I remember resting the Bruins the last couple games in the regular season last year.
I also remember how flat they came out in the first two games in Montreal and had to pull out a miracle after finding their game again in games 3 and 4.
Rest Thomas against Ottawa. Rest Chara and Bergeron vs. Buffalo. The rest of them need to play and play well.
I remember resting the Bruins the last couple games in the regular season last year.
I also remember how flat they came out in the first two games in Montreal and had to pull out a miracle after finding their game again in games 3 and 4.
Rest Thomas against Ottawa. Rest Chara and Bergeron vs. Buffalo. The rest of them need to play and play well.
Its hard to say who is going to rest. I think chara and timmy are obvious choices but I could see sieds getting a day off if his cut is still hurting him. There are a lot of nagging injuries we don't know about that could warrant a rest.
I agree though resting just to rest may hurt against us. A solid 4 line rotation will go a long way to keeping guys fresh.
This game will have very profound psychological impacts on the winner. I would make sure I am resting the right guys and playing the right guys to win without hurting my chances of winning in the future by accumulating injuries.
This game will have very profound psychological impacts on the winner. I would make sure I am resting the right guys and playing the right guys to win without hurting my chances of winning in the future by accumulating injuries.
This game will have very profound psychological impacts on the winner. I would make sure I am resting the right guys and playing the right guys to win without hurting my chances of winning in the future by accumulating injuries.
10 years ago, the Leafs beat the Isles in a hard fought, knock down, drag out series. I'm expecting Ottawa to lose in a similar manner; a hard fought series loss in 6 or 7.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ODAAT
the fact that the Sens have a ton of players who will be experiencing NHL hockey as they have never seen it before, and even with some vets on that team, it will not be easy to adapt to a game they are unfamiliar with IMO
Ottawa's rebuild has been overstated thus far. Most of the team has playoff experience, in some cases... quite a bit.
I... what? When did the Sens become a physical force? They sure didn't seem that way against us that's for sure. Maybe they throw their weight around in their other 78 games? I honestly have no idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrainOfJ
However against Ottawa, I'm not only playing my players, I'm telling them to beat the piss out of Ottawa. Make them dread this playoff series coming.
Beyond a little of his craziness after his first sentence; you won't be able to intimidate Ottawa like Vancouver. Vancouver is one of the smallest and softest teams in the league. While Ottawa is one of the bigger and tougher teams in the league.
Vancouver had 5 top-9 forwards under 190 lbs and 2 top-4 D-men under 200 lbs last season.
Ottawa has 6 top-9 forwards above 210 lbs and 3 top-4 D-men above 210 lbs this season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ODAAT
True, but the key is not to run around trying to do so, we`ve all seen how that has worked over the years when they played the Habs.
When patient, and they wait for those opportunities rather than trying to create them, our boys more often than not do well, when trying to create that big hit by chasing players around, it often does not end well.
I'm worried about this from Ottawa's end as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by coladin
With Chara in the box the Bruins are vulnerable.
There's only one player on the Bruins who should matter to Ottawa's game plan and that's Thomas. The guy has dominated us post-lockout... even back when we had an All-Star team and the Bruins were playing AHL'ers in front of him. I don't think there is a player in the league that steps up against Ottawa as well as Thomas.
Weight is a proxy for strength; both of which are what matter when talking about size.
It's like watching 183 lb Marchand push around the 185-ish lb Sedin's. That'll work against small and soft guys. But guys like Kuba, Michalek, etc will barely notice he exists and if he touches the wrong half dozen players... they'll knock his ****in teeth down his throat.
This game will have very profound psychological impacts on the winner. I would make sure I am resting the right guys and playing the right guys to win without hurting my chances of winning in the future by accumulating injuries.
Profound Psychological Impact on the winner??? Sorry, I just have a hard time believing that a roster with as many returnee`s from a Cup team will be hurt psychologically if they were to lose to the Sens.
The Sens may take some solace from a win but everyone here knows, playoffs are a different beast, and even if either the Sens or Bruins had of swept the season series, it all means nothing come playoff time.
I remember resting the Bruins the last couple games in the regular season last year.
I also remember how flat they came out in the first two games in Montreal and had to pull out a miracle after finding their game again in games 3 and 4.
Rest Thomas against Ottawa. Rest Chara and Bergeron vs. Buffalo. The rest of them need to play and play well.
Chara being hospitalized had more to do with losing those first two games than a few players getting a breather.
As northeastern pointed out, we don't know who's dealing with what nagging injuries. Just about everyone is somewhat banged up this time of year - it's a matter of degree.
This isn't something the coach decides willy nilly. The staff, F.O. and players themselves will all have a say on who gets a breather and when.
IMHO the idea of putting Thomas in the press box for one of these games is a good one.
10 years ago, the Leafs beat the Isles in a hard fought, knock down, drag out series. I'm expecting Ottawa to lose in a similar manner; a hard fought series loss in 6 or 7.
Ottawa's rebuild has been overstated thus far. Most of the team has playoff experience, in some cases... quite a bit.
Beyond a little of his craziness after his first sentence; you won't be able to intimidate Ottawa like Vancouver. Vancouver is one of the smallest and softest teams in the league. While Ottawa is one of the bigger and tougher teams in the league.
Vancouver had 5 top-9 forwards under 190 lbs and 2 top-4 D-men under 200 lbs last season.
Ottawa has 6 top-9 forwards above 210 lbs and 3 top-4 D-men above 210 lbs this season.
I'm worried about this from Ottawa's end as well.
There's only one player on the Bruins who should matter to Ottawa's game plan and that's Thomas. The guy has dominated us post-lockout... even back when we had an All-Star team and the Bruins were playing AHL'ers in front of him. I don't think there is a player in the league that steps up against Ottawa as well as Thomas.
With all due respect, and please correct me if I missed it, but you missed perhaps the most important player in your lineup when it comes to "experience", not size and that`s your #1 goaltender, who has played exactly 6 NHL playoff games.
Sorry, 8 days outta 7, when the heat of the playoffs is on, I`ll take #30 in a spoked B jersey.
With all due respect, and please correct me if I missed it, but you missed perhaps the most important player in your lineup when it comes to "experience", not size and that`s your #1 goaltender, who has played exactly 6 NHL playoff games.
Sorry, 8 days outta 7, when the heat of the playoffs is on, I`ll take #30 in a spoked B jersey.
The year Cam Ward won the Cup he had zero playoff experience. It all depends on how your team competes.
Weight is a proxy for strength; both of which are what matter when talking about size.
It's like watching 183 lb Marchand push around the 185-ish lb Sedin's. That'll work against small and soft guys. But guys like Kuba, Michalek, etc will barely notice he exists and if he touches the wrong half dozen players... they'll knock his ****in teeth down his throat.
Nah, they won't. And it'll be fun to watch him troll the **** out of them and everyone else
The year Cam Ward won the Cup he had zero playoff experience. It all depends on how your team competes.
I know the recent history, Cam Ward also had a much stronger D core in front of him than the Sens do IMO (defensively).
I`ll stick by what I said regardless of the goalies who`ve gotten hot at the right time, I don`t see Anderson being that kind of guy.
I like the Sens (I`m a born and raised Ottawa boy) and although I like Anderson, I`m not sold in any way on Anderson, and if ya listen to the "experts" (whom have been wrong themselves) when the questions about the Sens and potential for playoff success is the topic, they all point to 2 things, can they tighten up defensively, and which Anderson will be between the pipes.
I like the B`s chances a bit better but.................Bruin bias for sure
No confidence to Ottawa what's so ever, beat the crap out of them!
Next season and forward, they will very much be the Bruins biggest challenger IMO within the Division.
This season/playoffs, for the Sens, IMO, will be much like the 07/08 season with our Bruins where little was expected, and the boys had a learning experience that I would suggest, for the younger players at that time, was a huge bonus
Next season and forward, they will very much be the Bruins biggest challenger IMO within the Division.
This season/playoffs, for the Sens, IMO, will be much like the 07/08 season with our Bruins where little was expected, and the boys had a learning experience that I would suggest, for the younger players at that time, was a huge bonus
Sens have drafted well, thing is Alfredsson is getting old, Gonchar and Philips as well and Anderson is a ?. The young core is there now they need to attract UFA's, which could be the problem for them. I still think our competition will be Montreal, they just had a terrible season but still have a good young team. Ain't going to be easy, the only thing we know for sure is the leafs will keep sucking hard
10 years ago, the Leafs beat the Isles in a hard fought, knock down, drag out series. I'm expecting Ottawa to lose in a similar manner; a hard fought series loss in 6 or 7.
Ottawa's rebuild has been overstated thus far. Most of the team has playoff experience, in some cases... quite a bit.
Beyond a little of his craziness after his first sentence; you won't be able to intimidate Ottawa like Vancouver. Vancouver is one of the smallest and softest teams in the league. While Ottawa is one of the bigger and tougher teams in the league.
Vancouver had 5 top-9 forwards under 190 lbs and 2 top-4 D-men under 200 lbs last season.
Ottawa has 6 top-9 forwards above 210 lbs and 3 top-4 D-men above 210 lbs this season.
I'm worried about this from Ottawa's end as well.
There's only one player on the Bruins who should matter to Ottawa's game plan and that's Thomas. The guy has dominated us post-lockout... even back when we had an All-Star team and the Bruins were playing AHL'ers in front of him. I don't think there is a player in the league that steps up against Ottawa as well as Thomas.
Bruins were nowhere near the equal of the Canucks skill wise so they needed to intimidate.
No reason for that vs the Sens, because I'm sorry but the Bruins are flat out a better team...Honestly, I love the Sens, the way they play, love their fans, but if the Bruins botch this one up it will be a monumental, inexcusable bollox.
As a Sens fan and a respect-laden observer of the Bruins, can I make a proposal?
Since there are no two fanbases that hate the leafs more, during the opening skate of Game#1, can both fanbases agree that it would be a good idea to keep a black stripe on the armband of both Bruins and Sens players in memory of the leafs 2011-12 season?
May the best team win, but may the leafs always loose!!!
Smith, Neil and Carkner are tough but Carkner won't--or shouldn't--be out there much.
Foligno and Greening are nothing more to worry about than Chris Kelly or Greg Campbell.
The Sens have above average toughness but the Bruins have two players in their top 5 that Ottawa can only attempt to match with 3rd/4th liners and a 7th defenseman.
As a Sens fan and a respect-laden observer of the Bruins, can I make a proposal?
Since there are no two fanbases that hate the leafs more, during the opening skate of Game#1, can both fanbases agree that it would be a good idea to keep a black stripe on the armband of both Bruins and Sens players in memory of the leafs 2011-12 season?
May the best team win, but may the leafs always loose!!!
meh. said it before and i'll say it again, i have no reason to hate the leafs. I pity them more than hate them. my true hate is reserved for the team closest to you in proximity.
I actually have no reason to hate your team either....yet.
Actually, one of the best regular season games i've attended in the last oh, 15 years had to be the Dafoe vs Lalime game. Absolute mayhem on the ice. it was beautiful.
10 years ago, the Leafs beat the Isles in a hard fought, knock down, drag out series. I'm expecting Ottawa to lose in a similar manner; a hard fought series loss in 6 or 7.
Ottawa's rebuild has been overstated thus far. Most of the team has playoff experience, in some cases... quite a bit.
Beyond a little of his craziness after his first sentence; you won't be able to intimidate Ottawa like Vancouver. Vancouver is one of the smallest and softest teams in the league. While Ottawa is one of the bigger and tougher teams in the league.
Vancouver had 5 top-9 forwards under 190 lbs and 2 top-4 D-men under 200 lbs last season.
Ottawa has 6 top-9 forwards above 210 lbs and 3 top-4 D-men above 210 lbs this season.
I'm worried about this from Ottawa's end as well.
There's only one player on the Bruins who should matter to Ottawa's game plan and that's Thomas. The guy has dominated us post-lockout... even back when we had an All-Star team and the Bruins were playing AHL'ers in front of him. I don't think there is a player in the league that steps up against Ottawa as well as Thomas.
McQuaid could beat the piss out of all those guys and he's 4th on the fighting depth chart for the Bruins.
Weight = toughness? Riiiiiight.
