Round 3: Bunch of Jerks - The Return of the Dougie

TFP

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Apparently the hold up in the Conference Finals schedule announcement is because St. Louis' arena is booked on Friday night for Cher(where have we heard that before?). So if STL wins tonight they'd host Game 1 and the WCF will start on Saturday night. If anybody else hosts, the thought is that it would start Friday night. Then, Bruins Game 2 would be Saturday night instead of Sunday afternoon.
If St Louis wins and San Jose loses, you mean. If San Jose wins, they host Game 1 regardless of opponent.
 

Dr. Gonzo

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Boston’s Charlie McAvoy has been suspended for one game for an Illegal Check to the Head on Columbus’ Josh Anderson.
 

TFP

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Agreed. I didn’t see how he would avoid suspension when Thornton got a game for his hit earlier this year. Glad the Bruins won game 6, and while Moore is no McAvoy by any stretch he is a competent NHL defenseman.
Doughty has an extremely similar hit last year too and got 1 game. I think it’s absolutely fair and DOPS got it right for once.
 

cshea

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Yep, this is in line with Doughty and Jumbo.

I do wonder what they would’ve done if the on-ice officials went the match penalty route and CBJ came back to win.
 

durandal1707

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Joining the chorus here - DoPS got it right here. It was a reckless hit and it deserved discipline.

It's a big loss for the B's in Game 1, but I'm confident that the rest of the defense can get the job done.
 

LogansDad

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Yep, I absolutely agree that it should be one game. I'd be screaming for more if it was a player on another team who had a history of this stuff, but as far as I know this is Charlie's first run in. I didn't like the hit at all when i first saw it, and it hasn't gotten better on replays.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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We know he won’t be transcendent but this puts some pressure on Chara to at least be more steady than he has been. We’ve seen this sort of odd play pop up out of nowhere for him only to have him recover and look more like himself. Hopefully a bit of rest does the trick.
 

Blue Monkey

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Hartford? The Whale? I don’t think they have a chance seeing how they only beat Vancouver once, maybe twice in a lifetime.

 

Jordu

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I would guess the defense pairs would be:

Chara-Clifton
Krug-Carlo
Gryz-Moore

Please don’t play Kampfer.
I’d go with:

Chara-Carlo
Krug-Clifton
Gryz-Moore

Match up Chara-Carlo against Aho’s line. Carolina isn’t deep at forward.
 

JohnnyTheBone

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When I think of playing the 'Canes in the playoffs, I flash back to the 1999 first-round series where the 6th-seeded B's upset the 3rd-seed Hurricanes, four games to two. Shortly afterward, Steve Chiasson died trying to drive home while exceedingly drunk after leaving a season-ending party at Gary Roberts' house. Brutal.
 

cshea

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Moore is available, Miller making progress.

So, to follow up on this, I’m not so sure Moore is going in. We’ll see at practice today, but Sweeney’s full answer to the Moore question is in the video below and it isn’t convincing. “He’s available...he’s dealing with some things that make it tough....but he’s available.”

 

54thMA

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Whenever I think of playing the Hurricanes in the playoffs, I think of April 11th, 1990 when the Bruins looked like they'd be down 3-1 and finished, yet they stormed back and won that game 6-5, one of the greatest Bruins playoff games ever.

No matter what, the Hurricanes will always be the Whalers to me.
 

Dan Murfman

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Whenever I think of playing the Hurricanes in the playoffs, I think of April 11th, 1990 when the Bruins looked like they'd be down 3-1 and finished, yet they stormed back and won that game 6-5, one of the greatest Bruins playoff games ever.

No matter what, the Hurricanes will always be the Whalers to me.
Best ever game I attended until game 7 against the Leafs in’13.
 

BigMike

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Heeeeeeey, Stephen Kampfer, defenceman for the Bruins in the ECF. I didn't just shit my pants at that thought.
I don't like Kampfer and would prefer Zboril or Lauzon.

That said. Moore and Griz was a mindblowingly abysmal pairing in the Toronto series. It felt like they were pinned in for 60-90 seconds or more evey other time they took the ice. Just hard to imagine Kampfer + Griz could be any worse.

this is a series Boston should win. But I am worried about throwing away game 1
 

cshea

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Yeah they weren’t good. They got outscored 3-1 when they were on the ice together, ran at 41% possession and sub 50% in shot and chance metrics.

Moore’s availability seems murky based on Sweeney’s full answer, but I still think he’ll be the guy. If he can’t go, Kampfer would presumably be the first man up but working against him is he’s been idle since 4/15. The Providence kids last played on 4/26 so they may be a little more game ready but still the options aren’t great.

Regardless, whoever they end up inserting will not be seeing much ice time. They’ll pick their spots, but the bulk of McAvoy’s ~25 minutes will be redistributed to Chara, Carlo, Krug and Grz.
 

RIFan

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I'd expect they make up for McAvoy's absence by Chara and Carlo logging around 28 min each while Gryz and Clifton up their minutes to the 16-18 range. I'd consider Clifton for McAvoy's 2nd PP unit minutes. He was excellent on the point in the games I saw him play in Providence. Kampfer would only need to log 8-10 minutes. They've got last change so they can work the matchups. If you're going to be without McAvoy, Game 1 at home is really the best case scenario.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I'd expect they make up for McAvoy's absence by Chara and Carlo logging around 28 min each while Gryz and Clifton up their minutes to the 16-18 range. I'd consider Clifton for McAvoy's 2nd PP unit minutes. He was excellent on the point in the games I saw him play in Providence. Kampfer would only need to log 8-10 minutes. They've got last change so they can work the matchups. If you're going to be without McAvoy, Game 1 at home is really the best case scenario.
This is spot on, but I wouldn't roll Chara out there for that many minutes.

The defense has been pretty good and Carolinas offense is very shallow. They'll survive game one at home.
 

NYCSox

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If the schedule works out to be Thursday followed by Sunday that would be ideal for running up the minutes for the key D men.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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Down here in the Carolina's hoping G4 falls on a weekend day or Friday. Not too hopeful. Last years schedule for both Conference finals was every other day.

ECF May 11,13,15,17,19,21,23
WCF May 12,14,16,18,20

Even if G1 & G2 are Thu - Sun, doesn't look like G4 makes it to Friday.
 

j44thor

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I'm fine with staring Backes but hope they don't hesitate to give Kuhlman a shot if/when Backes ends up being ineffective in this series. Doesn't seem like a great fit against CAR fast D. You need a lot more speed than size this series. Going to be tough to generate a forecheck when their D can get it out so quickly you have no time to get on top of them.
 

tonyandpals

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Down here in the Carolina's hoping G4 falls on a weekend day or Friday. Not too hopeful. Last years schedule for both Conference finals was every other day.

ECF May 11,13,15,17,19,21,23
WCF May 12,14,16,18,20

Even if G1 & G2 are Thu - Sun, doesn't look like G4 makes it to Friday.
Yeah can't see any extra days off while in NC.
 

joe dokes

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I'm fine with staring Backes but hope they don't hesitate to give Kuhlman a shot if/when Backes ends up being ineffective in this series. Doesn't seem like a great fit against CAR fast D. You need a lot more speed than size this series. Going to be tough to generate a forecheck when their D can get it out so quickly you have no time to get on top of them.
Cassidy has been remarkably candid about Backes. After Game 6 the other night he wondered aloud (and sort of unprompted) whether Backes's legs could deliver even his current 10-minute effort in sustained every-other-day play. I'd think you'd want the speed, especially without McAvoy in Game 1 to help paper over mistakes. But Cassidy seems to have a good handle on personnel, the willingness to make moves, and players who have bought in. (Although I suspect those are themes common to each of the remaining teams).
 

j44thor

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Cassidy has been remarkably candid about Backes. After Game 6 the other night he wondered aloud (and sort of unprompted) whether Backes's legs could deliver even his current 10-minute effort in sustained every-other-day play. I'd think you'd want the speed, especially without McAvoy in Game 1 to help paper over mistakes. But Cassidy seems to have a good handle on personnel, the willingness to make moves, and players who have bought in. (Although I suspect those are themes common to each of the remaining teams).
Yes I did see the interview and should have couched my thoughts differently. I have full confidence that Cassidy won't hesitate to sit Backes if he isn't a fit for the series. My bigger concern is how bad will Backes look vs. a much faster CAR team. Only takes a handful of plays to tilt a game/series at this point of the playoffs.

Honestly I wouldn't want to be in Cassidy's shoes. Tough to bench a guy who has been very productive on a team that has won 4 straight games and brings certain intangibles that a rookie most certainly won't. At the same time the B's could be exposed by having too heavy a lineup against such a fast possession oriented team.
 

joe dokes

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Yes I did see the interview and should have couched my thoughts differently. I have full confidence that Cassidy won't hesitate to sit Backes if he isn't a fit for the series. My bigger concern is how bad will Backes look vs. a much faster CAR team. Only takes a handful of plays to tilt a game/series at this point of the playoffs.

Honestly I wouldn't want to be in Cassidy's shoes. Tough to bench a guy who has been very productive on a team that has won 4 straight games and brings certain intangibles that a rookie most certainly won't. At the same time the B's could be exposed by having too heavy a lineup against such a fast possession oriented team.
Agreed. I wasn't being critical of your take. While not the worst problem in the world to have, it is a tough call.
 

kenneycb

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That Sunday game is awful. 67 and sunny out on Mother's Day and they throw a 3pm game in.

On other other side, if the Bruins are in position to win in 5, that Saturday night game would be amazing.
 

DJnVa

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That Sunday game is awful. 67 and sunny out on Mother's Day and they throw a 3pm game in.

On other other side, if the Bruins are in position to win in 5, that Saturday night game would be amazing.
Doing a brunch for Mother's Day. That time works for me.
 

pedro1918

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I can't stand the schedule. As a father, husband and son, an afternoon game on Mother's Day is the worst. I have zero chance of catching that game. The 8:00 starts on weeknights mean my kid is going to be mad each night when I send her to bed after the second period. The one "non-school night" gets a 7:15 start? They are just mocking me with that one. They should be playing this Saturday night. Is there an issue at the building? Oh well.
 
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tonyandpals

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Not super psyched about the 3pm moms day as I probably can't go now, but can watch for sure. Gone for the week in Vegas, get home Friday, spring that game on her, divorced by Monday maybe? Maybe I can convince her to go and bring the kids to mimis. Happy mother's day mom. Enjoy!

Hoping that puck drops right at 8 as I have about a 3 hour window before getting on a plane.

Probably way too confident but
I like the Bruins in wrapping this up next weekend at home.