Sabres @ Bruins

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,089
Tuukka's refugee camp
Different place, let’s go for the same result. My youth team growing up was the Sabres and we always sucked. So that seems appropriate.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
McAvoy and Krug still out. Ritchie back in, Lindholm out.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Heinen
Bjork - Coyle - Ritchie
Nordstrom - Kuraly - Wagner

Chara - Carlo
Grzelyck - Clifton
Moore - Kampfer

Rask
 

Jordu

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2003
8,961
Brookline
I’m not sure why Ritchie plays and Backes wears a suit and tie. Their stats — counting and advanced — are pretty much the same, but Backes plays a heavier game.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
I’m not sure why Ritchie plays and Backes wears a suit and tie. Their stats — counting and advanced — are pretty much the same, but Backes plays a heavier game.
They know what they have with Backes, I think they are still trying to see if Ritchie can give them anything. He’s shown next to nothing so far but he has only played in 21 games and got off to a bumpy start with injury. Ritchie is likely headed for the waiver wire at some point in the 2nd half but they’re going to give him an opportunity before doing so.
 

Jordu

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2003
8,961
Brookline
The Google Machine turned up this from Matt Porter on Dec. 7:

At the 30-game mark, the Bruins still don’t know what they have in Ritchie, who returned to the lineup Saturday against the Avalanche after an infected elbow kept him out for two weeks. Is he a ghost in a No. 18 jersey? Is he the guy who scored 16 goals in his first full season, with Dallas in 2016-17? Somewhere in between? The brass was eager to learn more.

“The reason Donnie brought him into the mix is because we were looking to add some size, get inside, score some goals that way, be a presence,” said coach Bruce Cassidy said before scratching David Backes to make room on the right wing.

“Unfortunately for Brett, it’s been a stop-and-start sort of season for him. We don’t have a great evaluation for him.”
 

veritas

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2009
3,151
Somerville, MA
Not to mention, Backes can't play anywhere near 82 games. Might as well manage him in the regular season and hope he has some value in the 2nd half / playoffs.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,049
Alamogordo
I really can't decide how I feel about Ristolainen. I want to hate him, because he does a lot of borderline stuff, but I don't think he's really all that dirty. And he is a talented defenseman... And he never turtles after his borderline hits, so I have some measure of respect for that.
 

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
Seems like there's too many casualties on defense. PP definitely misses Krug's instincts,, and there's a lot of miscommunication with the remaining defense pairs.