Hi Everyone! Sorry it's been so long. I've been quite sick the past week but I'm happy to be back and writing about Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Canucks came out with the same energy in Game 6 that they showed in pretty much every game--even Games 3 and 4 at the Garden. They buzzed around the net and kept the B's defence on their toes for the first five minutes. The Bruins hung in their, relying on strong play by their forwards covering the points and backchecking around the circles. When the B's saw their opportunity, they struck.
The Canucks had the long change and the Bruins exploited it when the Canucks offense started to tire. They caught the Canucks forwards in a line change, forced the puck up the ice, and Brad Marchand fired a wrister top shelf, short side on Luongo's glove side. Marchand's goal came off a terrific play at the Canucks blue line to shuffle the puck into the zone. The book on Luongo has always been glove side high. Marchand must have studied well.
The Bruins fed off the intensity and increased the pressure low in the offensive zone against Luongo. He was fighting pucks off--just blocking and knocking down chest high saves he normally smothers. He was not squared to the puck like he usually is and it cost him dearly in another "big" game. Almost immediately, Boston fans started the sing-song "Luuu-oonnn--go" chant and continued it through the third period--even with Luongo on the bench. Bruins fans may have a point. Luongo is a solid goaltender and stops almost everything he can see but only when his head is focused and in the game.
The Bruins four goals in the first period were the fastest four goals in Stanley Cup Finals, shattering a mark set by the '56 Canadiens. Lucic buried a puck five-hole shortly after the Marchand tally from the near circle. The bouncing puck was earmarked for the back of the net. Luongo, playing a typical butterfly style, slammed his knees together on the soft shot, attempting to smother it in his knee pads rather than letting it rebound off the stick or his leg pads. Instead, the puck fluttered through the gaping, "technicolor five hole."
Several minutes later, the Canucks caught the Bruins defensemen flat-footed entering the zone and controlled play for a few seconds. The aggressive play by the B's forwards caused Vancouver to turn the puck over and they promptly iced the puck. Luongo raised his arm to notify Edler of the impending icing. He chose to flatten Marchand into the boards, on the icing. As Don Cherry remarked at intermission, "someone is going to get killed out there." Cherry has long been a proponent of no-touch icing for the player's protection.
The Bruins capitalized on the Luongo game plan by sending the big men in front to screen "Bobby Lou." Andrew Ference fired a blistering howitzer from the point on a nice dish from Newfoundland native Michael Ryder. The shot had eyes and found the back of the net to the right pad side of Luongo. Canucks coach, Alain Vigneault, pulled Luongo after he clearly was not square to the puck on Ference's shot and replaced him with Massachusetts native Cory Schneider. The Bruins scored later in the first period on a nice clapper from Thomas Kaberle that was tipped top-shelf by Ryder.
Schneider kept the Canucks in the game with several stellar saves in the second period, first on a Recchi one timer and a Marchand breakaway. The Bruins, and everyone in New England, knew the game plan for Game 6. The Bruins needed to be aggressive on the forecheck to stem the aggressive breakout from the Canucks. In Game 5 with the long change, the neutral zone trap worked effectively when the Bruins could not get back in time to utilize a low forechecking scheme. The defensemen, needed to settle the puck behind their own goal, outlet it to their partner or a forward at the half-boards and work it up ice. The Canucks have pinched their defense and forwards at the half-boards to corral any clearing or passing attempts along the boards. Finally, the Bruins needed to aggressively get the puck in deep with purpose. If the Canucks D stepped up at the blue line like they did in Vancouver for Game 5, they needed to dump the puck in, hold it their, and wait for support. If they give the Bruins forwards some room, they needed to walk it in and work the puck down low (Luongo is notorious for failing to locate the puck down low in traffic).
Well, except for a few late penalties in the third period as the Bruins tired, they executed the aforementioned game plan well. All players bought in. There were no passengers. I would have liked to see the B's keep up the aggression as they tired to carry the momentum out to Vancouver, but a win is a win.
See you on Wednesday!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Cup Finals Game 1
The hockey world rejoiced Tuesday night as the Bruins and Canucks faced off at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. After a weekend of watching the NHL Network's previews, the local news coverage of the Bruins, and TSN's plethora of previews, I was sick of hearing how good the Cauncks are.
I know the Canucks are statistically the best team in the NHL as winners of the President's Trophy. They occupied first place in the Northwest Division all year and played near the top of the Western Conference all year. The scoring combination of the Sedin Twins, Ryan Kessler, Alex Burrows, and company is phenomenal. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning could boast a similarly potent powerplay all year long. Roberto Luongo, plagued by critics for his playoff performance the past few years, has been remarkable all season and dominated the Predators and Sharks in the Conference Semis and Finals.
The Bruins, however, and there defence first approach to winning all year, proved to be too much for the potent Montreal Canadiens, physical Philadelphia Flyers, and high flying Tampa Bay Lightning. Tim Thomas has been consistent all year, playing his athletic, albeit unorthodox style, with the confidence he showed during his Vezina campaign from two years ago.
Game 7 of the Eastern Finals against the Lightning proved to be a gem. Both teams played conservatively at first, not wanting to make the crucial turnover that would cost them the game and the series. The Bruins came out with their aggressive forecheck, which effectively confused the speed and aggression of the Lightning breakout and transition game. Lightning tendy Dwayne Roloson was spectacular, matching Thomas save for save and keeping the game tied late into the third, despite some Boston powerplays. The Bruins took advantage of the Lightning's stubborn trap and caught the Tampa backcheckers sleeping as the B's marched into the attacking zone. Nathan Horton's tip in was something more beautiful then words could possibly describe. The ability to break and still control the stick enough to direct the puck past the sliding Roloson is something few NHLers can do.
Both the B's and Canucks came out flying in Game 1 of the Cup Finals. The Canucks sought to establish the physical game against a normally physical team. From top to bottom, Daniel Sedin to Mason Raymond, the Canucks finished their checks and intimidated the Bruins anytime they tried to enter the attacking zone. Like the Lightning, the Canucks have immense speed on the breakout and proved a little too quick for the Bruins in the opening seconds. The Bruins defence and penalty kill was ready. Led by Chara and Seidenberg, the Bruins D stood tall and kept the twins to outside the circles. On the PK, Paille, Campbell, and Bergeron played aggressive, keeping the potent Canucks PP on the move, while remaining in the passing lanes.
The Bruins anemic PP, however, cost the team dearly. The B's had two 5 on 3's and failed to score on both of them. Coach Claude Julien parked Chara in front of the net to screen larger than life Luongo. Chara was effective in causing havoc for Luongo, but kept trying to tip the puck in on point shots, rather than just screening the old tendy. Bergeron and Kaberle moved the puck well and found good shooting angles, but they had difficulty finding anyone to band in the rebounds (aside from Big Z the gentle giant). Mark Recchi played well despite his age and had a golden opportunity in the 2nd when he got a sweet feed from Milan Lucic across Luongo's crease. Recchi, however, was pushed to the goal line, and had little angle to put the biscuit in the basket.
The Bruins matched the Canucks tit for tat the entire game, playing a physical, high flying game. In the third period, however, the speed of the Canucks eventually caught up with the Bruins. The B's seemed to loose their legs half way through the period and no longer dumped the puck in or made crisp passes with purpose. Against a team that thrives on turnovers and the transition game, weakly saucing the puck out into the neutral zone and attempting to change, can be challenging, if not devastating. The Canucks had a prime opportunity off a Lucic turnover in the defensive zone early in the period. With time running down, the B's Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly were in need of a change and Brad Marchand attempted to clear the puck out up the middle. A Canucks defenceman stepped scooted into the zone to keep the puck in and pinned the B's down for another minute. The game winning goal occurred when the B's, tired from a long shift (way to long in the third period of the Cup Finals) tried to change without dumping the puck in with purpose (and not sending at least one forechecker either the last guy off the ice or the first guy on the new line) to challenge the potent Canucks offense. Whether Kessler kept his one foot onside or not, is not important. Johnny Boychuck red the play and stepped up on Kessler. He was unable to tie him up and Kessler put some sauce on a sweet pass across the ice to Janek Hansen. Thomas, as aggressive as usual, came out of the blue paint to challenge Hansen. Chara, instead of covering the trailing Raffi Torres, remained in no man's land and decided to dive in a desperate attempt to block a cross crease pass to Torres (who deposited it past the diving paddle of Tim Thomas).
Should Thomas have respected the pass? Should Chara and Thomas have better communicated? The bottom line is that the Canucks outplayed and wore down the Bruins in the third period. Although the Bruins had better offensive chances throughout the game and outshot the Canucks, they were unable to get quality shots on Roberto Luongo and the ever-crucial second chances off of Luongo's rebounds (Luongo is known for stopping everything he sees, hence the screens, and for being too cumbersome to get many rebounds off his bulky leg pads). The Canucks had better chances coming off of turnovers (especially in the third period) and quick transitions, which resulted in several odd man rushes. If it were not for the superhuman efforts of Tim Thomas, the Nuckers might have put game 1 away by 2 or 3 goals.
That being said, there's no reason for the Bruins to hang their heads. They played well, matching the Canucks for much of the game. I can only hope that Julien can adjust the forecheck to contain the aggressive Canuck attack and the Bruins stick to their defence first game and do not get caught up in the high-flying (read: wearing down the Bruins to commit turnovers in the 3rd) tempo of the Vancouver Canucks. Tim Thomas played like his name belonged on the Conn Smythe Trophy (heck they should name it the Tim Thomas trophy after that one Tuesday night!)
Game 2, Saturday 8pm EST on NBC/CBC/RDS
Go Bruins!!
I know the Canucks are statistically the best team in the NHL as winners of the President's Trophy. They occupied first place in the Northwest Division all year and played near the top of the Western Conference all year. The scoring combination of the Sedin Twins, Ryan Kessler, Alex Burrows, and company is phenomenal. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning could boast a similarly potent powerplay all year long. Roberto Luongo, plagued by critics for his playoff performance the past few years, has been remarkable all season and dominated the Predators and Sharks in the Conference Semis and Finals.
The Bruins, however, and there defence first approach to winning all year, proved to be too much for the potent Montreal Canadiens, physical Philadelphia Flyers, and high flying Tampa Bay Lightning. Tim Thomas has been consistent all year, playing his athletic, albeit unorthodox style, with the confidence he showed during his Vezina campaign from two years ago.
Game 7 of the Eastern Finals against the Lightning proved to be a gem. Both teams played conservatively at first, not wanting to make the crucial turnover that would cost them the game and the series. The Bruins came out with their aggressive forecheck, which effectively confused the speed and aggression of the Lightning breakout and transition game. Lightning tendy Dwayne Roloson was spectacular, matching Thomas save for save and keeping the game tied late into the third, despite some Boston powerplays. The Bruins took advantage of the Lightning's stubborn trap and caught the Tampa backcheckers sleeping as the B's marched into the attacking zone. Nathan Horton's tip in was something more beautiful then words could possibly describe. The ability to break and still control the stick enough to direct the puck past the sliding Roloson is something few NHLers can do.
Both the B's and Canucks came out flying in Game 1 of the Cup Finals. The Canucks sought to establish the physical game against a normally physical team. From top to bottom, Daniel Sedin to Mason Raymond, the Canucks finished their checks and intimidated the Bruins anytime they tried to enter the attacking zone. Like the Lightning, the Canucks have immense speed on the breakout and proved a little too quick for the Bruins in the opening seconds. The Bruins defence and penalty kill was ready. Led by Chara and Seidenberg, the Bruins D stood tall and kept the twins to outside the circles. On the PK, Paille, Campbell, and Bergeron played aggressive, keeping the potent Canucks PP on the move, while remaining in the passing lanes.
The Bruins anemic PP, however, cost the team dearly. The B's had two 5 on 3's and failed to score on both of them. Coach Claude Julien parked Chara in front of the net to screen larger than life Luongo. Chara was effective in causing havoc for Luongo, but kept trying to tip the puck in on point shots, rather than just screening the old tendy. Bergeron and Kaberle moved the puck well and found good shooting angles, but they had difficulty finding anyone to band in the rebounds (aside from Big Z the gentle giant). Mark Recchi played well despite his age and had a golden opportunity in the 2nd when he got a sweet feed from Milan Lucic across Luongo's crease. Recchi, however, was pushed to the goal line, and had little angle to put the biscuit in the basket.
The Bruins matched the Canucks tit for tat the entire game, playing a physical, high flying game. In the third period, however, the speed of the Canucks eventually caught up with the Bruins. The B's seemed to loose their legs half way through the period and no longer dumped the puck in or made crisp passes with purpose. Against a team that thrives on turnovers and the transition game, weakly saucing the puck out into the neutral zone and attempting to change, can be challenging, if not devastating. The Canucks had a prime opportunity off a Lucic turnover in the defensive zone early in the period. With time running down, the B's Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly were in need of a change and Brad Marchand attempted to clear the puck out up the middle. A Canucks defenceman stepped scooted into the zone to keep the puck in and pinned the B's down for another minute. The game winning goal occurred when the B's, tired from a long shift (way to long in the third period of the Cup Finals) tried to change without dumping the puck in with purpose (and not sending at least one forechecker either the last guy off the ice or the first guy on the new line) to challenge the potent Canucks offense. Whether Kessler kept his one foot onside or not, is not important. Johnny Boychuck red the play and stepped up on Kessler. He was unable to tie him up and Kessler put some sauce on a sweet pass across the ice to Janek Hansen. Thomas, as aggressive as usual, came out of the blue paint to challenge Hansen. Chara, instead of covering the trailing Raffi Torres, remained in no man's land and decided to dive in a desperate attempt to block a cross crease pass to Torres (who deposited it past the diving paddle of Tim Thomas).
Should Thomas have respected the pass? Should Chara and Thomas have better communicated? The bottom line is that the Canucks outplayed and wore down the Bruins in the third period. Although the Bruins had better offensive chances throughout the game and outshot the Canucks, they were unable to get quality shots on Roberto Luongo and the ever-crucial second chances off of Luongo's rebounds (Luongo is known for stopping everything he sees, hence the screens, and for being too cumbersome to get many rebounds off his bulky leg pads). The Canucks had better chances coming off of turnovers (especially in the third period) and quick transitions, which resulted in several odd man rushes. If it were not for the superhuman efforts of Tim Thomas, the Nuckers might have put game 1 away by 2 or 3 goals.
That being said, there's no reason for the Bruins to hang their heads. They played well, matching the Canucks for much of the game. I can only hope that Julien can adjust the forecheck to contain the aggressive Canuck attack and the Bruins stick to their defence first game and do not get caught up in the high-flying (read: wearing down the Bruins to commit turnovers in the 3rd) tempo of the Vancouver Canucks. Tim Thomas played like his name belonged on the Conn Smythe Trophy (heck they should name it the Tim Thomas trophy after that one Tuesday night!)
Game 2, Saturday 8pm EST on NBC/CBC/RDS
Go Bruins!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)