Round Two Discussion - Tampa

Red Averages

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Should be interesting given how physical the season series was. Glad we have until Saturday to digest this one. Take one down in Tampa and they’ll be in great shape.
 

wiffleballhero

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Looks like they exit this one without any new injuries to speak of, so there is that.

Saturday afternoon is a enough time to rest up. They should be fine. They should fly to Tampa tomorrow and spend a day on the beach.

Since when did DeBrusk become fucking awesome!
 

savage362

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Was hoping game #4 may be bumped to Saturday night so I could try to sneak a trip to the game in after my sisters college graduation ceremony but alas, I'll settle for a spot on my couch and an extra $500+ in my wallet that I won't be spending on tickets and beer.
 

wiffleballhero

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Fair enough on the injuries, but there was nothing obvious. Even McQuaid made it back.

It will be interesting to see if Tampa feels like they learned something from these last few games for the Bs vs. Toronto. Say what you want about luck, Boston had some long stretches in the series where they had the puck but really could not create great chances. Game six was a clinic in how to frustrate the Boston attack once you get the lead.
 

LogansDad

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I probably shouldn't be allowed to watch this series after my behavior tonight.

But I will anyway. This is going to be a great series. These teams match up so well against each other.

So glad we get more of this team this year.
 

NYCSox

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This was kind of discussed in the game thread but Tampa poses a very different set of issues. They aren't as quick as Toronto and they aren't quite as deep with their scoring lines but OTOH Toronto has nothing close to Hedman and McDonagh. Plus, Stamkos and Kucherov are a step up from Matthews and Marner.
 

BaseballJones

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Four games vs. Tampa this year:

11/29 in Boston: Bruins win 3-2. Bs open up with a 3-0 lead and Tampa claws back to make it a 3-2 game. McAvoy, Krug, and Riley Nash with goals. Rask saves 19 of 21.

3/17 in Tampa: Bruins win 3-0. Backes, Pastrnak, and Riley Nash with goals. Krug with three assists. Rask saves 23 of 23.

3/29 in Boston: Bruins win 4-2. Pastrnak, Marchand, and Bergeron with goals. Krug with two assists. Rask saves 26 of 28.

4/3 in Tampa: Lightning win 4-0. Rask saves 32 of 36 in the ugly loss.

All told, the Bruins outscored the Lightning 10-8 in the four games. That one disaster aside, the Bs outplayed Tampa significantly. Krug put up a goal and five assists in the four games.

I think the matchup is a solid one for Boston, despite how good Tampa is. Home ice advantage for TB, but if the Bruins can steal one of the first two, they take that advantage away.

Bruins in 6.
 

Saints Rest

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Don't be so sure injuries won't trickle out.
Any word or speculation on what was McQuaid’s injury? I couldn’t tell in all the replays what it might have been. My only guess was he landed funny and his cup shook up his nuts in a non-good way.

I fear Bergeron is still suffering whatever held him out for Game 3. I’m thinking bruised ribs or something that impacted his wind as he seemed to not have the energy/stamina he usually has.

Who was it that the camera showed getting stretched out by a trainer on the bench in Game 6? The trainer was pulling up on the player’s arms as though he had a sore back, maybe???
 

Zososoxfan

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This was kind of discussed in the game thread but Tampa poses a very different set of issues. They aren't as quick as Toronto and they aren't quite as deep with their scoring lines but OTOH Toronto has nothing close to Hedman and McDonagh. Plus, Stamkos and Kucherov are a step up from Matthews and Marner.
Uh, what? Tampa is much deeper and more skilled than Taranna IMO. Kucherov, Stamkos, Johnson, Namestnikov, and Killorn are all proven gamers. Point and Gourde have had excellent seasons. Hedman and Stralman are excellent. Sergachev is sneaky good. The rest of the team is experienced and solid - Palat, Kunitz, Girardi, Coburn, etc. Vasy is a goddamn beast in net and is big. Tampa is fucking good. This is going to be a monster series.

One thing I think the Bruins have going for them is that the Leafs >>>> Devils. Bruins just played some bona fide SCP hockey, and Tampa really did not. I bet the Bruins can catch the Bolts napping in G1, or at least the first period or two of G1.
 

genoasalami

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Uh, what? Tampa is much deeper and more skilled than Taranna IMO. Kucherov, Stamkos, Johnson, Namestnikov, and Killorn are all proven gamers. Point and Gourde have had excellent seasons. Hedman and Stralman are excellent. Sergachev is sneaky good. The rest of the team is experienced and solid - Palat, Kunitz, Girardi, Coburn, etc. Vasy is a goddamn beast in net and is big. Tampa is fucking good. This is going to be a monster series.

One thing I think the Bruins have going for them is that the Leafs >>>> Devils. Bruins just played some bona fide SCP hockey, and Tampa really did not. I bet the Bruins can catch the Bolts napping in G1, or at least the first period or two of G1.
Namestnikov plays for the Rangers now. TJ Miller was acquired from the NYR and is a step up from him. He's been playing great hockey.
 

kenneycb

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Any word or speculation on what was McQuaid’s injury? I couldn’t tell in all the replays what it might have been. My only guess was he landed funny and his cup shook up his nuts in a non-good way.

I fear Bergeron is still suffering whatever held him out for Game 3. I’m thinking bruised ribs or something that impacted his wind as he seemed to not have the energy/stamina he usually has.

Who was it that the camera showed getting stretched out by a trainer on the bench in Game 6? The trainer was pulling up on the player’s arms as though he had a sore back, maybe???
I thought it was a shoulder/arm issue. He laid out, got his arm a bit caught up in the Leaf's guy, and then slammed that same shoulder into the boards. Plus going into the boards at that speed is going to shake anybody up while you're trying to figure out if everything is still there.
 

lexrageorge

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This is a series where I wish the Bruins had a healthy Carlo. Their defense looked a bit out of sorts against the Leafs at times.

And I can't recall a goalie that takes up as much net as Vasilevskiy.
 

DJnVa

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Pierre McGuire on EEI, thinks Donato gets ice time this series, as TB gives up a lot of open ice.
 

biff_hardbody

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Any word or speculation on what was McQuaid’s injury? I couldn’t tell in all the replays what it might have been. My only guess was he landed funny and his cup shook up his nuts in a non-good way.

I fear Bergeron is still suffering whatever held him out for Game 3. I’m thinking bruised ribs or something that impacted his wind as he seemed to not have the energy/stamina he usually has.

Who was it that the camera showed getting stretched out by a trainer on the bench in Game 6? The trainer was pulling up on the player’s arms as though he had a sore back, maybe???
Pasta was the guy getting stretched out on the bench.

I've been trying to figure out Bergeron's injury because I can't think of an upper body injury that would affect stamina/shot but not faceoffs. Ribs was my best guess as well.

McQuaid has to be a shoulder and I'd be shocked if it doesn't bother him the rest of the playoffs. That was shoulder into the boards at high speed.
 

allstonite

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I'll be in Tampa (Clearwater Beach) for a wedding for the weekend of Game 5. Anyone been to a game there? Any tips or nearby bars/restaurants/things to do would be greatly appreciated.
 

Salem's Lot

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I'll be in Tampa (Clearwater Beach) for a wedding for the weekend of Game 5. Anyone been to a game there? Any tips or nearby bars/restaurants/things to do would be greatly appreciated.
If you go to Cigar City Brewing (it's by the airport, and the NFL stadium, not downtown like Amelie Arena) don't wear Boston gear, they're real dicks about it. Wouldn't serve us.
 

genoasalami

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I'll be in Tampa (Clearwater Beach) for a wedding for the weekend of Game 5. Anyone been to a game there? Any tips or nearby bars/restaurants/things to do would be greatly appreciated.
Hattricks is a 10 minute walk from Amalie Arena. Good pre-game spot. Fergs is across the street and there is a Hooters in Channelside. Not a ton of activity around the venue yet. Lots happening on South Howard Avenue (SOHO) district which is a 10 minute ride from downtown and there is an upscale shopping/bar scene in Hyde Park...again....about a 5 to 10 min drive from downtown. You will feel right at home. probably 20% to 30% of the fans will be wearing black and gold. You won't catch much flack as there is power in numbers and it is a 3 pm tilt...You will be impressed by the game experience. They do a nice job. It is the anti-Trop.
 

Zososoxfan

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I'll be in Tampa (Clearwater Beach) for a wedding for the weekend of Game 5. Anyone been to a game there? Any tips or nearby bars/restaurants/things to do would be greatly appreciated.
If you go to Cigar City Brewing (it's by the airport, and the NFL stadium, not downtown like Amelie Arena) don't wear Boston gear, they're real dicks about it. Wouldn't serve us.
They're generally dicks in there - totally take the haughty beer snobs stereotype to heart, and I'm a regular! Nevertheless, some of the best beer in the world IMO.

Hattricks is a 10 minute walk from Amalie Arena. Good pre-game spot. Fergs is across the street and there is a Hooters in Channelside. Not a ton of activity around the venue yet. Lots happening on South Howard Avenue (SOHO) district which is a 10 minute ride from downtown and there is an upscale shopping/bar scene in Hyde Park...again....about a 5 to 10 min drive from downtown. You will feel right at home. probably 20% to 30% of the fans will be wearing black and gold. You won't catch much flack as there is power in numbers and it is a 3 pm tilt...You will be impressed by the game experience. They do a nice job. It is the anti-Trop.
Hattricks is definitely THE hockey bar of Tampa, but I expect it will get absolutely swamped. Ferg's across the street from the arena is just a giant macro-beer bar, but usually a fun scene for hockey. Yeowman's Cask and Lion is another good option nearby. Agree with @genoasalami, games at Amalie are by far the best ticket in town. Tampa has really taken to the Bolts and the team and experience make it worthwhile.

As for other recommendations, happy to give reccos if you provide any more details. I got married in Clearwater Beach so I know that area well, live in Westshore (by the Airport), and work in Downtown. Also FYI, Clearwater Beach is a solid hour away from Amalie Arena without traffic. Give yourself plenty of time to get over there.
 

johnmd20

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The Bruins have gotten screwed with the seedings this season. They finished 2nd in points in the East and they faced the team that tied for 3rd and now the team that finished 1st.

Brutal. Still, win the games.
 

allstonite

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If you go to Cigar City Brewing (it's by the airport, and the NFL stadium, not downtown like Amelie Arena) don't wear Boston gear, they're real dicks about it. Wouldn't serve us.
Hattricks is a 10 minute walk from Amalie Arena. Good pre-game spot. Fergs is across the street and there is a Hooters in Channelside. Not a ton of activity around the venue yet. Lots happening on South Howard Avenue (SOHO) district which is a 10 minute ride from downtown and there is an upscale shopping/bar scene in Hyde Park...again....about a 5 to 10 min drive from downtown. You will feel right at home. probably 20% to 30% of the fans will be wearing black and gold. You won't catch much flack as there is power in numbers and it is a 3 pm tilt...You will be impressed by the game experience. They do a nice job. It is the anti-Trop.
They're generally dicks in there - totally take the haughty beer snobs stereotype to heart, and I'm a regular! Nevertheless, some of the best beer in the world IMO.



Hattricks is definitely THE hockey bar of Tampa, but I expect it will get absolutely swamped. Ferg's across the street from the arena is just a giant macro-beer bar, but usually a fun scene for hockey. Yeowman's Cask and Lion is another good option nearby. Agree with

As for other recommendations, happy to give reccos if you provide any more details. I got married in Clearwater Beach so I know that area well, live in Westshore (by the Airport), and work in Downtown. Also FYI, Clearwater Beach is a solid hour away from Amalie Arena without traffic. Give yourself plenty of time to get over there.
Thank you all for the help. I knew it was a bit of a drive so we're hoping for the 3pm to be confirmed (still TBD) as I have an early flight Monday. Hoping to sneak away from the post wedding brunch early and get by the arena as soon as possible. I've heard good things about the in arena experience and I don't hate the Lightning as much as other Atlantic rivals (thanks to Stamkos and 2011). Looking forward to it.

Sorry for the digression.
 

Salem's Lot

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Thank you all for the help. I knew it was a bit of a drive so we're hoping for the 3pm to be confirmed (still TBD) as I have an early flight Monday. Hoping to sneak away from the post wedding brunch early and get by the arena as soon as possible. I've heard good things about the in arena experience and I don't hate the Lightning as much as other Atlantic rivals (thanks to Stamkos and 2011). Looking forward to it.

Sorry for the digression.
The arena is really nice. I sat in the corner of the loge about 15 rows up and it was a great view. Much better than the club section in Sunrise that I sat in the next night.
 

BaseballJones

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The Bruins have gotten screwed with the seedings this season. They finished 2nd in points in the East and they faced the team that tied for 3rd and now the team that finished 1st.

Brutal. Still, win the games.
If they get by Toronto, then Tampa, and then the defending champion Penguins to get to the Cup finals, they sure as hell will have earned it.
 

TheoShmeo

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I don't think Cassidy will use Donato in this series. But I'd like to see it. Goal scorers are always valuable and I think his defensive shortcomings are a bit overstated.

I also have my eyes trained on Rick Nash. He had a reputation for coming up small in the playoffs and his production has indeed been limited. Milbury was right about that retaliation penalty in game 7; Nash should have been ashamed of himself. The results obscured a potentially costly decision.

I don't think Nash is actually likely to sit but I wouldn't mind seeing Krejci with Donato and DeBrusk as his wings, at least for a game.
 
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Red Right Ankle

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Donato is bad defensively. His shortcomings are in no way overstated. He will likely get better over the years, but he's not good right now - bad positionally, not strong enough to win corner battles, doesn't read plays well.
 

cshea

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That retaliation penalty was Lucic-esque dumb, but Rick Nash had a good series against Toronto. His series looks a lot different if he gets a good bounce n one of the numerous chaotic scrambles in front of the net he was involved in. Nash had a 56.12% CF, 56% on scoring chances he was also 3rd on the team in shots with 24. He also was very good defensively. I want Nash to keep doing what his is doing.

I’m not against involving Donato, but I don’t see an obvious spot for him. It doesn’t make sense to play him on the 4th line. That leaves the 2nd or 3rd line, and I don’t see any candidates to take out except for maybe Heinen, but Heinen is stronger defensively and along the walls so I think I’d just leave him in there. Heinen has an offensive side to his game too, he’s not a total black hole like Wingels.
 
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Salem's Lot

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Donato just isn't ready physically to play playoff hockey. He's gaining valuable experience right now just being around this run and practicing with the team. He needs to spend his time kicking ass in the gym with his sights on one of the 2-3 forward spots that he'll have a chance to compete for in September.
 

TheRealness

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Donato just isn't ready physically to play playoff hockey. He's gaining valuable experience right now just being around this run and practicing with the team. He needs to spend his time kicking ass in the gym with his sights on one of the 2-3 forward spots that he'll have a chance to compete for in September.
I agree with this. The media's attention and love of Donato is really something that is belied by how he plays in the neutral zone and his own end. Sure, he's got a great nose for the puck, elite hands, and elite scoring skills, but he's not ready for this type of game. The only way I see him playing is if there is an injury.

The only logical position for him is in Heinen's sport, IMO, and Heinen is a better all around player right now. Sitting Nash for him is all types of moronic and hot-takey. Nash played well against Toronto, he just didn't score as much as he could have.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I don't think Cassidy will use Donato in this series. But I'd like to see it. Goal scorers are always valuable and I think his defensive shortcomings are a bit overstated.
Can you explain why exactly you think his defensive shortcomings are overstated? What does he do well? What are his shortcomings?

That retaliation penalty was Lucic-esque dumb, but Rick Nash had a good series against Toronto. His series looks a lot different if he gets a good bounce n one of the numerous chaotic scrambles in front of the net he was involved in. Nash had a 56.12% CF, 56% on scoring chances he was also 3rd on the team in shots with 24. He also was very good defensively. I want Nash to keep doing what his is doing.
The problem is that he's getting man handled in front of the net, so there's zero chance he's cleaning up anything in front of the net. Whenever there is a loose puck in front of the net he's either getting beat to the puck or he's getting pushed off of it.
 

cshea

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This was excellent. Bruce is great, very insightful and also humorous at the end talking about Marchand.

Cliff notes:

- They feel Donato is most comfortable at left wing, don’t want to put him out of position even though he has moved around.
- Analytics good on Rick Nash, need him to finish. That’s what he is here to do.
- That last game against Florida where they could have won the division- They basically conceded the division and had told guys they were being rested and wouldn’t play. Strategy changed on the fly after the news that Tampa had lost, maybe it kinda threw guys for a loop and they didn’t really get going in that game until it was too late.
 

TheoShmeo

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Can you explain why exactly you think his defensive shortcomings are overstated? What does he do well? What are his shortcomings?
We don't have a lot of hard data to work with. He played 12 regular season games and his plus/minus was Plus 2. In his one playoff game, it was Minus 1.

Do I think that tells us much? Not really. Small sample and all that. But the numbers don't suggest he's some kind of disaster out there.

My eyes tell me that he sometimes is weak on the puck and he sometimes gives up the puck in his own end.

But my same eyes tell me that many other players suffer from that from to time, and that Donato's rate of same doesn't seem all that high to me.

To me, bottom line, I think his negatives are not that severe and I like that he can put the puck in the net. TB's goalie is formidable, and I'm guessing we are going to see some low scoring, one goal games. Having Donato in that mix seems wise to me.

And the good news is that if at any time Donato appears to be a defensive liability or is somehow otherwise over matched, Cassidy can swap him out at any time.
 

cshea

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The Bruins scored 28 goals against Toronto, 4 per game. Goal scoring wasn’t an issue. I think you are searching to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

If it becomes an issue, he can easily go in.
 

FL4WL3SS

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The Bruins scored 28 goals against Toronto, 4 per game. Goal scoring wasn’t an issue. I think you are searching to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

If it becomes an issue, he can easily go in.
Bingo.

And let's not use plus/minus as a measuring stick of individual play. It's a shitty statistic.

Donato has a really good Corsi, but his PDO is also pretty high. Basically he hasn't performed as good as he has looked.
 
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veritas

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Bingo.

And let's not use plus/minus as a measuring stick of individual play. It's a shitty statistic.

Donato has a really good Corsi, but his PDO is also pretty high. Basically he hasn't preformed as good as he has looked.
Yeah, he was also playing super sheltered minutes with 2 very good players.

He's over his head defensively right now, he's not mentally quick enough to react, and he's not physically quick enough to make up for that. And he's not as strong as he needs to be. The only way I can see him playing is at home, with Krejci, if one of their top 6 is injured.
 

biff_hardbody

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I can't believe I have to wait another 24 hours for this series to begin.

My feelings on Donato are the same as have been said here - he should remain in the press box unless there are injuries.

I'd really like to see Rick Nash get on the board. He has been buzzing around the net but his shots don't seem particularly dangerous, even when taken from dangerous areas, i.e. the slot.