Round 1 - Florida

[4 6 3 DP]

The "looked him in the eyes" comment was absolutely terrible. As in so bad I have to think that Montgomery is shell shocked and has no idea what to say or do publicly.

That being said, this team is where it is because of a number of veterans who control the locker room and are what will matter Sunday night.

If the defense stiffens, this is all just unnecessary drama come Monday morning and we move on.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I said the same thing to myself in 1971.

Too soon!

 

[tims4wins]

I think the difference this year, and right now (for me anyway) is that I didn't feel like they were playing like an absolute dumpster fire going into Game 7 of those two series. I could be wrong, I was drinking a lot back then, but this just feels different to me.

And as much as I was ready for both Claude and Bruce to move on by the end, I never once felt like they were this overmatched, and definitely not by the literal losingest coach in NHL history.

Those Game 7's also didn't have one other issue hanging over them, with a certain Hall of Famer at the tail end of his career.

I have a lot of emotions about this series right now. Anger, frustration, confusion.

Confidence is definitely not very high on that list. And outside of game threading I am not usually a Debbie Downer around these parts, but I just don't see tomorrow being a lot of fun unless a seismic shift happens somewhere along the way.

100% there with you. I don't think I'm going to watch tomorrow. Call me a baby or a fair weather fan or whatever you want but I'm not sure I can handle it.

 

[TFP]

My recollection of 2011 is that Thomas stole that series against Montreal, especially game 7. The team played very badly but made it through based on his play.

That is not accurate.

 

[lexrageorge]

My recollection of 2011 is that Thomas stole that series against Montreal, especially game 7. The team played very badly but made it through based on his play. Then, with the rematch against Philadelphia, there was major concern they’d be eliminated but instead they swept them and played better the rest of the playoffs.

Hockey is hard to predict.

That is not accurate.

The story of that series was that the Bruins went 3-0 in overtime against Montreal, which shows you how thin their margin of error was during that remarkable playoff run. Both goalies were equally good that series. Thomas, however, was outstanding against Philly and Vancouver, and outplayed his Tampa counterparts in the conference finals.

Anyway, there's no good argument for starting Ullmark in Game 7. Even if most of the goals were not his fault (debatable if not objectively incorrect), sometimes the goalie change can help push the players up front a bit to play better. Worked for Florida so far.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I would hate for this to be Patrice Bergeron's last playoff series.

Ulmark looked so awful that I think they not only need to go with Swayman in game 7, but also in at least games 1 and 2 of the next series if they advance.

 

[lexrageorge]

I would hate for this to be Patrice Bergeron's last playoff series.

Ulmark looked so awful that I think they not only need to go with Swayman in game 7, but also in at least games 1 and 2 of the next series if they advance.

Right now, I think everyone here would be ecstatic if we are able to discuss the G1 starter.

 

[shawnrbu]

100% there with you. I don't think I'm going to watch tomorrow. Call me a baby or a fair weather fan or whatever you want but I'm not sure I can handle it.

Team that has scored first is 6-0 in the series. Could turn it on when you see the Bruins ahead 1-0.

 

[jk333]

That is not accurate.

Fair enough! I specifically remember Thomas playing well in game 7 vs Montreal and then later in the playoffs but he was worse early in the Montreal series?

I can’t believe 2011 is more than a decade ago but my memory definitely feels like it.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I would hate for this to be Patrice Bergeron's last playoff series.

Ulmark looked so awful that I think they not only need to go with Swayman in game 7, but also in at least games 1 and 2 of the next series if they advance.

He’d be making the same mistake. Neither of these goalies should play more than 2 games in a row, unless Ullmark is actually hurt.

 

[Haunted]

He’d be making the same mistake. Neither of these goalies should play more than 2 games in a row, unless Ullmark is actually hurt.

Maybe, maybe not w/r/t the bolded, but I very much agree on the second sentence.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

He’d be making the same mistake. Neither of these goalies should play more than 2 games in a row, unless Ullmark is actually hurt.

Is "games in a row" a more meaningful metric than "games in X days"?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Swayman was objectively the better goalie for at least the last month of the season. Him not getting any games in the middle of this series when it was obvious Linus was exhausted (and sick) is a fire-able offense.

 

[Joe D Reid]

This was the most consequential decision the team had to make this postseason and they botched it. Stuff like the Forbort/Gryz and Foligno/Frederic decisions can be fixed and the mistake confined to the past. But it sure seems like they've broken Ullmark, and I'm not sure whether that particular chicken can be unfucked even if they advance

 

[Marciano490]

Grady and Pedro On Ice.

Disney’s getting desperate. As a casual fan, I thought Swayman must be hurt. That was wild. Dude just kept on giving up goals.

 

[mostman]

6 goals on 32 shots faced is not good. That’s like beer league stuff. Two of them when your team had the lead.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

6 goals on 32 shots faced is not good. That’s like beer league stuff. Two of them when your team had the lead.

Want to know how much worse it really was? The Bruins scored 3 in the 3rd...and Ullmark allowed 3 in 10 shots.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Honestly think the magic has run out. I'm not sure how they win game 7 at this point.

 

[wiffleballhero]

So did the Bruins skate today?

I really hope they just took the day off both for the mental break and, obviously, physically.

 

[Ed Hillel]

So did the Bruins skate today?

I really hope they just took the day off both for the mental break and, obviously, physically.

Day off.

 

[Dropkick Izzy]

Grady and Pedro On Ice.

At least that was quick. This has been like bleeding to death for the better part of a week.

 

[kenneycb]

Honestly think the magic has run out. I'm not sure how they win game 7 at this point.

They’ve literally been in every game they lost.

 

[wiffleballhero]

The Bruins, I hope, can see that two of Grzelcyk's scratch games are the six and seven goal games for Florida and while Grz being out is not the only reason the Bruins got pasted in those games, it does not help. He's got his weaknesses, but his strengths add real value against Florida (where Florida has sometimes been very good at preventing the Bruins from getting out of their own zone and Grz, once the Bruins get the puck, is especially good at moving north).

 

[FL4WL3SS]

They’ve literally been in every game they lost.

The point is, the haven't been able to close them out. If they get behind early in this game, it'll feel like a huge uphill battle.

 

[FisksFinger]

The point is, the haven't been able to close them out. If they get behind early in this game, it'll feel like a huge uphill battle.

With this group, I think a steeper climb for the Panthers if the Bruins go up 1-0 than it is for the Bruins if the reverse happens. Bruins have repeatedly shown they can kick it into another gear. One of their problems is that they then regress below the mean after. Seems correctable

 

[Gammon_Clark]

For the advanced metrics people: how has this series played out through six games? Is the series where the math says it should be? Has one side dominated on 5v5 or is it close to even? Thanks in advance.

 

[durandal1707]

For the advanced metrics people: how has this series played out through six games? Is the series where the math says it should be? Has one side dominated on 5v5 or is it close to even? Thanks in advance.

It's pretty close to the mark. For 5v5: 12.96 to 13.31 expected goals, 12 to 13 actual. Taking into account all situations, the Bruins have the advantage: 23.57 to 21.58 expected, 24 to 22 actual. (From the Natural Stat Trick series summary.)

Game by game it's been very back-and-forth. Panthers dominated xGF the first two games, then Game 3 was pretty even and the Bruins were way ahead in xGF for the next two. Friday night the Panthers were in charge again.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Wrong thread.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Absolutely brutal

 

[AB in DC]

G5 and G6 were chokes, but in G7 Florida just seemed like the better team all day. What the hell happened.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Can't believe this is how they sent Bergeron out.

Montgomery singlehandedly cost them the series with his steadfast refusal to play Swayman over Ullmark no matter how bad Ullmark got, until game 7. The tying goal in this one was not Swayman's fault - McAvoy tipped it.

Ullmark's terrible play in games 5 and 6 also cost them.

The team as a whole also spent large stretches of so many games looking awful. For example, the first 30 minutes of tonight's game.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Sorry to the true mainstays/diehards in this forum (I’m not on that level). This one - losing in the first round to an annoying as fuck team with an asshole coach by losing three home games, including two OT games, in what was their last real run as a core AND with a chance to put up the greatest season ever - hurts.

 

[lexrageorge]

This loss, unfortunately, will take decades to recover from. Bruins blew G5 and G6, Florida just outhustled them in G7.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

They didn’t play anything resembling playoff hockey. I don’t know what they were doing, but they were terribly unsound, and they got outworked in all three zones. Florida was not doing anything tricky, but the Bruins didn’t adjust.

The part that sucks is that even with all that, they almost won the series. They were more talented. But they squandered it. Just a waste.

 

[wiffleballhero]

They didn’t play anything resembling playoff hockey. I don’t know what they were doing, but they were terribly unsound, and they got outworked in all three zones. Florida was not doing anything tricky, but the Bruins didn’t adjust.

The part that sucks is that even with all that, they almost won the series. They were more talented. But they squandered it. Just a waste.

Early in the series they were a little hobbled by injury and illness and rust, but from the minute they didn't finish the series off Marchand's stick at the end of regulation in game 5, they've gotten tighter and tighter as it unfolded. They froze. Everything fell apart as they stiffened up.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

This loss, unfortunately, will take decades to recover from. Bruins blew G5 and G6, Florida just outhustled them in G7.

Imagine this team without Bergeron, Krejci, Orlov, and Bertuzzi. And without a strong pipeline. There won't be a better chance to win for a long time and they pissed it away.

 

[kenneycb]

This loss, unfortunately, will take decades to recover from. Bruins blew G5 and G6, Florida just outhustled them in G7.

It will not take them 20+ years to recover.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

They were outcoached in the last three games. Monty cost them the series by not playing Swayman in G5 or G6.

 

[Ed Hillel]

This is one of the worst coaching quotes I’ve ever seen. What the fuck is this about?
View: https://twitter.com/michaelfhurley/status/1652857106343645185?s=42&t=-Ai-mpXJJ05V-SE-SPRBGA

 

[4 6 3 DP]

The guy is completely shell shocked. Has been for a week. Wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even remember his answers in a few days.

 

[NYCSox]

It's pretty damn fucking impossible to lose three home games in a series. And now they've done it twice in five seasons.

 

[OneRedDred]

Bergy with a herniated disc in his back

 

[Silverdude2167]

The best team in hockey rarely wins, that is why I love the sport and am so meh about the NBA.

Yet, there are no excuses for blowing 3rd period leads in the last two games. It is unfortunate that they got the Panthers in round 1. They were not a normal 8 seed and we're the perfect team to play the underdog card and succeed.

I am just so disappointed that this is how the team goes out and is potentially 37s last game. If he is done, I think you tear it down to the studs. Keep McAvoy and Pasta and put a for sale sign on everything else including getting a new GM and coach.

 

[BaseballJones]

Imagine this team without Bergeron, Krejci, Orlov, and Bertuzzi. And without a strong pipeline. There won't be a better chance to win for a long time and they pissed it away.

You'd think, but then it was pretty hard to imagine this team losing to Florida. So you never know. Apparently just make the playoffs and you've got a chance. Apparently the worst team in the playoffs has just as good a chance as the best team, so who the hell knows.

 

[Haunted]

Blow the management structure up. Literally everyone. Start the rebuild. I absolutely do not trust Neely/Sweeney to do it.

And those comments by Monty… wow.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

This series doesn’t even go 7 games if Florida didn’t start an overmatched Lyon for 3 games.

 

[Haunted]

This series doesn’t even go 7 games if Florida didn’t start an overmatched Lyon for 3 games.

At the same time, I think the Bruins win in 5 if Swayman started that game.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

At the same time, I think the Bruins win in 5 if Swayman started that game.

My point is from the jump the Bruins played like shit and played tight and only got bailed out because Lyon doesn’t have a glove hand.

As soon as the stakes mattered the entire team turtled.

 

[Haunted]

My point is from the jump the Bruins played like shit and played tight and only got bailed out because Lyon doesn’t have a glove hand.

As soon as the stakes mattered the entire team turtled.

Agreed with your sentiment then. They made an insane amount of boneheaded mistakes. And it seemed like almost every one of them resulted in a goal against.

 

[Foxy42]

Not sure how we rip Don tonight. I’ve been a longtime detractor, but he gave them everything they needed. Monty on the other hand is a front running MF’er, who melted this series.