bruins lose 4 - 1 as hurricanes win third straight game

The Bruins looked sloppy on the ice all night, and eventually lost this game because of it.

The B's went down 1-0 within the first three minutes of the game, and continued to have an awful first period, repeatedly turning pucks over and playing far out of position. However, they came out more calm and effective in the second period and, in direct opposition to Game Three, dominated the play along the boards and down low through the middle frame, and were able to tie the game up.

All elements were poised to have a Big Third Period, full of energized attacks and dogged checking. But it never materialized. Zdeno Chara took a penalty in the first two minutes of the third period and the 'Canes scored on the ensuing powerplay. It is the first time Tim Thomas has allowed a third period goal in the playoffs, but it would not be the last: the 'Canes scored two more times in the final frame to put the game out of reach. In the end the Bruins didn't scrap, didn't get any ridiculous close-calls, didn't generate any last-minute hits and therefore didn't send any kind of positive message going into Game Five. They went out with a whimper.

This was a very, very frustrating game if you are a Bruins fan. While there was finally some traffic in front of Cam Ward, the Bruins threw so few pucks at the net (and the Hurricanes blocked a lot of point shots) that the scrambly "garbage goals" that the playoffs are built upon were never really available to the players taking their licks in the crease.

At this point, I feel like the Bruins are being out-coached in the Series, or are simply not acting on the directions coaching staff are giving them. Longtime readers of Black White and Gold will know that I'm a fan of Claude Julien, but the fact is, the 'Canes made an adjustment to their playing after Game One and have won three straight games. The Bruins have not really adjusted their style to what they are seeing from the Hurricanes (they've merely been more or less effective at playing it), and they've paid the price.

The Hurricanes are not playing some crazy system that you cannot figure out - they often utilize a "pick" style play where a secondary player skates in front of a defending Bruin to create space for the puck-carrying player. It's a play often used in basketball and in hockey is better known as "obstruction" or "interference". However, it is not being called by the referees and the Bruins have not altered their play to either a) counteract the pick or b) use it themselves.

My feeling is that unless the Bruins shake up their system in Game Five, they should not expect to win. I think this Series has gone beyond just playing harder or with more heart and expecting their techniques to work. Other than Game One, the Bruins have never really held the play long enough to warrant the belief that their system will be ultimately effective if executed properly.

The Bruins should be looking for more traffic, garbage goals, uglier plays and a general level of chippiness that can lead to turnovers and "flukey" goals, because as the old saw goes: in the playoffs they never ask how, they only ask how many.

Of Note: My inside-source was incorrect, and Blake Wheeler did end up playing in Game Four - however, Byron Bitz was also inserted at the expense of Shawn Thornton; Bitz had a very good game, generating offense through his physical play and paying the price in front of the net; David Krejci had a brutal game, whiffing on clearing attempts at least three times, losing checks and being kept to the perimeter on offense; Steve Montador had another rough game, though with admittedly less drastic consequences; Shane Hnidy was also inserted into the lineup and had a solid, if unassuming, game - nothing wrong with keeping it simple as long as he's keeping it mean.

Game Five is scheduled for Sunday.

bruins lose 3-2 in overtime as carolina takes the series lead

Ultimately, this Bruins club and these Hurricanes are evenly matched and the games have been unbelievable. The goaltending in this series has been stellar and there are enough hits (cheap, illegal and otherwise) to keep a certain vegetarian Montrealer very happy.

Tonight's game could have obviously gone either way. The Bruins opened the scoring, but went down 2-1 within a 1:09 span in the second period. Deep into the 3rd the B's were able to tie it up and send the game into overtime, where the 'Canes got the winner (after about 7 quality Bruins' chances on Cam Ward). Thomas stood on his head the entire game and just barely missed the game-winning goal with his stick.

Steve Montador is deeply in my bad books after a ridiculous giveaway on the goal-line to Eric Staal on the 'Canes' first goal, and then allowing Samsonov to walk in and shoot on Carolina's second, but he salvaged himself a bit with some nice point play on the B's tying tally in the third. Still, I'd like to see Sheriff Shane Hnidy in game four.

Sending this game to OT was really all I could ask of these guys (well, before the game I asked for a 6-0 blowout, but it was clear that wasn't going to happen) given how hard-fought the game was. While a few players had some bad shifts, the Bruins battled for every puck, got the shots on net and dug for rebounds. We lost some people to injury (notably, Andrew Ference, whose absence would again increase the pressure on Montador), but more often than not, had players return for their next shift, bloodied but not broken.

For my part, I squeezed the corner of a couch cushion for three straight hours and now have a hand cramp that makes typing excruciating. But soft! I shall battle through it.

The Bruins and Hurricanes renew their (increasingly hostile and bloody) acquaintances on Friday night, again in Carolina. It's a cliche to say that Game Four is the most important game in a series, because Games One, Two and Three are just as important. However, the Bruins really need to take Game Four and return to Boston with the series tied.

Of Note: Apparently, the Bruins do not read my blog - there was only marginally more traffic in front of Ward tonight, but both goals came from players in front capitalizing on rebounds; the game unraveled quickly when Chara was not on the ice to check Staal (a consequence of Carolina having the last change); I have invented all-new profanity for the playoffs, and after tonight's very tense game, my neighbours are now very familiar with it - désolé mes voisins!

bruins beat habs 5 - 1 & take game two at home

The Bruins were again able to gain a two-goal lead on their conference rivals, le Canadiens, in last night's match, and never really looked back from there.

The difference between Game One and Game Two, however, seemed to be the powerplay. Boston went 3 for 5 with the man advantage, with Shane Hnidy (the Sheriff!) getting the third goal. Hnidy has been a healthy scratch in favour of youngster Matt Hunwick, but Hunwick did an unexpected Peter Forsberg impersonation and had to have an emergency splenectomy to have his spleen removed. Ouch.

Hnidy, for his part, showed that in hockey terms "veteran" still has some positive associations. He was a physical force and essentially played a simple, stable game, allowing players like Chara and Wideman the freedom to play their more roving styles.

Of special note in last night's game, in my books at least, was Patrice Bergeron, who absolutely leveled Kovalev at mid-ice in the first period (thus establishing a tone that the team carried through the match) and, unexpectedly, dropping the mitts with Josh Gorges for his first NHL fight. Bergie held his own against Gorges and landed a strong series of lefts to the face of the Canadiens' defender.

Marc Savard had four points in the game, but will unfortunately be a bigger target in Game Three as the Bruins will be without Milan Lucic, who seems to garner an awful lot of attention from the Habs.

Looch was tossed out after he cross-checked Lapierre in the face in the final five minutes of the game, which leads to an automatic disciplinary meeting and probable suspension.

Lapierre, for his part, looked great with a piece of lumber shoved in his face. It stopped him from running anyone into the glass from behind for at least a single shift. Small blessings.

The B's and Habs renew acquaintances on Monday night here in Montreal. Should be an incredible atmosphere in the city!

bruins 5 - hurricanes 1

The Bruins lumbered into last night's tilt with the Hurricanes having lost a season high 4-straight games, and promptly gave up the first goal of the game. That shuddering noise you heard was me...raging and slamming my hand into the table.

However, Blake Wheeler tied the game with quick hands on a rebound, and the game winner came from unlikely sniper Shane Hnidy, who's point-shot found the back of the net.

The 2-1 lead was holding fast through the 2nd and into the 3rd period, thanks to some outstanding goaltending from Tim Thomas (who seems to have re-found his form) and hard-fought one-on-one battles along the perimeter. The turning point of the game came with David Krejci's shorthanded breakaway, which seemed to open the gates for the Bruins' goalscorers - the B's quickly added three goals in the final five minutes of the match.

It was a much needed win for the Bruins, who went 2-for-3 on the powerplay against the 'Canes, despite having a powerplay that went 2-for-36 in their previous 9 games (that's 5.5% for you statisticians).

Personally, I thought the game was important simply because the team looked good, and displayed the tenacity that represented them in the earlier part of the season. They battled from a goal deficit and then maintained the pressure after snatching the one-goal lead until they could break the game open.

All good signs, especially in light of their recent skid.