
 

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Two months of frequent near-sleepless nights begins tonight. So exciting.

 

[The Napkin]

No Miller. Frack.

 

[TFP]

Caron, Florek, Meszaros and Potter all in the lineup. Jaysus.

 

[locknload]

Caron, Florek, Meszaros and Potter all in the lineup. Jaysus.

 
Christ and that is with almost a week off.

 

[cshea]

Curious to see of Julien loads up with Chara -Boychuk or if he keeps those two apart. Is vote for separating them.

 

[doldmoose34]

lets get it the fuck on

 

[Dogman]

Let's go now.

 

[Monbo Jumbo]

Psyched

 

[Dropkick Izzy]

Wait, we've got home TV?

Fucking sweet!!!

 

[ypioca]

Playoff Rene wearing his ring. It's time, gents.

 

[Boston Brawler]

Do this.

 

[mikepnq]

Pre kids' bedtime starts make me happy.

 

[boxosII]

i'm nervous

 

[Myt1]

Lucic buzzing

 

[ifmanis5]

Detroit's speed worries me. They are quick to the puck.

 

[OilCanCoulter]

Why are the rookie Dmen together? Shouldn't they put one with Boychuck?

 

[RIFan]

Why are the rookie Dmen together? Shouldn't they put one with Boychuck?

Depends on the match ups and offensive vs defensive zone starts. Claude will try to keep the 3rd pairing in low leverage spots.

 

[McBride11]

Chara killed a man.
 
Oh crap. Penalty?
 
edit: Crosscheck? Being too big?

 

[Helmet Head]

Is that really a penalty? Guy passed the puck and turtled.

 

[TSC]

Nah. That's a legit penalty.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

Is that really a penalty? Guy passed the puck and turtled.

Uh, no, he passed the puck then got shoved face first into the boards.  Penalty every time.

 

[Dropkick Izzy]

Eat fucking shit on that refs

 

[FelixMantilla]

Great, a blind official.

 

[Manramsclan]

Wow, this is really all we've got for an entire period? 
 
I suppose you can't take your eyes of playoff hockey for too long.
 
Who's got my heady illegal stream?

 

[durandal1707]

Good to see that the refs are declaring for Detroit early on.

 

[Nomar813]

Invariably, the whistles remain unblown.