10:44 PM (Post-game) - Claude Julien just wrapped up. He broke the flow of the game down into the three periods. The first period he thought Carolina was better, but not that much better. Good skating both ways and some chances for both teams. The second period he thought the Canes handily outplayed his team, and I would have to agree. For the final frame, he thought his team woke up a bit and skated harder, but a combination of big saves from Cam Ward and a "too little, too late" aspect of the comeback proved to be too much.
Claude was impressed by some of the adjustments Carolina made. He also said he expects his team to be able to bounce back from this bit of adversity in two days when they head down South for game three. I'll have a complete analysis of this series up tomorrow here on YoungGunsRadio.com and don't forget to listen for the Bruins Minute tomorrow during 1510 AM's new political talk daytime line-up. I am off to the Greatest for a nightcap, so goodnight from Causeway Street. FINAL SCORE: Carolina 3, Boston 0; Series tied 1-1.
10:30 PM (Post-game) - 3-0 final thanks to an Eric Staal empty netter in the closing minute. The B's locker room was understandably somber following the let down. Patrice Bergeron talked about the need to get more traffic out in front of Cam Ward while admitting just how well the young net minder played this evening. Aaron Ward seemed more frustrated than most, saying the B's accomplished "about 0%" of the things they set out to from game one.
Tim Thomas was a bit more lighthearted, saying this game, like the B's win in game one would likely be blown a bit out of proportion and now the focus is on going to steal one in Carolina. Zdeno Chara made no excuses for his turnover that led to Cullen's shorthanded goal, he said it was a bad play on his part, plain and simple. Still awaiting Claude Julien's trip to the podium...
9:53 PM (5:16 3rd) - Have to tip the cap to Cam Ward. After a Tim Gleason delay of game penalty gave the B's a *gulp* power play, the Bruins had their best set with the extra skater. Several great rebound tries in front of the net but Ward stopped them all, including a great pad save on a would be backhander from Lucic. I think it might just be his night. 32 saves on the evening...2-0 Canes.
9:45 PM (10:11 3rd) - Looks like my hunch on the initial signal being crucial in the LaRose no goal was pretty accurate. Here is the explanation from NHL.com:
"Hockey Operations reviewed the shot by Carolina's Larose to see if the puck was entirely across the goal line. The referee's call on the ice was no goal - therefore video review needed to determine conclusively that the puck was over the line. Video review determined that it was inconclusive as to whether the puck crossed the goal line in its entirety - no goal."
9:41 PM (12:36 3rd) - Small scuffle behind the Cam Ward net involving Chara and Lucic and a couple of Canes. Good skating this period as well but every scoring try for the B's is coming up empty. Savard was a hair behind a one timer try a few minutes ago, and PJ Axelsson found himself turned away on a couple close range tries. The action has been primarily in the B's offensive zone, with the SOG total now 27-22 in the Bruins favor, but still 2-0 Canes with time running low.
9:27 PM (2nd Intermission) - The Bruins are 0-3 on the power play but really that doesn't even begin to tell the story of how ineffective it's been. Big turnovers for Chara and Ward with the extra skater, the former leading to the SHG. Carolina is pressing the points and clearing the puck seemingly at will, and it's frustrating to see the Bruins struggle to get into a set. They're doing well to hit the net from the points, which is nice but not vital in a two point power play. I'd rather see more action in front of the net and perhaps the ability to control a rebound instead of "one shot and down the other end of the ice" which has come to define the B's man-up action so far. Can we take a page from football's playbook and decline the next Carolina penalty?
A few notes heading into period number three:
-the Bruins were 2-11-4 in the regular season when trailing after 2 periods
-the B's had just three scoreless periods in the play-offs before the two tonight
-Cullen's goal was the league's fourth shorthanded goal of the post-season
9:09 PM (0:00.2 2nd) - So much for good things, after a completely hapless power play, a neutral ice turnover gave LaRose a breakaway with he finished...orrrrr did he? The puck ping ponged around the red line and out which led to one of the longest reviews I've seen in awhile. After nearly 10 minutes, the official waved "no goal" but I honestly don't think he got it right. The overhead Versus camera had the puck on its side over the red line during its brief but eventful trip around the front of the cage. I think the fact that the initial signal was "no goal" helped the Bruins as it meant the evidence had to point to the contrary and the officials didn't feel it was conclusive enough. Or perhaps the video guy, like so many others, just doesn't get Versus. Either way, it's a massive break for the B's. For the record, nearly everyone in the press halo, friend and foe alike, thought Larose scored, and yet here we remain, 2-0 Carolina.
8:56 PM (5:58 2nd) - They just started playing the Nutty...aka the Bruins Minute music bed, I feel immediate good things coming on.
8:50 PM (8:31 2nd) - As the 2nd period moves along, I have to say I am pretty surprised at this turn of events. The B's have continued to look off on the power play, not only with Chara's turnover but also missing on a couple of close range opportunities such as Kobasew failing to put a stick on a rebound with a lot of net in his eye line. I feel like the Cane's, while playing well, aren't playing to the point where the Bruins should be trailing in this game. I know Carolina isn't physical, but I'd like to see the B's start to muscle it up a bit here in the latter stages of the period.
8:47 PM (11:19 2nd) - Matt Cullen just scored of an assist from Chad Larose and all of a sudden the Garden crowd is deathly silent. The tally came shorthanded. Zdeno Chara coughed it up with a lazy pass from the point and led to the SHG. 2-0 Carolina.
8:35 PM (17:30 2nd) - Well then, Joe Corvo just buried a slap shot from the left side, going high to beat Thomas. Give Eric Stahl the assist for his first point against the B's this season. He got tangled up with Chara in front of the net to leave Thomas vulnerable. 1-0 Canes.
8:29 PM (1st Intermission) - Scoreless first period but a well played one to be sure. Carolina seems to be on borrowed time, this could easily be 2 or 3 to nothing right now. We'll see how it plays out, but I'd feel pretty solid if I was Claude Julien. Timing still seems a hair off, but is it possible this team is playing better hockey now than during November and December?
8:09 PM (2:22 1st) - Not a whole lot to report on this one out of the ordinary, this is great skating so far for both teams. Clean game, though with some physicality, Thorton had a nice hit early in the game and Stephane Yelle wrecked Erick, no penalties yet and good scoring chances for the Bruins. Good play-off hockey.
So far the loudest cheer of the night game for a guy wearing an undershirt that said I hate Peyton Manning. How can anyone hate the guy who cheers vehemently for insurance adjusters?!7:58 PM (8:42 1st) - Couple more good chances for the B's, first a soft pass from Kessel skidded across the crease, then Lucic whiffed a turnaround one timer before being stoned by Ward on the rebound try...seconds later Bergeron had a great look at the net only to miss high into the glass. Still 0-0...but I'm guessing not for long.
7:52 PM (12:00 1st) - SOG 5-3 Canes at the moment, so far the game has been similar to game one (aside from the lack of a quick B's score): more chances for Carolina but better chances for Boston. The Bruins nearly caught Cam Ward out of the net moments ago when he stumbled behind the goal trying to play the puck. To the Canes credit, they've done well to protect the slot and clear the crease so far. David Krejci just whiffed on a one-timer try off a feed from Blake Wheeler as we remain scoreless.
Hello once again from the TD BankNorth Garden. I'm checking in just a few minutes late due to some pre-game commitments but happy to be high atop the Garden with the B's up a game in this best of seven that I personally don't see going longer than five.
Some pre-game notes (even though we are 5 minutes into a scoreless first period as I type this):
-Tim Thomas opposite Cam Ward in goal, no shock there...Thomas has won his last 11 games overall, finishing the regular season on a 6 game win streak before the current run of 5 in the play-offs-Michael Ryder and Phil Kessel both have points in every play-off game so far
-6 skaters tied for the lead in post-season goals with 5, including Ryder, Eric Stahl of the 'Canes, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp from the Blackhawks, Sidney Crosby of the Pens and Mr. Alex Ovechkin from the Caps
...Read more
0 comments:
Post a Comment