Everything Else

My Heart Says No But My Head Says Stay: Bruins 2 – Hawks 1 OT (Series ties 1-1)

By Sam Fels 1270 0

Well, this isn’t any fun at all. And I think both sides would agree.

There’s so much on either side to indicate either just a shrugging this off as one game and the Hawks were always going to need to take on in the Hub, and also time to engender genuine worry. I guess what that means is that this series is exactly where most everyone thought it would. On a knife edge, between two so perfectly matched teams that barely an inch or a bounce will separate them. It isn’t going to be over any time soon, is it?

But there are warning signs. And now the Hawks face a true hornets’ nest waiting for them on Causeway St.

Everything Else

Friday Notes And Bobs And Such

By Sam Fels 1742 0

Just a couple quick notes before we all jettison for the weekend, or at least until tomorrow.

-If you believe that the practice lines is how it will shake out in Game 2, and even if it starts this way the blender is going to get hit pretty quickly just as in Game 1, then Q is starting with what he ended with on Wednesday. That’s:

Saad-Toews-Hossa

Sharp-Handzus-Kane

Bickell-Bolland-Shaw

Bollig-Kruger-Frolik

But look for what happened in Game 1. Bickell will get shifts with Toews and Hanzus. Sharp will skate with Bolland at points, and take some of his draws as well. Kane will get some looks with Toews. It’s going to be all over once Bollig gets stapled to the bench.

-Speaking of which, I thought Bollig was quite all right in Game 1. Part of that was because Frolik and Kruger were so active he had only about 10 square feet to cover. But he was in o the forecheck but didn’t get out of line to chase hits, and didn’t commit any dumb penalties. That’s about all I’m asking. Though if Horton is out, the B’s 4th line really shouldn’t be that much to overcome.

-Keith played 48 minutes on Wednesday. Though he’s a physical freak as we all know, let’s keep an eye on how he comes back. Similarly, Chara had 45 minutes and though he’s in just about the same shape as Keith, he is 33 and that’s a lot more to drag around. Though Chara doesn’t have to bail out Seabrook’s dead ass all the time.

-Horton remains day-to-day, but I’m going to be surprised if he makes it to the post for Game 2. If it was bad enough to miss overtime(s) and Julien admits that he couldn’t have played yesterday or today, it’s not the kind of thing that’s just going to get better. As you may have seen, his shoulder has been popping in and out since an April fight with Iginla, and it has to be agony. Maybe he can get shot up to give it a go, but how many hits can he take?

If Horton doesn’t go, Seguin moves to the top line where he looked pretty damn swift in Game 1. He’s a different type of threat, and it’s one that Keith is more equipped to handle, but it won’t make that line suddenly toothless. However, it’ll erode whatever flair they had on their bottom six unless Paille or Peverley or Kelly can emerge from The Phantom Tollbooth, which they haven’t all spring. It’s a definite advantage for the Hawks for sure.

-As for the whole Cubby Tees thing, I think the whole thing is silly and stupid. The adoption of “Boston Strong” is a farce in itself as I wrote about in The Indian’s editorial for Game 1. Anything that references Lance Armstrong needs to be done away with. The bullying of the Chicago Stronger t-shirt was silly too. The fact that we’re back to making fun of each other probably means we’ve moved on and are pretty much healed from the Marathon mayhem. Whatever. It’s not a big deal, but as someone who constantly is toeing the line of decent and insulting, I’m always miffed when someone gets reamed for being edgy.

Everything Else

Beard (BY CRACKEE!) Of The Day – June 14 – Terry Boers

By Sam Fels 3138 0

It’s rare that I get to step in and do one of these. It’s McClure’s and Killion’s domain. But I step into the breach today, and go with the rare beard (BY CRACKEE) of the day that one of us actually knows and has been a friend for somewhere around 20 years now.

As some of you know, I was a regular caller to the old Afternoon Show on The Score, back when they were 820am, from about the age of 12. That’s why when I email now it’s as “Once Young Sam” because back then it was just “Young Sam.”

Everything Else

Morning Links (Finals: Game 1)

By Joe DeTolve 1188 0

Here’s to hoping Sam has to write another one!

This is stupid: Chicago Tribune

Hawks once again to face “an all world goalie” CSN Autoplay

But they will be important: Cheer The Anthem

New History for Old Rivalry: Mr. Verdi

Hopefully Fro-Yo can contain himself: PuckDaddy

Education for the unwashed masses: Globe and Mail

From the ghosts of 2010:Suntimes

Hopefully our Governor will be drunk again reading proclamations on Michigan Ave: Daily Herald

Everything Else

Here Comes Your Man: Previewing The Bruin’s Goalie – Tuukka Rask

By Matthew Killion 1380 0

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins

 

I suppose time will tell if there was something in the Hawks game that got to Jonathan Quick, or if the star goalie simply had a string of bad games at the worst possible time for LA. There seemingly wasn’t a lot the Hawks did to rattle Quick other than find ways to beat him. And Duncan Keith’s goal to open the scoring on Saturday is still pretty baffling to me. Either way, the Blackhawks were facing perhaps the best goalie in the league coming in at damn near the top of his game and they found a way to beat him.

They’ll need to find whatever charm they used in the WCF and bottle it to save over the next few games because it looks like they’re going to have to do it all over again as they face the young Finn Tuukka Rask.

Everything Else

Here Comes Your Man: Previewing The Bruin's Goalie – Tuukka Rask

By 1219 0

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins

 

I suppose time will tell if there was something in the Hawks game that got to Jonathan Quick, or if the star goalie simply had a string of bad games at the worst possible time for LA. There seemingly wasn’t a lot the Hawks did to rattle Quick other than find ways to beat him. And Duncan Keith’s goal to open the scoring on Saturday is still pretty baffling to me. Either way, the Blackhawks were facing perhaps the best goalie in the league coming in at damn near the top of his game and they found a way to beat him.

They’ll need to find whatever charm they used in the WCF and bottle it to save over the next few games because it looks like they’re going to have to do it all over again as they face the young Finn Tuukka Rask.

Everything Else

Bright Light Fright: The Boston Bruins Blue Line

By Sam Fels 2012 0

Thar be monsters here.

While we highlighted the Kings unpleasant nature on defense, the Bruins bring that and more. This is a group of men who look like they belong in a bar brawl somewhere and try to turn their zone into one. But they also come with some of the warts that the Kings had as well, just not as large.

There’s no point in going any further without talking about the 6-9-sized problem on the top pairing, and that’s Zdeno Chara. This could be the biggest difference (ha ha) between what the Hawks just saw and what they’re about to see. While the Kings’ #1 d-man Drew Doughty is a great player, he can be erratic and wild and reckless at times. The Hawks got to take advantage of that. They will get no such breaks with Chara on the ice.