Comments on: NHL coach on Bruins’ forward depth: “God bless them, but they have two fourth lines”

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:48:24 +0000

Yeah like I said, you are probably right about Thomas. Still think Chara gets in though.

By: habsman

habsman — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:43:22 +0000

Couldn’t resist a little jab. Please don’t take it too seriously.

Chara might be a long shot. Thomas I believe is too late to the show, but you never know.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:33:31 +0000

This really is a misguided article. Stupid comment by a coach that probably has an axe to grind with Boston, even worse that PHT is running it.

The 3rd line is Pouliott, Kelly and Rolston. Kelly has 20 goals, Pouliott has 16, and Rolston has 14 points in 20 games with Boston. If Horton comes back (big if) Perverley will drop to the 3rd line, and he has 41 points and is +22 in only 56 games. Id say that line is on par with other 3rd lines on contenders, it not better.

By: homelanddefense

homelanddefense — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:23:21 +0000

Habsman, one of the first logical Bruins comments you made in a long time but then you ruin it with the ridiculous Campbell Cup comment. But you are correct, without a similar performance by Thomas they wont win.

As for future HOF I wouldnt be surrpised if Chara gets in. If Thomas can stick around the league for 3 or 4 more sold years he would have a shot, but I doubt it.

By: odj810

odj810 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:01:54 +0000

a healthy sabres team. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. (golf swing)

By: hockeyflow33

hockeyflow33 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:46:47 +0000

and that’s why no one turns to ESPN for hockey coverage

By: habsman

habsman — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:03:26 +0000

Those teams were very much above average with a couple of future hall of famers. But they wouldn’t have won without Roy. So yeah, you’re right to a certain extent.

BTW, what current Bruin would you expect to be enshrined down the road?

By: groess

groess — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:01:03 +0000

Kinda like the last two average Hab’s Cup teams that Patrick Roy won for you?

By: demons87

demons87 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:40:06 +0000

Based on the fact that as of tonight, 22 of the 30 teams have three 20 goal scorers or less. The Bruins have six, Wouldn’t a better description be that the Bruins have 2 1st lines, a 2nd line, and a 4th line. Kelley (20 goals), and Pouliot (16) probably have more goals the half the teams 2nd lines. They also have Peverly who has only played 56 games sitting at 11 goals and a +22.

By the way, “4th line” center is currently 3rd in the league in +/- (+33)

By: cableguymike

cableguymike — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:22:38 +0000

If I’m the opponent I threaten him with big government and stealing his property. That should get him off his game.

By: habsman

habsman — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:44:52 +0000

Boston won the (Campbell) Cup last year because of one man, Tim Thomas. There is no way he can duplicate that “lights out” performance of last year. That was the best playoff goaltending in the past 10 years. You can debate where the goals are going to come from, but if Thomas doesn’t play up to last years standards, (or gets hurt) the B’s might be one and done.

By: dolanster

dolanster — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:15:36 +0000

#2 in goals scored, #1 in differential, top 5 individual players in +/-, 6 guys with 20 goals. Offense is not the Bruins’ problem. Maybe other teams should try the two fourth line approach.

By: cableguymike

cableguymike — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:52:36 +0000

Easy to forget how many bad goals he let in that series. They were lucky to get by Tampa. H/T to Greg’s dad for that one.

By: bagjr387

bagjr387 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:51:46 +0000

as a sabres fan i think that half the team could retire and they would still be a good defensive team. i would assume at some point that Rask would be #1 and that would make cap room to sign some other guys..I like Zach Hamill and tyler seguin are. they are both very good players

By: cableguymike

cableguymike — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:49:23 +0000

Oops. Didn’t see this before I posted. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Nicely work.

By: cableguymike

cableguymike — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:47:58 +0000

I’d be curious to know what the B’s players numbers are on the back half of the season when they weren’t consistently blowing out weaker teams like Toronto every other game.

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:33:43 +0000

By my math the Bruins scored 133 of their 254 goals before the Canucks/Bruins game – that’s about 3.24 goals per game.

Since then they’ve produced 141 goals putting them at a rate of 2.81 per game. If you look only at teams that have not yet been eliminated from playoff contention the Bruins have put up 77 goals for 2.75 per game.

Lots of teams should be afraid of the B’s and they have enough skill in their lineup to burn you, but there’s no question that right now their goal totals are padded by the ridiculous run they went on earlier, along with outings against teams like the Leafs and the Islanders.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:16:13 +0000

edit – oops, it’s an ESPN guy. Those are the guys who really cover the NHL.

By: pastabelly

pastabelly — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:14:23 +0000

You hit the nail on the head. The Bruins scoring numbers are artificially lower because of the style of play. The Bergeron-Seguin-Marchand line led the league in plus/minus. They could have scored more goals. But they play the entire sheet of ice. The fourth line is actually a very good fourth line and they see a lot of ice team, even in the playoffs. That helps the others with the grind of the playoffs. I call BS on the unnamed GM/coach who believes the Bruins lack depth. They won a cup without Savard and Horton out for every win in the Finals. Comparing them to last year’s playoff team, Seguin of 2012 is much better than Recchi of 2011 on the second line.

By: odj810

odj810 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:25 +0000

facts are facts my friend. I guess people piss out 20 goal fourth liners? Let the haters hate. I didn’t believe they could win the cup but i’m starting to think they have a real shot at the repeat. As good as any other team in the league.

By: bergeronforselke

bergeronforselke — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:55:01 +0000

Well, everyone has an opinion I guess

By: mcmurphy22

mcmurphy22 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:18:53 +0000

Has he watched any games over the last month? Injuries have created lack of forward depth…so just Horty, Pevs is back and looks good. Hes completely ignoring how much seguin matured from last year, Carron is more like last years seguin than Tyler is. Just….no.

By: pepper2011

pepper2011 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:47:38 +0000

Zero Chance?

By: sabatimus

sabatimus — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:40:49 +0000

6 20-goal scorers, with a couple almost at 30, and the B’s have no depth? Gimme a freaking break.

By: pepper2011

pepper2011 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:35:23 +0000

Wow, really?- I think the Bruins players don’t get enough respect for their style of play. Even without Horton; Pouliot, Kelly and Caron are far from fourth liners. Ryder is the easiest example 25 goals in Boston 40 in Dallas(playing on our… 3rd line). They would rather win 3-1 than 5-4. “That fourth line” the one with Kelly and Pouliot; you know the guys who are +32 (kelly) and +19 (pouliot) also have 20 and 15 goals. Oh, and they have Chara and Thomas. Thanks for the bulletin board material

By: lolnowhy

lolnowhy — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:34:37 +0000

>Rangers
>Devils
>scoring depth

laughingsluts.png

By: ballistictrajectory

ballistictrajectory — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:04:42 +0000

Alors cet aurait été en français.

By: drewsylvania

drewsylvania — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:59:05 +0000

He must mean two THIRD lines.

Was this Cunneyworth, by any chance?

By: travishenryskid

travishenryskid — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:43:23 +0000

Rangers, Flyers, penguins, Devils all look better. A healthy Sabres team is scarier too. Zero chance Boston repeats.

By: 8man

8man — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:42:31 +0000

Yes, but it’s better than not having a viable fourth line at all. The boys will have to step it up. Yes, it would be fantastic to have Horton back in the lineup, for several reasons. If not, someone or someones will need to rise up and meet the challenge.

It’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are no excuses. You give everything you have until there are no more games to play. Period.

Go Bruins!