8/26: Game 3 - Ride the Lightning

tmracht

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 19, 2009
3,070
Hopefully they come out with the urgency they showed at the end of the 3rd period. That is the level of battling and puck retrieval it will take to beat Tampa. They're a great team as well.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
My adjustments would be Ritchie and Wagner out, Lindholm and Kuhlman in.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Kase
Kuraly - Coyle - Bjork
Nordstrom - Lindholm - Kuhlman

I'm hoping last night was just an off night for the 2nd line and they'll rebound so I won't touch them. 4th line needs to be reworked, they've been awful through 2 games and they can't continue to run the same trio out there. Kuhlman is a better fit for the 4th line than Studnicka. I think Kuhlman's skating will play well against Tampa.. Kuraly is part of the 4th line mess but he does seem to make big plays a big spots so I'll keep him in there at Ritchie's expense.

I'd probably leave the defense alone. There's been some chatter about taking Clifton out for Lauzon. I agree Clifton wasn't good last night and tends to get himself in trouible/out of position but I think they need his skill set in there. They are struggling to move the puck and he's a guy who can be a one man breakout. I think Lauzon brings them too far in the other direction with the stay at home guys. To be honest, if I was sitting anyone it would probably be Chara. He basically only gets DZone starts against Point/Kucherov which is a real big ask, but he is really struggling. Through 2 games he has gotten zero offensive zone starts and 37 D zone starts at ES. It's really showing though, they are getting killed with him out there.
 

Maximus

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
5,774
My adjustments would be Ritchie and Wagner out, Lindholm and Kuhlman in.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Kase
Kuraly - Coyle - Bjork
Nordstrom - Lindholm - Kuhlman

I'm hoping last night was just an off night for the 2nd line and they'll rebound so I won't touch them. 4th line needs to be reworked, they've been awful through 2 games and they can't continue to run the same trio out there. Kuhlman is a better fit for the 4th line than Studnicka. I think Kuhlman's skating will play well against Tampa.. Kuraly is part of the 4th line mess but he does seem to make big plays a big spots so I'll keep him in there at Ritchie's expense.

I'd probably leave the defense alone. There's been some chatter about taking Clifton out for Lauzon. I agree Clifton wasn't good last night and tends to get himself in trouible/out of position but I think they need his skill set in there. They are struggling to move the puck and he's a guy who can be a one man breakout. I think Lauzon brings them too far in the other direction with the stay at home guys. To be honest, if I was sitting anyone it would probably be Chara. He basically only gets DZone starts against Point/Kucherov which is a real big ask, but he is really struggling. Through 2 games he has gotten zero offensive zone starts and 37 D zone starts at ES. It's really showing though, they are getting killed with him out there.
I'm ok with either Kuhlman or Studs replacing Ritchie the statue, although I prefer Studs since I think he has more upside. I like Lauzon against this grittier Bolts but I like Clifton moving the puck. I agree about Chara but it will never happen, the only alternative would be with 7D which I'm not opposed to as long as Ritchie sits.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Last change will help tonight. Cooper did a good job of getting the matchups he wanted in the 1st 2 games. If they go with 7 D, I can see Cliffy getting some wing time on DZone starts and Cassidy being able to better spot Chara in the best situations for him. I really don't want to see Chara pull more than 12 minutes of ice after on a back-to-back with the way he has struggled. The one good thing Chara has seemed to play much better after games when he looked completely cooked. Hopefully he bounces back because they need him to be at least competent.
 

Cotillion

New Member
Jun 11, 2019
4,926
Scary thing is how often Chara whiffs on puck clears when the puck is on his stick and he isn’t even being harassed.

And his backhand clears are so weak that he might as well not even be trying to clear it
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,430
afbeaksdhlhsdbajhbldjshaljfljdfhbalsj

My hotel doesn't have NBCSN (or even NESN). Going to have to watch this one online hopefully (or the first period at least, before hatewatching RNC)

I look forward to reading this thread though.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,237
Scary thing is how often Chara whiffs on puck clears when the puck is on his stick and he isn’t even being harassed.

And his backhand clears are so weak that he might as well not even be trying to clear it
it's been that way all year. For awhile I thought he had a bad elbow or something.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Hate to harp on it/bring it up, but I wonder if Bergeron is the F in question tonight. Bergy played 18:31 last night, Marchand was 21:00, Pastrnak 21:50. He's the only forward whose ice time varied significantly from his line mates. Bergy was 7th in 5x5 ice time among forwards. They're definitely doing some spot picking with his usage.
 

Bergs

funky and cold
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
21,613
Hate to harp on it/bring it up, but I wonder if Bergeron is the F in question tonight. Bergy played 18:31 last night, Marchand was 21:00, Pastrnak 21:50. He's the only forward whose ice time varied significantly from his line mates. Bergy was 7th in 5x5 ice time among forwards. They're definitely doing some spot picking with his usage.
I would not be at all surprised. He wasn't moving very well.
 

Jordu

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2003
8,961
Brookline
Good hockey game last night. I would like another good hockey game tonight but with the Bruins in the right side of the score.

They need to start on time, as Cassidy says.

Coyle needs help on the wings.

Carlo needs to be better.

Big night coming for the Krejci line.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
I'll be following the gamethreads from the protest. Be descriptive when something awesome happens.

Edit: or not? This decentralized organization sucks sometimes. I think there is going to be a demonstration at the Rose Center since the Blazers game was cancelled.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 2, 2006
10,736
NJ
Last night they played like shit for much of the game, yet almost won. Tonight, play better, and crush them. Crucial game. Hope they show max effort.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
There is speculation that Kuraly is the injured player. He was given a maintenance day prior to the series starting.

Moore hasn’t played in forever. He didn’t get into the exhibition game or any of the round robins.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 2, 2006
10,736
NJ
Optimistic prediction:

Bruins - 4
Bolts - 2

Pasta two goals. DeBrusk one goal. Coyle one goal.
 

Jordu

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2003
8,961
Brookline
Lindholm bring speed. Lauzon brings size. I have no idea what Moore brings at this point. May he have the game of his career.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Feels strange and honestly wrong that this game is proceeding tonight
You know, I go back and forth on this.

I wish the NHL would be somewhat more proactive and more visible with their stance.

But what's them delaying the game one or two nights going to do? It'll seem forced, and pandering. I don't know.