I'm not sure what the issue was Saturday night, but the Bruins looked like they were playing a regular season game in the middle of April out there. Are these guys fucking serious? That game was probably one of the worst displays of hockey I've seen from Boston this season. There was little jump to their step after a dominating Game 1. They seemed to be floating around out there. Much like Pittsburgh against New York, you have to try if you want to win games. You don't win games on paper.
Tonight will be a telling tale for the boys. It's the first playoff game in the ACC since 2004 and it will be loud. I mean, that's not saying much when you watch games on NESN because the Garden has sounded quiet on TV. I tried looking for decible levels during the playoffs, but I haven't been able to find any. Either way, Toronto is going to feed off of this energy in a big way.
It all stems from the Bruins finding their drive.
I know we use the term "lazy" a lot when it comes to the Boston Bruins, but I think that it's starting to be engrained in who they are. This team is either a bunch of world beaters or they are getting stomped on. There's really no middle ground. Saturday night, they got stomped on.
And I don't want to hear this bullshit about the refs.
(I forget who made this, but thanks)
The refs have been horrible all season long and continue to be horrible in every playoff series. Welcome to the NHL, where their referees are straight garbage. If the Bruins allow the referees to get in their heads, they deserve to lose. They're fucking professionals – they can't sulk because the refs have given the edge to the Maple Leafs.
Is it frustrating to watch your team get 8 seconds of power play time in one game? Yup, especially when Toronto was just as physical as they were – but those are the breaks. You know what doesn't win you games? Bitching about it. I have a better idea, stop being pussies and score some fucking goals.
Especially with this guy in net:
But then again, we have a coach who is making the NHL's active leading goal scorer playing with Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly. How about you put a finisher with Jaromir Jagr and not two players who finished with a combined 9 goals this season. How about moving Brad Marchand down to the third line and having Jagr with Bergeron and Seguin?
I mean, I have nothing against Kelly and Peverley, outside of the fact that neither of them are worth the amount of money they're being paid, but you can't expect Jaromir Jagr to perform well when those two can't get out of their own way. I mean, put the guy with Dan Paille and Greg Campbell at least.
I can't do this anymore.
I hope this team comes out with some fire in their belly because if leave Toronto down 3-1, I don't see a way they come back from it. Tonight is a pivatol game for the Bruins.
After the jump, the rest of the preview…
Boston Strong Pins
You guys remember @BosBruinsFan right? He's the guy who has made some of the best Photoshops we've ever seen, including this one:
Well he has teamed up with DaSilva Jewelry Designs and made a custom Boston Strong pin. The pin itself is $9.99, with $2 of every pin bought being donated to the families of the Boston Marathon bomings. Head over there and pick one up – it's a cool design you won't see anywhere else and it's donations are going towards a good cause.
Bruins Projected Lines
Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Tyler Seguin
Dan Paille – Greg Campbell – Jaromir Jagr
Shawn Thornton – Chris Kelly – Rich Peverley
Zdeno Chara – Dennis Seidenberg
Johnny Boychuk – Andrew Ference
Adam McQuaid – Wade Redden
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Flying Bear T-Shirt
You know the deal. Our Flying Bear t-shirt from SupahFan is flying out the door – so grab yours while you still can. We're probably only doing 1 printing, so if you were waiting – STOP.
Media
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Online Feeds: HERE
Game Day Video
Man, it's always good to see the Habs get wiped all over the ice.
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