Before everyon starts lining up to take a giant leap of the bandwagon, Simma Down Now!
Although the team has been mired in a slump for the last 20+ games anyone that has actually watched these games should be willing to admit that in far too many of these 20+ marginal games, especially lately, two things have been far too consistent:
1. The goal tending by the Bruins has been average at best and on far too many nights the other team's goalie has stood on their head.
2. Luck and bounces. Luck and bounces are a big "x" factor in hockey and in far too many of the last 20+ games the other team has gotten the bounces and the Bruins haven't. Granted you make your own luck but look at today's game against the Rangers. Rangers really got lucky on two of their goals and the Bruins could have scored 5+ goals in the 2nd period alone. Look at yesterday's game against the Islanders, Lucic's shot with under 20 seconds in the 3rd goes in 9 out of 10 times, just not yesterday. Not to mention the blown icing call which lead to the game winning goal. If that ain't the definition of bad luck I don't know what is.
Fear not. The Bruins are still goning to finish 2nd in the East, no one in the East is a juggernaught by any stretch. Stop NY Rangers fans. The Rangers are literally doing it all with goal tending and defense. Barring a run like the B's had last year they ain't winning crap due to a terrible power play and lack of secondary scoring. The Rangers aren't a very deep on offense or defense. I just don't see a long playoff run out of them unless Lundquist goes hog-wild.
The Bruins are still top 5 in goals scored and goals against and are in the top 10 in PP and PK and all of this despite a terrible start to the year and the slump that began in January.
Assumming Peverly and Horton come back they will have greath depth at both forward and defense. Peverly and Horton's return will probably send Caron and Pouliot to the pine (Rolston offers way more as a player than Pouliot) and as soon as Ferrence returns the turnover machine whose shot only hits the crest of the goalie or the back of the boards, Corvo is headed for the bench as well.
Taking a look a the probable playoff lines assuming they get healthy and the goal tending improves a tick I'm not about to jump off the bandwagon. Let's at least wait until the playoffs begin before we start worrying about waiting till next year.
As it stands I only see 4 teams that have enough to win it this year.
(In order of likely Cup Victory this year) Detroit, Vancouver, the Bruins and Pittsburgh (no Rangers, I could see a 1st round upset).
Playoffs Lines:
Marchand - Bergeron - Horton
Lucic - Krejci - Seguin
Rolston - Peverly - Kelly
Paille - Campbell - Thorton
Reserve Forwards: Pouliot/Caron + black aces
Chara - Seidenberg
Ferrence -Boychuck
Mcquaid -Zannon
Reserver Defesne: Corvo, Mottau + black aces.
Go B's! I still believe!
