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Post by madmarx on May 29, 2020 15:20:39 GMT -5
Chara is back in Boston. Drove up from Florida. Sounds like he misses his gym , apparently he doesn’t have much of a gym in Florida..
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Post by KSJ08 on May 29, 2020 16:50:32 GMT -5
If true,THAT totally sucks!!!! This whole CV-19 is a croc of Bull SHIT!!!! Yeah it's the flu BUT no WHERE near as bad as Liberal POS Media has made it out to be !! Wait/Watch & See!!!! SMHWell, stats show that 100,000 people have died in the USA because of covid19 and the US unfortunately has almost FIVE TIMES more cases that the 2nd worst country [Brazil}.. I love hockey as much as anyone but those numbers are definitely alarming in the USA.. Precautions HAVE to be set in place before there's even a consideration of any type of sports event beginning, especially a contact sport like hockey. Just my opinion but I cannot see this beginning until covid 19 is behind us..How would we feel if a player or players died because they contacted the virus playing hockey?? I realize this is SUCH a touchy and very debatable subject and I certainly dont want to begin that here or anywhere but families are being torn apart over this virus.. Plus, how can you tell people to distance yourselves and then play hockey?? Ernest the problem is the REAL Total death count is unknown. States have come out stating the claim VV-19 as cause if death EVEN when they it isn't.Hospitals are getting Huge amount of $$$ to claim those deaths by CV-19!
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Post by kjc2 on May 30, 2020 15:19:37 GMT -5
Chara is back in Boston. Drove up from Florida. Sounds like he misses his gym , apparently he doesn’t have much of a gym in Florida.. Our old boy has to get a head start on everyone else. Speaking from personal experience, getting old is not for wimps.
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 1, 2020 21:35:06 GMT -5
Sounds like he misses his gym , apparently he doesn’t have much of a gym in Florida.. Our old boy has to get a head start on everyone else. Speaking from personal experience, getting old is not for wimps. True there partner. Man I'm 57 and some days I feel 87 because of my back problems. And now with Arthritis on top of DDD, some days like this past weekend are so damn miserable. BUT I have to keep eminding myself that lots of folks have it much worst than me, kids dying of cancer for instance.. Getting back to the possible return of hockey, I wonder KJC did this break be a positive for the Bruins considering many of their top players like Chara, Bergy, Krejci had lots of time to let their bodies heal. Bergy comes to my mind 1st because he was fighting through lingering injuries all season. Chara, 42, well you just know he kept himself in shape. I still hate the chance of Boston maybe not finishing 1st seed BUT can you imagine if the Friggin Habs beat Pittburgh who were 15 points ahead of them.. They had 1 chance in 2000 to make playoffs and for them to have a 5o/50 chance now just isnt fair and OF COURSE they HAD to be the 24 seed..GRRRRR
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 2, 2020 6:42:22 GMT -5
Our old boy has to get a head start on everyone else. Speaking from personal experience, getting old is not for wimps. True there partner. Man I'm 57 and some days I feel 87 because of my back problems. And now with Arthritis on top of DDD, some days like this past weekend are so damn miserable. BUT I have to keep eminding myself that lots of folks have it much worst than me, kids dying of cancer for instance.. Getting back to the possible return of hockey, I wonder KJC did this break be a positive for the Bruins considering many of their top players like Chara, Bergy, Krejci had lots of time to let their bodies heal. Bergy comes to my mind 1st because he was fighting through lingering injuries all season. Chara, 42, well you just know he kept himself in shape. I still hate the chance of Boston maybe not finishing 1st seed BUT can you imagine if the Friggin Habs beat Pittburgh who were 15 points ahead of them.. They had 1 chance in 2000 to make playoffs and for them to have a 5o/50 chance now just isnt fair and OF COURSE they HAD to be the 24 seed..GRRRRR I’m 55 nfld , I put away a couple of cords of wood on the weekend and I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.lol As for our old core we could look at it two ways. On one hand we probably got a bigger risk of injury due to age and trying to get up to top speed right away with the young players but on the other hand we have a veteran group, a team that’s been through it all together and a coach and team leaders that will have the Bruins playing as a team right away. I think we’ll have to use both goalies in the first few games and think about going with the hot hand. It’s Tuukka’s net but if he’s not feeling it right away Halak has to be ready to go.
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Post by madmarx on Jun 2, 2020 15:18:52 GMT -5
I would like to see Halak in the Playoffs if Rask struggles in any shape or form , nothing against Rask but Halak has earned his spot and been solid when called on for the most part ..
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Post by orym on Jun 2, 2020 18:57:27 GMT -5
I would like to see Halak in the Playoffs if Rask struggles in any shape or form , nothing against Rask but Halak has earned his spot and been solid when called on for the most part .. Who could possibly want it more than Halak if he got in there? He'd be lights out I bet! Of course I want Rask to be healthy and stellar but Halak is a good backup plan!
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 3, 2020 12:05:47 GMT -5
I would like to see Halak in the Playoffs if Rask struggles in any shape or form , nothing against Rask but Halak has earned his spot and been solid when called on for the most part .. Who could possibly want it more than Halak if he got in there? He'd be lights out I bet! Of course I want Rask to be healthy and stellar but Halak is a good backup plan! Ory, it's almost like choosing the hottest goaltender in an October game, just go with the hot hand..
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Post by madmarx on Jun 3, 2020 16:54:25 GMT -5
Does anyone think Butch should have played Halak last year in the Playoffs at any point ? I know it’s easy after the fact but just an honest question..
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 3, 2020 18:45:31 GMT -5
Does anyone think Butch should have played Halak last year in the Playoffs at any point ? I know it’s easy after the fact but just an honest question.. Nope, I can’t think of any moment.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 4, 2020 7:34:09 GMT -5
Does anyone think Butch should have played Halak last year in the Playoffs at any point ? I know it’s easy after the fact but just an honest question.. Nope, I can’t think of any moment. Game seven against St. Louis.
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 4, 2020 15:47:05 GMT -5
Nope, I can’t think of any moment. Game seven against St. Louis. I totally agree with KJC, NOT because Tuukku's my favorite all-time NHL goaltender. He played sensational throughout the entire 2018/19 playoffs getting us all the way to Game 7 of the final..He had a 2.02 Goals against Avg and a .934 Save % in the 4 series. Did he even have back to back bad games?? I really doubt it with those numbers. Even going more indepth, Rasks career playoff numbers are 2.19 GAA with a .927 Save%, not too shabby.. As for playing Halak in Game 7, I would respectfully ask WHY?? What would we be thinking now if he played and was horrible after a 2 month layoff..I mean, actually Tuukka got us all the way to game 7, HOW can anyone tell him he's not playing game 7 because we believe Halak can do a better job or we just dont have confidense enough in you to get the job done. Game 6 in SL Rask stopped 28/29 in a 5-1 Bruin win. So he was again sensational in the previous game to force a Game 7 at Boston.. Rask allowed 3 goals or less in all PO games except 2 {still only allowed 4 and maybe they were EN}and unfortunately, one of those games were Game 7. But there's no way anyone can blame him for Bruins not winning the cup. His playoff numbers were by far better than any other goaltender and his career playoff numbers are #1 among any goalie that played at least 10 games AND his regular season numbers {GAA and Save%} are also #1 in NHL HISTORY.. Tuukka Rask will one day be in the Hall of Fame, I have no doubt about that. No goaltender has ever put up such great numbers for such a long period of time. So, Madmarx, to answer your question, my opinion is pretty obvious..NOT FOR A SECOND
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Post by madmarx on Jun 4, 2020 18:28:09 GMT -5
Penguins announce one of there Players tested positive for Covid-19 ..
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 5, 2020 5:05:23 GMT -5
Penguins announce one of there Players tested positive for Covid-19 .. Not good. That could have a huge effect on shit going forward. I heard Dreggar say the other day that there’s like 30 players that are having concerns about coming back anyway.
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 5, 2020 5:09:49 GMT -5
Nope, I can’t think of any moment. Game seven against St. Louis. I agree that was probably the weakest game for Tuukka, he needed to match Binnington on the other end and didn’t. However I didn’t think Halak was ever in a position to start a game and you couldn’t pull Tuukka in the game 7 final.
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 5, 2020 6:06:58 GMT -5
The loss to St Louis still fucking hurts, feels like the 70 regular season games this year haven’t even happened. If this playoffs doesn’t happen this feeling will drag on for another full year.
The. Conn Smythe trophy should have been jointly awarded to Steve Kozari and Kelly Sutherland for their amazing work in game 5.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 5, 2020 6:08:06 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 5, 2020 7:49:06 GMT -5
After the Bruins get through the round-robin format when the NHL resumes its season, no matter where they’re seeded, any of the potential opponents will create their fair share of challenges.
At the time of the NHL’s pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, the Bruins had built the necessary momentum for the stretch run and were gearing up for the playoffs as the best team in the league.
Well, that’s all changed. Yes, the Bruins still have the experience, veteran leadership, offensive power, solid defense and elite goaltending tandem to produce a deep playoff run, but it will be a more even playing field once games resume. The biggest issue for Boston will be how quickly the players can find their legs, reignite their game and regain that chemistry in order to embark on another trek to the Stanley Cup Final.
First, the Bruins, Capitals, Lightning and Flyers will participate in the Eastern Conference’s round-robin format, which will serve as a good warm-up scenario for all four teams.
After that, there are many questions and uncertainties as to how the rest of the postseason will play out given the unique circumstances.
Here are the potential first-round matchups for the Bruins, ranked in order of the challenges they present for Boston.
Ranking the 8 opponents the Bruins could face in the first...
1. New York Rangers
This one is interesting. Despite their record — their 79 points are the second-lowest (to Montreal) among this group — the Rangers will be a dangerous team and could be the most challenging foe for the Bruins.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Bruins experienced first-hand last spring that Columbus is a big, strong, fast and heavy team. Columbus gave everything it had against the Bruins last postseason, but Boston turned out to be the better team. Now, the Blue Jackets are healthy and have Seth Jones, considered one of the best defensemen in the league, ready to go.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
As good as the Bruins are down the middle, the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the Nos. 1 and 2 centers. Matchups could be an issue for the Bruins and that’s why it could come down to the third and fourth lines for each team to decide the winner. Pittsburgh has scoring power, and like every other team, the Penguins appear healthy for now, with the exception of forward Nick Bjugstad, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
4. New York Islanders
This could be the surprise horse in the playoff race. The Islanders play hard and can score in numerous ways. They have the ability to play different styles and have proven to be a motivated team. Depth could be an issue, but if they’re healthy on the back end, they defend extremely well and with a purpose. If the goaltending tandem between Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss can hold up it could be the X-factor for the Islanders.
5. Florida Panthers
The Panthers have offensive firepower, and if goalie Sergei Bobrovsky returns in top form, Florida could be a problem for many teams, including Boston. Fortunately for the Bruins, they found a way to beat Bobrovsky last spring while he was playing for the Blue Jackets. No doubt that will be on both teams’ minds.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are an extremely skilled and fast team. Carolina’s biggest issue continues to be its goaltending and lack of consistency between Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Carolina is not a heavy squad and it showed during the Eastern Conference final last spring when the Bruins finished with a four-game sweep.
7. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has skill up front, but the Canadiens are overall not a big, strong, physical team. There are holes in the lineup, including lack of depth at forward. Defensively there are holes, too. Fortunately, they have a guy named Carey Price between the pipes and he’s the type of goalie who will benefit from the extended layoff in order to get healthy. No doubt Price can steal a series, or two, or three, or even the Cup given his ability. If he stands on his head then it will be tough for any team to beat Montreal. Plus, coach Claude Julien would have his team motivated to beat his former organization.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
The team is still dealing with a stigma. Its inability to produce a deep run in the playoffs has haunted Toronto and that’s not likely to change this season. The Maple Leafs lack physicality and heaviness in their game and that’s a must-have quality in the postseason. While they’re not a strong defensive team, they have the ability to run-and-gun and beat you on special teams. But the Bruins are in Toronto’s head and under its skin thanks to the events of the last few seasons. Nothing will change this summer if this heated rivalry is rekindled.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 5, 2020 7:51:01 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 5, 2020 8:35:15 GMT -5
On Monday, colleague Joe McDonald and I spoke with Bruce Cassidy on the Perfection Pod. We talked about the Bruins’ preparations for the skates and workouts of the NHL’s Phase 2, Cassidy’s plans for training camp and his opinion on the postseason format.
Naturally, we visited the other issues at hand: coronavirus and racism.
“You’re trying to work and you’re trying to put together a game plan with how to proceed with playoffs,” I said. “And yet around you globally, you’ve got virus. You’ve got racial injustice going on. I’m wondering how you put this all into perspective in terms of how you stay focused on your job. How are you proceeding? How are you thinking? Where does this all fit into place for you amid your surroundings?”
Cassidy took a brief pause. Then a short breath.
“With COVID-19, we’ve obviously now experienced it for almost three months,” Cassidy answered. “I think we’re all kind of adjusting to what people call the new normal in terms of social distancing and face masks and what’s appropriate and what’s not. Last night, our family sat around and watched the news and watched the protests down in downtown Boston. We had our discussion. As you know, I have some young children that have some questions. So for me, I’ve always been able to separate it because of the requirements that I have, personally, with my family. My kids are young. They like to have their mother and father around. They have questions. They like the interaction. So there’s a balance for me. It’s helped me become a better coach and a better parent. For that part of it, that’s how we’ve handled it in our household. I think every household should have their discussion with their children on what’s going on in the world right now.”
Cassidy continued. He noted how 11-year-old daughter Shannon and 9-year-old son Cole can’t see their friends. He discussed the unknowns of returning to play. Cassidy said how grateful he was for the opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup.
We concluded the interview. After some closing chit-chat, we said goodbye.
Over the next few days, Cassidy reflected on his answer regarding the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing. He wasn’t satisfied, perhaps because he was not ready for the conversation. He talked about it with Julie, his wife.
Meanwhile, protests continued worldwide, some violent. Hockey players, including the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron, raised their voices and opened their wallets.
On Thursday, Brandon McNelis, Bruins director of communications and content, left me a message. Cassidy wanted to talk about racism.
Cassidy had a lot to say.
“We know this country has different opinions,” Cassidy said. “That’s one of the best things about this country. You’re allowed different opinions, freedom of speech, freedom to express yourself. But at what point, when something’s morally wrong and unjust, do you say it’s enough? It’s enough. Enough is enough.”
Affecting change Cassidy was born in Ottawa. His father, Leonard, was a foreman at a paper plant. His mother, Louise, who attended nursing school, stayed at home to raise Bruce and older brother Steve.
Cassidy played junior hockey in his hometown. He coached junior in Kingston, Ontario, for parts of two seasons.
Cassidy may soon be an American. His application for US citizenship is pending.
He would like to vote. It may be one way he could help affect change.
“As a coach, you’re thinking about solutions — what can we do,” Cassidy said. “The obvious is the Nov. 3 vote. Here, you can influence policy. Even today, in the Senate, they can’t pass the Emmett Till Anti-lynching bill. To me, it’s mind-boggling that you can’t get that done. That is an opportunity to speak up with the people you elect.”
For Cassidy, change starts at home. At night, he has been reading Matt Kalman’s “100 Things Bruins Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” to his son. Their material may change.
The Cassidys’ intention is to teach their children about the challenges of being black. As such, they intend to find age-appropriate books for Shannon and Cole that explain the black experience.
“I’m going to do a better job of talking about history and how difficult it’s been for the black community,” Cassidy said. “And how privileged we are, living in it.”
Cassidy is familiar with white privilege. It didn’t always resonate.
In Ottawa, his parents never owned a house. Cassidy had a paper route when he was 10 years old. He wore hand-me-downs.
Cassidy didn’t think he was privileged. He forgot about the other word.
“I lost sight of not having to go through those examples, like being pulled over,” Cassidy said. “What the black community has to go through compared to a white person, it’s different. I can’t sit here and know what that’s like. With Cole, it’s understanding what other people are going through the best you can without having the ability to walk in their shoes.”
Cassidy’s kids are listening. Recently, Shannon posted a video on Tiktok. She said black lives matter and expressed her unequivocal support. Her parents were surprised, proud and a bit wistful.
“I’d rather she didn’t have to live in that type of world,” Cassidy said. “But she’s doing her thing to eradicate racism. This is an awesome thing at a young age. As a parent, you always want to leave the world a better place for your children. Brick by brick, you build it. Everyone does their part. I want her to live in a world where there are no injustices or inequalities. That might be a pipe dream. But wouldn’t that be great?”
Such moments make Cassidy feel better. So do uncomfortable ones.
Cassidy related a recent phone conversation with someone he knows well. They had been talking about the issues at hands: politics, protests, violence.
His acquaintance, whom he declined to identify, suggested how the black community should act. Cassidy raised his objections strongly.
“It’s not easy to say to someone,” Cassidy said. “But maybe hanging up the phone, maybe this person will think about what was said. Maybe they’ll realize they should look and dig a little deeper. Maybe change the way I think, change my behavior. That’s what made me feel good about it. It made me feel better.”
Cassidy has been thinking deeply about two quotes. The first is from Oprah Winfrey, who, to paraphrase, said that racism ends when the last racist dies. The second is from Frederick Douglass: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
They resonate with Cassidy. Even if they are not ones he is used to repeating publicly.
Owning a platform Cassidy enjoys talking deeply about hockey. He readily explains why he changed lines, adjusted a power-play unit or benched one of his players. Cassidy believes it’s part of his duty to expand the knowledge of the game he loves.
But he has not been comfortable about expanding his voice beyond hockey’s boundaries. Cassidy is a 55-year-old hockey coach. He did not attend college. He is Canadian. He is a white man.
By nature and by upbringing, Cassidy is unassuming and unafraid to flatten social strata. He is one of the few head coaches to eat pregame meals in media rooms alongside reporters.
“I understand it more now as a leader of men in Boston,” Cassidy said of his platform. “I’m one of the head coaches who’s in front of the media a lot. I’ve always been open-minded and honest with my answers. I’ve stayed away from controversy. I’m a kid who grew up in Canada. I’m here to coach a hockey team. I’ve brushed it off as not important. Now you’re reading about what’s going on all over with different people stepping up and making statements. Maybe my opinion is more valuable than I gave it credit for.”
Now, Cassidy has a better understanding of the power of his platform. He’s experiencing all kinds of feelings: sadness, empathy, anger. He wants to channel his emotions productively and publicly.
“I’m going to make sure I do my best job with my kids to educate them, so we’ve done our part,” Cassidy said. “Hopefully the other part we realize is having uncomfortable conversations about racism, the black community and the suffering that’s been going on for years. Maybe you see something, hear something within your own family, colleagues, friends and neighbors that’s not acceptable. That’s what Julie and I have talked about. We’ve got to step up more. We can’t look the other way when we hear that stuff. Maybe there’s a brother-in-law that you have to start being proactive with. You start there. If more people take that approach, it becomes more acceptable. There’s more division and less unity than we’ve seen the last three, four years. I’d like to see us get that back and do my part.”
Expressing social viewpoints is not something Cassidy arrived at rapidly. He and his wife are aware that because of his public profile, he exposes his family.
“I have two young children at home. A wife,” Cassidy said. “What if people don’t agree with me? Am I putting myself in harm’s way? You balance that with, ‘Yeah, but you need to say what you believe in.’ There’s always a back and forth with what you’re comfortable with. I don’t know if I fully am. But I’m willing to discuss it and let the chips fall where they may. It’s the right thing to do. If everyone speaks up against these injustices, maybe that will help and we can be part of the solution. If I’m in a position where someone asks my opinion, maybe I’ve got to give it. It’s on me to say it.”
Preparing for the playoffs Earlier this week, Cassidy had a virtual meeting with the team’s analytics department. He is participating in seminars through the NHL Coaches’ Association. He awaits the start of training camp, whenever that may be.
He will return to a Bruins room that, he believes, is free of racism. Cassidy knows that does not hold true throughout the sport.
“Players do say they still hear it,” Cassidy said, relating the experiences he has read of black players. “That’s unfortunate. Very unfortunate. There’s no place for that anywhere.”
Next month, if all goes according to plan, Cassidy will lead young men toward their goal. Meanwhile, he has two children who need his guidance more than ever. He sees no choice but to set the right example.
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Post by madmarx on Jun 5, 2020 16:52:01 GMT -5
The loss to St Louis still fucking hurts, feels like the 70 regular season games this year haven’t even happened. If this playoffs doesn’t happen this feeling will drag on for another full year. The. Conn Smythe trophy should have been jointly awarded to Steve Kozari and Kelly Sutherland for their amazing work in game 5. I ejected my neighbour that night ( Leaf Fan ) for being a total asshat and cheering on the Refs that screwed the Bruins..🤬🤬🤬🤬
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Post by madmarx on Jun 5, 2020 16:54:20 GMT -5
Game seven against St. Louis. I agree that was probably the weakest game for Tuukka, he needed to match Binnington on the other end and didn’t. However I didn’t think Halak was ever in a position to start a game and you couldn’t pull Tuukka in the game 7 final. I love his game but he needs to get done when it matters
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Post by KSJ08 on Jun 5, 2020 18:53:25 GMT -5
The loss to St Louis still fucking hurts, feels like the 70 regular season games this year haven’t even happened. If this playoffs doesn’t happen this feeling will drag on for another full year. The. Conn Smythe trophy should have been jointly awarded to Steve Kozari and Kelly Sutherland for their amazing work in game 5. I'm still pissed off about Noel getting NOT only slew footed BUT the trip IN FRONT of that POS REF!! I swear they had word from Buttman THAT the Blues WILL Win the Cup to promote them!!! Yeah I have a Tin Foil Hat for such reason's & I won't EVEN go onto my Polictical beliefs with that on Drop the Fucking Puck already!! Let's Go Bruins!!!
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Post by KSJ08 on Jun 5, 2020 19:08:36 GMT -5
After the Bruins get through the round-robin format when the NHL resumes its season, no matter where they’re seeded, any of the potential opponents will create their fair share of challenges. At the time of the NHL’s pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, the Bruins had built the necessary momentum for the stretch run and were gearing up for the playoffs as the best team in the league. Well, that’s all changed. Yes, the Bruins still have the experience, veteran leadership, offensive power, solid defense and elite goaltending tandem to produce a deep playoff run, but it will be a more even playing field once games resume. The biggest issue for Boston will be how quickly the players can find their legs, reignite their game and regain that chemistry in order to embark on another trek to the Stanley Cup Final. First, the Bruins, Capitals, Lightning and Flyers will participate in the Eastern Conference’s round-robin format, which will serve as a good warm-up scenario for all four teams. After that, there are many questions and uncertainties as to how the rest of the postseason will play out given the unique circumstances. Here are the potential first-round matchups for the Bruins, ranked in order of the challenges they present for Boston. Ranking the 8 opponents the Bruins could face in the first... 1. New York Rangers This one is interesting. Despite their record — their 79 points are the second-lowest (to Montreal) among this group — the Rangers will be a dangerous team and could be the most challenging foe for the Bruins. 2. Columbus Blue Jackets The Bruins experienced first-hand last spring that Columbus is a big, strong, fast and heavy team. Columbus gave everything it had against the Bruins last postseason, but Boston turned out to be the better team. Now, the Blue Jackets are healthy and have Seth Jones, considered one of the best defensemen in the league, ready to go. 3. Pittsburgh Penguins As good as the Bruins are down the middle, the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the Nos. 1 and 2 centers. Matchups could be an issue for the Bruins and that’s why it could come down to the third and fourth lines for each team to decide the winner. Pittsburgh has scoring power, and like every other team, the Penguins appear healthy for now, with the exception of forward Nick Bjugstad, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury. 4. New York Islanders This could be the surprise horse in the playoff race. The Islanders play hard and can score in numerous ways. They have the ability to play different styles and have proven to be a motivated team. Depth could be an issue, but if they’re healthy on the back end, they defend extremely well and with a purpose. If the goaltending tandem between Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss can hold up it could be the X-factor for the Islanders. 5. Florida Panthers The Panthers have offensive firepower, and if goalie Sergei Bobrovsky returns in top form, Florida could be a problem for many teams, including Boston. Fortunately for the Bruins, they found a way to beat Bobrovsky last spring while he was playing for the Blue Jackets. No doubt that will be on both teams’ minds. 6. Carolina Hurricanes The Hurricanes are an extremely skilled and fast team. Carolina’s biggest issue continues to be its goaltending and lack of consistency between Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Carolina is not a heavy squad and it showed during the Eastern Conference final last spring when the Bruins finished with a four-game sweep. 7. Montreal Canadiens Montreal has skill up front, but the Canadiens are overall not a big, strong, physical team. There are holes in the lineup, including lack of depth at forward. Defensively there are holes, too. Fortunately, they have a guy named Carey Price between the pipes and he’s the type of goalie who will benefit from the extended layoff in order to get healthy. No doubt Price can steal a series, or two, or three, or even the Cup given his ability. If he stands on his head then it will be tough for any team to beat Montreal. Plus, coach Claude Julien would have his team motivated to beat his former organization. 8. Toronto Maple Leafs The team is still dealing with a stigma. Its inability to produce a deep run in the playoffs has haunted Toronto and that’s not likely to change this season. The Maple Leafs lack physicality and heaviness in their game and that’s a must-have quality in the postseason. While they’re not a strong defensive team, they have the ability to run-and-gun and beat you on special teams. But the Bruins are in Toronto’s head and under its skin thanks to the events of the last few seasons. Nothing will change this summer if this heated rivalry is rekindled. Just remember ALL teams are starting off the same "Getting their legs under them" there is no advantage/disadvantage at this point.
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 5, 2020 20:05:14 GMT -5
On Monday, colleague Joe McDonald and I spoke with Bruce Cassidy on the Perfection Pod. We talked about the Bruins’ preparations for the skates and workouts of the NHL’s Phase 2, Cassidy’s plans for training camp and his opinion on the postseason format. Naturally, we visited the other issues at hand: coronavirus and racism. “You’re trying to work and you’re trying to put together a game plan with how to proceed with playoffs,” I said. “And yet around you globally, you’ve got virus. You’ve got racial injustice going on. I’m wondering how you put this all into perspective in terms of how you stay focused on your job. How are you proceeding? How are you thinking? Where does this all fit into place for you amid your surroundings?” Cassidy took a brief pause. Then a short breath. “With COVID-19, we’ve obviously now experienced it for almost three months,” Cassidy answered. “I think we’re all kind of adjusting to what people call the new normal in terms of social distancing and face masks and what’s appropriate and what’s not. Last night, our family sat around and watched the news and watched the protests down in downtown Boston. We had our discussion. As you know, I have some young children that have some questions. So for me, I’ve always been able to separate it because of the requirements that I have, personally, with my family. My kids are young. They like to have their mother and father around. They have questions. They like the interaction. So there’s a balance for me. It’s helped me become a better coach and a better parent. For that part of it, that’s how we’ve handled it in our household. I think every household should have their discussion with their children on what’s going on in the world right now.” Cassidy continued. He noted how 11-year-old daughter Shannon and 9-year-old son Cole can’t see their friends. He discussed the unknowns of returning to play. Cassidy said how grateful he was for the opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup. We concluded the interview. After some closing chit-chat, we said goodbye. Over the next few days, Cassidy reflected on his answer regarding the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing. He wasn’t satisfied, perhaps because he was not ready for the conversation. He talked about it with Julie, his wife. Meanwhile, protests continued worldwide, some violent. Hockey players, including the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron, raised their voices and opened their wallets. On Thursday, Brandon McNelis, Bruins director of communications and content, left me a message. Cassidy wanted to talk about racism. Cassidy had a lot to say. “We know this country has different opinions,” Cassidy said. “That’s one of the best things about this country. You’re allowed different opinions, freedom of speech, freedom to express yourself. But at what point, when something’s morally wrong and unjust, do you say it’s enough? It’s enough. Enough is enough.” Affecting change Cassidy was born in Ottawa. His father, Leonard, was a foreman at a paper plant. His mother, Louise, who attended nursing school, stayed at home to raise Bruce and older brother Steve. Cassidy played junior hockey in his hometown. He coached junior in Kingston, Ontario, for parts of two seasons. Cassidy may soon be an American. His application for US citizenship is pending. He would like to vote. It may be one way he could help affect change. “As a coach, you’re thinking about solutions — what can we do,” Cassidy said. “The obvious is the Nov. 3 vote. Here, you can influence policy. Even today, in the Senate, they can’t pass the Emmett Till Anti-lynching bill. To me, it’s mind-boggling that you can’t get that done. That is an opportunity to speak up with the people you elect.” For Cassidy, change starts at home. At night, he has been reading Matt Kalman’s “100 Things Bruins Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” to his son. Their material may change. The Cassidys’ intention is to teach their children about the challenges of being black. As such, they intend to find age-appropriate books for Shannon and Cole that explain the black experience. “I’m going to do a better job of talking about history and how difficult it’s been for the black community,” Cassidy said. “And how privileged we are, living in it.” Cassidy is familiar with white privilege. It didn’t always resonate. In Ottawa, his parents never owned a house. Cassidy had a paper route when he was 10 years old. He wore hand-me-downs. Cassidy didn’t think he was privileged. He forgot about the other word. “I lost sight of not having to go through those examples, like being pulled over,” Cassidy said. “What the black community has to go through compared to a white person, it’s different. I can’t sit here and know what that’s like. With Cole, it’s understanding what other people are going through the best you can without having the ability to walk in their shoes.” Cassidy’s kids are listening. Recently, Shannon posted a video on Tiktok. She said black lives matter and expressed her unequivocal support. Her parents were surprised, proud and a bit wistful. Great read Seabass, thank you.. Good on Cassidy for speaking out on racsist issues. I was happy to read he dont believe racsism exists in the Bruins dressing room. And it's pretty cool how he has his pre-game meals with the media instead of the team..He seems to be a unique, good natured individual and certainly a great family man. Here in Newfoundland, Racism isnt an issue because 99% of our population is white. I have never heard of any issues at all. Even throughout Canada where we have all types of different cultures, I dont believe racism is a big issue at all and I really hope it stays that way. Regardless of the color of our skin, we are all equal or at least I believe we should be. Color of your skin should NEVER matter.
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Post by kjc2 on Jun 6, 2020 8:56:55 GMT -5
The loss to St Louis still fucking hurts, feels like the 70 regular season games this year haven’t even happened. If this playoffs doesn’t happen this feeling will drag on for another full year. The. Conn Smythe trophy should have been jointly awarded to Steve Kozari and Kelly Sutherland for their amazing work in game 5. I ejected my neighbour that night ( Leaf Fan ) for being a total asshat and cheering on the Refs that screwed the Bruins..🤬🤬🤬🤬 I was loosing my shit at the end of that second when a Blues player had Krug in a head lock and the Blues beat Tuuka, had a wide open net and luckily Krejci dove into the crease to make the stop. That was a non call that should have been an automatic penalty because it resulted in a grade A scoring chance. I really felt like something was up right there. In the third it happened again with Aciari, slew foot, down on the back of his head and he couldn’t get up even. WTF? Did management even go to the league about that game or do they just suck it up and live with it?
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Post by KSJ08 on Jun 6, 2020 13:58:59 GMT -5
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Post by nfld77 on Jun 6, 2020 23:11:04 GMT -5
Penguins announce one of there Players tested positive for Covid-19 .. That makes a total of nine players from three different teams who have tested positive for coronavirus. This was my biggest beef all along and why I dont believe we'll see any hockey until Covid19 is 100% cleaned up and thats gonna require a successful vaccine, nothing else will completely stop this epidemic. Did I read here somewhere that 30 players had concerns? I say more like 30 teams!! Of all sports, hockey is probably the very one that has the least chance of beginning anytime soon simply because it's a contact sport. Players sweat profusely on the ice and it's an "In your face" sport.. Even IF they somehow resume play, if someone has the virus while playing, and the odds are VERY high someone will, play will no doubt come to a screching halt and that'll likely be the end of it...Because that person will spread the virus to several players,now we're talking about players putting their lives in jeoperdy. Man I would hate to see that happen. Look, I hate to sound like the negative one here BUT I'm honestly only trying to be realistic, looking ahead to what could possible happen and every one of you know this can happen. You also know I love hockey and our Bruins just as much as you do BUT I simply do not want hockey under those circumstances, there, I said it. IF players lives are in any way jeoperdized, if there a huge chance players and staff can catch this fucking virus, I'm out and would vote 100% against it. For those who may not agree, answer this question. How come fans are not allowed to attend games if they go ahead with it?? Good Lord, if it's too dangerous for them, how dangerous is it for the players, coaches, staff, refereee's??? I'm sorry but personally I think it's way too risky and what kind of example is it setting for the rest of the world. All those people who are fighting to convince people to distance themselves plus taking all sorts of safety precautions. It's working and we're proving it here in Newfoundland, just to name 1 of 100's of places..We have something like one case per month and it's always someone returning from work from another province or country. I know we dont have a big population but we did have cases at first until we took the same precautions other provinces did. Ontario and Quebec are having problems because of such a bigger population.. But it would be 100 times worst if people didnt protect themselves.
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 8, 2020 6:08:52 GMT -5
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Post by SeaBass on Jun 8, 2020 6:10:32 GMT -5
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