Post by Employee8 on Oct 17, 2017 13:17:27 GMT -5
If the Bruins keep losing faceoffs, they’re probably going nowhere
By Kevin Paul Dupont
Ralph Freso/AP
LAS VEGAS – A few random thoughts, observations, and shots high off the glass following the Bruins’ trip-ending 3-1 loss Sunday to the Golden Knights.
■ If the Bruins are going to challenge for one of the eight playoff spots in the East — and it’s going to be a challenge — they won’t do it by losing two of every three faceoffs, as they did Sunday. Yet another indication of how much they miss Patrice “The Thief” Bergeron, among the top puck kleptomaniacs in the biz.
Riley Nash and David Krejci were Boston’s two busiest guys at the dot. They lost 18 of their 25 faceoffs, aiding and abetting the club’ woeful 33 percent success rate.
The last time the Bruins were sub-.333 at the dot: Nov. 3, 2010, when they lost 45 of 63 (28.6 percent) vs. the Sabres.
■ Bergeron skated on his own every day on the three-city trip, including Sunday morning in Sin City. He has contended from the start that his disability is not related to his offseason hernia surgery. Yet, based on his skating, it does not look like he is dealing with a leg/knee/ankle issue. Which leads to one guess: core strength.
■ Left winger Kenny Agostino, the ex-Yale standout, was named the AHL’s Player of the Week and now owns a 2-5—7 line with Providence. Stands to reason he will be asked to join the Black-and-Gold varsity for Tuesday’s practice in Brighton. Matt Beleskey, the current third-line left-sider, is 0-0—0 after five games. Enough. Agostino, the top scorer in the AHL last season, was signed for short-money insurance on July 1. Time to cash in the policy.
■ Brad Marchand was glib following the listless loss to the Knights, wondering aloud if the Bruins were “mentally prepared” to play. Not a healthy sign, especially with the dust cover barely pulled off a new season.
“We have to realize in this league that you have to bring your best every night if you want to win,” said the Little Ball of Hate, whose highlight-reel goal vs. the Coyotes was the play of the trip. “Every team is too good and too close. Again, we just have to be prepared better each and every night.”
■ Franchise goaltender Tuukka Rask (3.30, .882) operated under a gag order (perhaps self-imposed?) following the loss in Vegas.
“I just try to go out there and give us a chance to win,” said Rask, when asked if he was frustrated over the club’s inconsistency. “That’s what I am focused on. I am not going to comment any more on team play that much — we can just talk about goaltending.”
When a reporter noted that it was unlike Rask not to offer general thoughts about the game, he said, with a light laugh, “Well, that’s just the way it is. Sorry.”
It’s likely Rask received some negative feedback in the room for his comments, which were not all that pointed, following the trip-opening 6-3 loss in Denver. He noted then that he had made some good stops, but ultimately succumbed to the Avalanche’s plentiful Grade A scoring chances. All true. But maybe too close to the bone for some in the room.
■ Resident thumper Kevan Miller dealt out a game-high nine smacks in Arizona and landed four more in Vegas. As of Monday, he ranked T-5 in hits (20), only three behind league leader John Hayden (Chicago). Good guy. Gamer. Still needs to buy a vowel to fix his first name.
■ Italian-born Luca Sbisa was one giant pain in the backside for the Bruins Sunday, landing a big smack on Sean Kuraly with 1:10 to go in the first. He is only 27 and Vegas is his fourth NHL club, claimed from Vancouver in the expansion draft. On the books for $3.6 million. Large payday ahead as a UFA July 1 if he keeps up the beat.
■ Charlie McAvoy: 5 games, 5 shots on net. More needed. Led club with 23:54 of ice time Sunday, fired only once on Malcolm Subban.
■ Not a single coach’s offside challenge in the Bruins’ first five games. Leaguewide, it’s already the Royal typewriter of forgotten tools in the coaching trade.
■ No one on either side shot more frequently Sunday than ex-Bruin Colin Miller (3 on net, 3 blocked, 3 misfires). Unfortunately for the Bruins, one of those blocks cost them the services of Adam McQuaid, felled late in the third by Miller’s slapper to his right knee area.
No word on McQuaid until Tuesday, but there were postgame murmurings around the dressing room of a possible fracture. If he’s out, look for Paul Postma to make his season debut at right D on Thursday.
■ When the Wild dished ex-BC Eagle Alex Tuch to Vegas in June, the hope here was that Bruins GM Don Sweeney would offer his first-round pick (No. 18) to Vegas for Tuch (chosen No. 18 by the Wild in 2018). Didn’t happen.
Tuch made his Vegas debut Sunday and went 1-1—2. He’s a 6-foot-4-inch, 222-pound version of the 6-5, 225-pound Blake Wheeler. Same strong wheels. Better shot. His short-side snipe on Rask was total Sugarpova.
■ The Bruins play only once on the road (Oct. 30 in Columbus) until Nov. 8, a stretch that includes seven home games. They need results (minimum 10 points) these next three weeks or they are swimming in a riptide until April.
■ Weekend Headline: “Concessionaire Aramark to purchase Avendra and AmeriPride Service for $2.3 billion.” Note to self: In next life, choose a different career related to spending days, nights, and holiday in arenas. #$13DraftBeer
www.bostonglobe.com/sports/bruins/2017/10/16/bruins-faceoffs/1pHBhYDwi08bnim4fINKwO/story.html
David Backes and Patrice Bergeron participate in Bruins practice < LINK
Backes made it through the entire practice, while Bergeron did not participate in battle drills or conditioning sprints.