2019-2020 Bruins

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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One thing they have to do, and I don't care if they bring in wiccans or whatever, is find a way to restore their home-ice advantage again. You simply cannot lose 3 out of four games at home in a SC Final. It can't happen. And they lost 2 out of 3 at home in 2013 too. It's absolutely infuriating that they played so poorly at home. I have no idea why, or what they could do about it. But they have to so SOMETHING. They fought all year for home ice advantage and in the end it was a huge impediment. WTF.
 

kenneycb

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They were 29-9-3 in the regular season at home and 7-7 in the postseason. Sometimes you just play good teams in the playoffs.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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It's also the most important sample size. If you lose 3 out of four at home in the Final, there's a problem and a big one. I will never believe otherwise.

Someone else mentioned they changed their practice routine from Warrior to the Garden. That may be a reason. In any case this can't happen again. I hope the FO and the coaching staff take a long look at their schedules and change things.
 

lexrageorge

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They were 1-3 in the fucking final. That's all that matters to me. Simply cannot happen. The Blues played well, but that's ridiculous.
They lost a key defenseman in one of those games early on, and lost in the OT coin flip. And they were absolutely robbed by the officials in Game 5. And I still say that Game 7 looks very different if Marchand doesn't come off the ice late in the first period. The Blues would not have been able to Park the Bus to the same extent in the 2nd and 3rd periods while holding a one goal lead.

Getting a second line winger is probably more important than attempting to over analyze home/road splits in the playoffs.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Great. They weren't one and fucking three at home in the final. They didn't play like shit in Game 7 at home. That is prima facie evidence there's a problem.

Something has to be done. Practice schedule, put 'em in a hotel....something. They have to play better at home. Period.

I'm not going to get over this for a long time, if ever. They had Game 7 at home and did nothing with it. They may never get that advantage again. Christ.
 

kenneycb

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Okay. What does "get a better home ice advantage" mean then? Because it sound in a similar vein of the "they should try harder" type of empty argument.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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No, it means examining game day routines at home in the playoffs to see if they can get something better than what they're doing now. Because the results at home in the most important games in the year simply aren't good enough. Move practices to Warrior. Put them in a hotel for the day. At least look at things and see why they're not playing well at home.

Because home ice was a goddamn disadvantage this year. They couldn't even go 2-2 in the Final! Come on now. That's awful. They'd be crazy NOT to look at that and try to understand what to do better.
 

kenneycb

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They presumably used a routine that was very similar to what they did in the regular season when they were an absolute wagon at home. They were also 6-3 at home going into this series. So I don't see why 4 games should lead to wide scale changes except in the case of gross overreaction to things that weren't in the top 20 of why they lost to St. Louis. Practicing at Warrior doesn't make Marchand make a less shitty change. Staying in a hotel doesn't help the Bruins beat the defensive system the Blues went into after going up 2-0.
 

cshea

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They do morning skates and practices at both Warrior and the Garden during the regular season, sometimes they don’t even have them at all. They were worse on the road then at home, so mimicking a road game day doesn’t seem wise.

In the playoffs and final you have good to great teams playing each other. That leads to close games. Close games are coin flips that come down to a bounce or two. They lost 1 in overtime and another by 1 goal. Sucks it came up tails twice. Is having a different routine in the morning going to change Marchand’s ill advised back check line change? Will it help them get a puck past Binnington during the opening flurry?
 

veritas

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No, it means examining game day routines at home in the playoffs to see if they can get something better than what they're doing now. Because the results at home in the most important games in the year simply aren't good enough. Move practices to Warrior. Put them in a hotel for the day. At least look at things and see why they're not playing well at home.

Because home ice was a goddamn disadvantage this year. They couldn't even go 2-2 in the Final! Come on now. That's awful. They'd be crazy NOT to look at that and try to understand what to do better.
I get that everyone is emotional after game 7, but this is just crazy talk. Based on a 4 game sample against the best team in the league. They were 1-3, and IMO played as good as St Louis. Sometimes you flip a coin 4 times and you lose 3.

edit: or, what cshea said
 

jsinger121

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No, it means examining game day routines at home in the playoffs to see if they can get something better than what they're doing now. Because the results at home in the most important games in the year simply aren't good enough. Move practices to Warrior. Put them in a hotel for the day. At least look at things and see why they're not playing well at home.

Because home ice was a goddamn disadvantage this year. They couldn't even go 2-2 in the Final! Come on now. That's awful. They'd be crazy NOT to look at that and try to understand what to do better.
The Bruins since 2009 are 5-5 in Game 7's at home.
 

Salem's Lot

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Great. They weren't one and fucking three at home in the final. They didn't play like shit in Game 7 at home. That is prima facie evidence there's a problem.

Something has to be done. Practice schedule, put 'em in a hotel....something. They have to play better at home. Period.

I'm not going to get over this for a long time, if ever. They had Game 7 at home and did nothing with it. They may never get that advantage again. Christ.
I mentioned that they started practicing at the garden in the finals after game 1 because the ice was horrible and they wanted to get used to it. It’s my understanding that the biggest issue with the ice quality at the garden is the construction, which will be completed by next April.
The ice quality was an issue for the entire playoff run. They didn’t have the option of practicing at the garden until the Celtics were eliminated on 5/8, the day before the Carolina series. They kept practicing at Warrior through that series and up until they realized in game 1 against St. Louis that the crappy ice would favor St. Louis’ style of play. The ice at Warrior is great. The players love the facility, and honestly having a place like that has done wonders for team building. The players actually want to hang out there which is the exact opposite of how it used to be at Ristuccia where the players couldn’t get out of there fast enough after practice. So it makes sense why they be hesitant to move practices away from Warrior, but in hindsight they probably should’ve practiced at the garden every day between the Carolina series and the finals.
That being said, the way that the series was officiated probably had more to do with the end result more than the ice surface at the garden.
 

kenneycb

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What would you do then? You seem to be a great high-level problem identifier but you can't even remotely point out to what is wrong, let alone suggest why it is wrong, and what they can do to solve it outside of "they need to do better". Until then, it just sound like someone who is trying to grasp at something to figure out why they lost when the simple answer is the Blues did a better of taking advantage of their opportunities and executing their gameplan with a lead.
 

veritas

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Talking about the team for next season, I think they should try to trade Krejci. I'm a huge Krejci-stan, but coming off the season he just had, his value will never be higher. If they can get a valuable asset back and save $15m in cap space over the next two seasons, I think they need to strongly consider it.

I have no idea what the market for Krug would be, but I'd explore that too. Really whichever one gets you a better return I think would make sense. I don't like the idea of trading neither of them, and definitely don't think they should trade both. But one of them seems like they have to go.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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What would you do then? You seem to be a great high-level problem identifier but you can't even remotely point out to what is wrong, let alone suggest why it is wrong, and what they can do to solve it outside of "they need to do better". Until then, it just sound like someone who is trying to grasp at something to figure out why they lost when the simple answer is the Blues did a better of taking advantage of their opportunities and executing their gameplan with a lead.
I already pointed out the problem. They're not fucking winning enough at home. They played better and smarter on the road.

Apparently the answer is do nothing. I guess we just throw up our hands and say hey we're gonna stink at home.

You can always do something. Sheesh. Practice at Warrior. Stay in a hotel the night before, etc.

I'm getting aggravated so I'm stepping back for a while.
 

lexrageorge

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The Bruins since 2009 are 5-5 in Game 7's at home.
Since the team's Game 7 loss to Carolina in 2009, the team has turned over 90% of its roster, its coach, and GM. As well as nearly all of the coaching staff, scouting department and the staff of its AHL farm team. Which indicates that the relevance of this record in games that are often coin flips in the NHL is zero.
 

RIFan

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Great. They weren't one and fucking three at home in the final. They didn't play like shit in Game 7 at home. That is prima facie evidence there's a problem.

Something has to be done. Practice schedule, put 'em in a hotel....something. They have to play better at home. Period.

I'm not going to get over this for a long time, if ever. They had Game 7 at home and did nothing with it. They may never get that advantage again. Christ.
A couple of things:
1. They absolutely need to draw penalties and get on power plays to be successful. The later it gets in the playoffs and especially in game 7 the harder it is to get a man advantage. Figuring out a better 5v5 strategy has to be priority 1.
2. The other problem is they are a precision skating and passing team. They probably rely more heavily on strong puck cycling and hitting the open man than most teams. The horrible Garden ice was more of a disadvantage to them then it was to STL even if they had more time on it. Fixing this is priority 1A.
 

Zososoxfan

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I don't think they have to do a lot. They have three quality centers in Bergeron, Krejci and Coyle, a great goaltender in Tuukka, and one of the better all around defenses in the game.

From a cap standpoint they have to look at moving Krug, but I would only be doing so if it added a winger to the top 6 or some real elite prospect depth. The latter would be harder for me to swallow.

I think their window is closing, but they have I think at least two more years before Bergeron and Krejci start sliding. Studnicka looms large as their center of the future. If he doesn't pan out, the Bruins are looking at some real tough years in 3-5 years.
I agree with this. The only thing I'd add is that I think the Bruins may take a wait and see approach to the forwards to see what kind of season DeBrusk, Wagner, Kuraly, and Heinen are having before deciding how big to go for top 6 talent. IOW, they HAVE to sort out Mac, Krug, and the D, but they can probably roll with the forwards as is and adjust midseason.
 

kenneycb

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I already pointed out the problem. They're not fucking winning enough at home. They played better and smarter on the road.

Apparently the answer is do nothing. I guess we just throw up our hands and say hey we're gonna stink at home.

You can always do something. Sheesh. Practice at Warrior. Stay in a hotel the night before, etc.

I'm getting aggravated so I'm stepping back for a while.
The point is you have identified that they are losing at home more than you (emphasis on you) think they should. Next step is to think about why they are losing at home. You have concluded it must have something to do with their preparation, of which you (or most of us) know next to nothing about. You are definitively calling something a problem and saying it needs to change when you have no idea what it actually is or what needs to change outside of some vague generalities. Now if you had said something like they are getting too pretty with matching the lines or play a more simple game on the road of get it deep, grind it out, etc., we could have a conversation. But you're not.
 

prizminferno

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Jul 12, 2005
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A couple of things:
1. They absolutely need to draw penalties and get on power plays to be successful. The later it gets in the playoffs and especially in game 7 the harder it is to get a man advantage. Figuring out a better 5v5 strategy has to be priority 1.
2. The other problem is they are a precision skating and passing team. They probably rely more heavily on strong puck cycling and hitting the open man than most teams. The horrible Garden ice was more of a disadvantage to them then it was to STL even if they had more time on it. Fixing this is priority 1A.
#1 isn't true at all, actually. You have recency bias.
https://www.corsicahockey.com/nhl/teams/nhl-team-stats (change year, set regular)

#6 in CF
#4 GF%

Meanwhile the Bruins were better than the sacred cow 5v5 Blues.
 

prizminferno

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Corsi/possession leads to goals, but feel free to knee jerk lose your mind because they didn't win a 7 game sample.
 

prizminferno

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The Bruins don't subscribe to every shot is equal so if they want to play a certain way the are going to have to improve their shot spots a little better.

Krug is a big part of that left point I am sure. I don't love that shot overall because they don't finish in front of the net/hunt rebounds so it sort of defeats the purpose of blasting from there. Working on more center ice 5v5 shots would help in the playoffs against sturdy defensive cores, sort of like where they shoot on the PP. Part of this is their centers are all pass first guys.
 

kenneycb

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Corsi/possession leads to goals, but feel free to knee jerk lose your mind because they didn't win a 7 game sample.
I am quite aware. It's also stupid to say the Bruins were better than the team that just beat them in a best of 7 playoff series as if that is some sort of consolation. Numbers are useless without context.
 

veritas

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The Bruins don't subscribe to every shot is equal so if they want to play a certain way the are going to have to improve their shot spots a little better.

Krug is a big part of that left point I am sure. I don't love that shot overall because they don't finish in front of the net/hunt rebounds so it sort of defeats the purpose of blasting from there. Working on more center ice 5v5 shots would help in the playoffs against sturdy defensive cores, sort of like where they shoot on the PP. Part of this is their centers are all pass first guys.
This is super misleading without their defensive chart for context. They play a very low pace game, and their defensive chart is a sea of blue (blue is good on defense)
 

prizminferno

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This is super misleading without their defensive chart for context. They play a very low pace game, and their defensive chart is a sea of blue (blue is good on defense)
They can play faster and still be effective. Their entire D core is mobile except Chara. Obviously Chara is here next year but Carolina game 4 is a solid example of how they can look when they play a higher pace with the D carrying the play. Mc/Grz was the top pair in that game.
 

prizminferno

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They play incredibly up tempo on the PP, a huge number of their PP goals come off the rush but during the regular season they rarely score off the rush. DeBrusk is one of the few guys on the team that did all year. Playing faster, trying stretch passes, etc would benefit them greatly and they absolutely have the personnel to play that way.
 

veritas

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They can play faster and still be effective. Their entire D core is mobile except Chara. Obviously Chara is here next year but Carolina game 4 is a solid example of how they can look when they play a higher pace with the D carrying the play. Mc/Grz was the top pair in that game.
It's not that they're not fast, they're just very good defensively and play pretty conservatively with the puck. Their style suppresses shots on both ends of the ice, but much more so on defense.
 

veritas

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They play incredibly up tempo on the PP, a huge number of their PP goals come off the rush but during the regular season they rarely score off the rush. DeBrusk is one of the few guys on the team that did all year. Playing faster, trying stretch passes, etc would benefit them greatly and they absolutely have the personnel to play that way.
I mostly agree with you here. I think one reason they don't get a ton of chances on the rush is that they win the puck higher up the ice than most teams. Either on the forecheck or in the neutral zone. I think they can do better at attacking on the rush, but I don't think it would be ideal for them to play a wide open game.
 

j44thor

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I think part of the issues at home had to do with the TD Garden ice being shit most of the playoffs.
Pucks bouncing all over the place doesn't help the faster, more skilled team.

If they invest in one thing this off-season I'd like to see the ice improved when the weather gets warmer/humid. No idea how you do that but I'm sure something can be done.
 

burstnbloom

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I think part of the issues at home had to do with the TD Garden ice being shit most of the playoffs.
Pucks bouncing all over the place doesn't help the faster, more skilled team.

If they invest in one thing this off-season I'd like to see the ice improved when the weather gets warmer/humid. No idea how you do that but I'm sure something can be done.
I don't know if its real but i heard a new ice plant is part of the renovation plans for this summer. They need it. The bad ice played a major role in game 7 as the Bruins we're pressing late in the game.
 

BaseballJones

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A couple of things:
1. They absolutely need to draw penalties and get on power plays to be successful. The later it gets in the playoffs and especially in game 7 the harder it is to get a man advantage. Figuring out a better 5v5 strategy has to be priority 1.
2. The other problem is they are a precision skating and passing team. They probably rely more heavily on strong puck cycling and hitting the open man than most teams. The horrible Garden ice was more of a disadvantage to them then it was to STL even if they had more time on it. Fixing this is priority 1A.
The 5v5 point is right on. That was something I was worried about going into game 7. Playing even strength was a slight advantage for St. Louis, but the PP greatly favored Boston. We all knew there would be no penalties in game 7 - the delay they HAD to call - which is why when they DID get the delay penalty, I thought it was imperative that they scored there. Well, they didn't, and St. Louis won the 5v5 battle the rest of the way. So that's one area they really need to improve in, I think, though I don't know their season stats on that.
 

TheRealness

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Break up day.

- Chara has multiple jaw fractures
I would be interested in all the injuries, specifically Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak. Pasta was never the same after his arm injury, Marchand looked off since he ran into Clifton, and we know Bergeron had a groin injury, but not clear what it was.
 

MiracleOfO2704

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cshea

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Some of the guys in question on returning...

Krug says he understands situation, hopes to work something and play here forever

Johansson loved it here, hopes to talk extension and work something out

Backes wants to stay but understands his days here may be over

McAvoy says wants to play here forever
 

cshea

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Marchand was abdominal injury, groin injury and a hand injury that happened before the scrimmage but reaggravated during the scrimmage.

DeBrusk had a concussion in the first round. Bad look here, he didn’t miss a game. Not sure what happened.