By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Hey, I'm not saying it's definitely going to happen, but I think we all need to start bracing for the possibility that the Bruins could become part of history.
Only three teams in the three major sports that have seven-game playoff series have ever come back from a three-game deficit. The Flyers could very well become the fourth. I made the statement that Game 5 was a must-win for the Bruins. Some scoffed. Some said that it wasn't possible because the teams that had completed the comeback were "special" teams and the Flyers were not.
I will agree that the Maple Leafs in 1942 were special. They were the second-best team in the league in the regular season and had already beaten the top team in the first round of the playoffs. But what made those other teams special? It wasn't that they were the most talented teams. What made them special was the fact that they were written off as done for and then came back to win. It was the fact that they refused to say die.
Nobody thought the Red Sox - a wild card team - would beat the Yankees - a team that won 101 games in 2004. And certainly no one thought the Islanders - a team that was just a few seasons old - would beat a Pittsburgh Penguins from the powerful Norris division.
Throw on top of that the fact that the Flyers have already proven that they are a plucky team that can come back. Remember that this was a team that was on the outside looking in at the playoff picture after a huge swoon and took win-or-go-home game against the New York Rangers to beat them out by one point for a playoff berth.
Add to that the fact the Flyers got Simon Gagne back and therefore now have the most talented player on the ice. Meanwhile, the Bruins have lost two guys from their top two lines, including their overall most talented forward and their top scorer from the regular season.
The Bruins are back in a familiar situation. People spent all season saying how good this team could be if all its difference makers were healthy. They were, for all of a few moments and yes, the Bruins looked good. But now the injury bug has bitten again and the Bruins are back where they were all season - looking inept in the offensive zone and scrambling to figure out how to keep the puck out of their own.
Sometimes it's not just about being a talented team. Sometimes it's about the circumstances and this could become a perfect storm for the Flyers.
I'm not saying it's a lock, but watch out, Bruins fans. It's not as far-fetched as you might think.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The top shelf and the bottom of the barrel
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
This will hopefully be the first in a weekly series where I break down the best and worst five teams in the MLB. Hopefully we'll stir up some conversation because my picks won't always be the popular ones. So let's get down to it.
Top shelf
Tampa Bay Rays
Sure, Dallas Braden just made history against them, but that's exactly what makes Braden's accomplishment that much more impressive. No one has even thrown a no-hitter against a team with a better winning percentage than the Rays have, let alone a perfect game. Only one team in baseball is in the top 3 in both pitching and runs and that's Tampa Bay.
New York Yankees
Much like Tampa Bay, the Yankees have been dominant against the toughest division in baseball at 11-2. They won five in a row, including two games in which they blasted the Red Sox at Fenway Park before losing the last game of the three-game series last night. Robinson Cano is having the kind of season people have been waiting for since he came up to the bigs and that could result in an MVP award at season's end.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had a rough end of April, losing five of its last seven games against teams that frankly they shouldn't have lost to, but have righted the ship early in May. Roy Halladay has been an absolute animal, winning six of his seven starts. He's gone the distance in three of those starts and twice he finished those complete games with a shutout.
Minnesota Twins
I seriously thought about putting St. Louis ahead of Minnesota because of the fact that 14 of the Twins' 21 wins have come against a weak AL Central. But the fact that Minnesota has played as well outside their new friendly confines as they have at Target Field made me reconsider. The Twins have been getting consistent efforts from their starting pitchers, from one to five with Francisco Liriano regaining the ace-like form he lost a year ago. And while Ron Gardenhire blew smoke at the beginning of the season about a bullpen by committee, Jon Rauch has filled the void Joe Nathan left behind.
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis was cruising until it ran into a buzz saw called the Philadelphia Phillies last week. After winning the first game, 6-3, St. Louis was held to three runs over the next three games, all of which were losses. Granted, two of those losses came against Cole Hammels and Roy Halladay. Still, the Cardinals need to find more consistent offense to back what has to be considered one of the strongest rotations in baseball. Jaime Garcia has proved to be a nice addition to a rotation that already includes Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. With a 1.18 ERA and .195 batting average against, Garcia has been far better than his 3-2 record would indicate. In his two losses, he has given up one run and struck out 12 in 13 innings, but only received one run's worth of support from his offense.
Bottom of the Barrel (The absolute worst is, of course, at the bottom)
Pittsburgh Pirates
They're dead last in the league in pitching and haven't done enough with the bat to make up for their shortcomings. Garrett Jones is the only Pirate on pace to drive in more than 100 RBI this season and that's not likely to keep with him sporting a .230 average and .396 slugging percentage.
Seattle Mariners
Seattle finally won its first game of the month of May on Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak. Seattle is batting a paltry .229 as a team on the season and is tied for second to last in all of baseball in runs scored.
Cleveland Indians
Only one team has scored fewer runs than the Indians this season. As mentioned above, they are second to last in that category, but fall below Seattle in the rankings because the Indians' pitching has an ERA nearly a run worse.
Kansas City Royals
You need look no further than Greinke to find an example of how bad the Royals are. Greinke is ninth in the league in ERA at 2.51 after six starts, but currently sits at 0-4 on the season.
Baltimore Orioles
While they have the worst record in baseball, there are enough reasons not to put the O's dead last. Baltimore won just five games in the month of April, but have already won four this month and have won two of their last three series against some decent teams in Boston (whom the O's swept) and Minnesota.
Houston Astros
Houston lost 11 of its last 13 games and hasn't won consecutive games since it swept a three-game series against Pittsburgh on April 23-25. Lance Berkman has offered to waive his no-trade clause in an attempt to get out of dodge. There is not one thing going right for this team. The guys the Astros were hoping to lean on, namely Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Berkman, have hit for a combined .213 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 286 at-bats. If things don't perk up soon, some people may be finding their way towards the door.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
This will hopefully be the first in a weekly series where I break down the best and worst five teams in the MLB. Hopefully we'll stir up some conversation because my picks won't always be the popular ones. So let's get down to it.
Top shelf
Tampa Bay Rays
Sure, Dallas Braden just made history against them, but that's exactly what makes Braden's accomplishment that much more impressive. No one has even thrown a no-hitter against a team with a better winning percentage than the Rays have, let alone a perfect game. Only one team in baseball is in the top 3 in both pitching and runs and that's Tampa Bay.
New York Yankees
Much like Tampa Bay, the Yankees have been dominant against the toughest division in baseball at 11-2. They won five in a row, including two games in which they blasted the Red Sox at Fenway Park before losing the last game of the three-game series last night. Robinson Cano is having the kind of season people have been waiting for since he came up to the bigs and that could result in an MVP award at season's end.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies had a rough end of April, losing five of its last seven games against teams that frankly they shouldn't have lost to, but have righted the ship early in May. Roy Halladay has been an absolute animal, winning six of his seven starts. He's gone the distance in three of those starts and twice he finished those complete games with a shutout.
Minnesota Twins
I seriously thought about putting St. Louis ahead of Minnesota because of the fact that 14 of the Twins' 21 wins have come against a weak AL Central. But the fact that Minnesota has played as well outside their new friendly confines as they have at Target Field made me reconsider. The Twins have been getting consistent efforts from their starting pitchers, from one to five with Francisco Liriano regaining the ace-like form he lost a year ago. And while Ron Gardenhire blew smoke at the beginning of the season about a bullpen by committee, Jon Rauch has filled the void Joe Nathan left behind.
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis was cruising until it ran into a buzz saw called the Philadelphia Phillies last week. After winning the first game, 6-3, St. Louis was held to three runs over the next three games, all of which were losses. Granted, two of those losses came against Cole Hammels and Roy Halladay. Still, the Cardinals need to find more consistent offense to back what has to be considered one of the strongest rotations in baseball. Jaime Garcia has proved to be a nice addition to a rotation that already includes Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. With a 1.18 ERA and .195 batting average against, Garcia has been far better than his 3-2 record would indicate. In his two losses, he has given up one run and struck out 12 in 13 innings, but only received one run's worth of support from his offense.
Bottom of the Barrel (The absolute worst is, of course, at the bottom)
Pittsburgh Pirates
They're dead last in the league in pitching and haven't done enough with the bat to make up for their shortcomings. Garrett Jones is the only Pirate on pace to drive in more than 100 RBI this season and that's not likely to keep with him sporting a .230 average and .396 slugging percentage.
Seattle Mariners
Seattle finally won its first game of the month of May on Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak. Seattle is batting a paltry .229 as a team on the season and is tied for second to last in all of baseball in runs scored.
Cleveland Indians
Only one team has scored fewer runs than the Indians this season. As mentioned above, they are second to last in that category, but fall below Seattle in the rankings because the Indians' pitching has an ERA nearly a run worse.
Kansas City Royals
You need look no further than Greinke to find an example of how bad the Royals are. Greinke is ninth in the league in ERA at 2.51 after six starts, but currently sits at 0-4 on the season.
Baltimore Orioles
While they have the worst record in baseball, there are enough reasons not to put the O's dead last. Baltimore won just five games in the month of April, but have already won four this month and have won two of their last three series against some decent teams in Boston (whom the O's swept) and Minnesota.
Houston Astros
Houston lost 11 of its last 13 games and hasn't won consecutive games since it swept a three-game series against Pittsburgh on April 23-25. Lance Berkman has offered to waive his no-trade clause in an attempt to get out of dodge. There is not one thing going right for this team. The guys the Astros were hoping to lean on, namely Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Berkman, have hit for a combined .213 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 286 at-bats. If things don't perk up soon, some people may be finding their way towards the door.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Game 5 is a must win for the B's
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Sure, technically they still need to lose three more before they're eliminated, but if the Bruins don't win Game 5, they could be done like dinner.
Consider everything the Flyers have going for them at this point. They just got one of their best offensive players back in Simon Gagne. They just won a dramatic overtime game with that player leading the team in shots and scoring the game-winning goal. Sound familiar?
Yes, it's true that while the Bruins are still up 3-1 in the series, the momentum has shifted. Now at least Boston has home ice on its side and now must capitalize on that fact. If not, it could be bad news for the B's.
Given the momentum and confidence that surely would build from beating the Bruins on their ice and the fact that the Flyers have one of the loudest arenas in hockey (behind Montreal and Calgary and right on par with Chicago), Boston cannot want to play another game in Philadelphia.
Imagine the scenario: Facing elimination on their opponents' ice the Flyers capture another win and travel back to Philly for Game 6. They beat Boston at home to send it to a game seven. In that scenario, even with home ice, how confident can the Bruins be in their ability to knock off the Flyers?
Not very, that's for sure, especially without one of its best offensive players in David Krejci. While Krejci hasn't been the most effective players in the season overall, he is still one of the most talented players on the Bruins and has started to prove it in the playoffs with eight points in nine games. In fact, he proved at the Olympics he's one of the most talented players in the world.
The Bruins did return Mark Stuart, which will help, but they lost a huge impact player whom they won't have anyone to replace with. The bench is getting short for the Bruins and they need to end this series on Monday and give themselves some rest. If not, the momentum, confidence and fresh legs could carry Philly right past them.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Sure, technically they still need to lose three more before they're eliminated, but if the Bruins don't win Game 5, they could be done like dinner.
Consider everything the Flyers have going for them at this point. They just got one of their best offensive players back in Simon Gagne. They just won a dramatic overtime game with that player leading the team in shots and scoring the game-winning goal. Sound familiar?
Yes, it's true that while the Bruins are still up 3-1 in the series, the momentum has shifted. Now at least Boston has home ice on its side and now must capitalize on that fact. If not, it could be bad news for the B's.
Given the momentum and confidence that surely would build from beating the Bruins on their ice and the fact that the Flyers have one of the loudest arenas in hockey (behind Montreal and Calgary and right on par with Chicago), Boston cannot want to play another game in Philadelphia.
Imagine the scenario: Facing elimination on their opponents' ice the Flyers capture another win and travel back to Philly for Game 6. They beat Boston at home to send it to a game seven. In that scenario, even with home ice, how confident can the Bruins be in their ability to knock off the Flyers?
Not very, that's for sure, especially without one of its best offensive players in David Krejci. While Krejci hasn't been the most effective players in the season overall, he is still one of the most talented players on the Bruins and has started to prove it in the playoffs with eight points in nine games. In fact, he proved at the Olympics he's one of the most talented players in the world.
The Bruins did return Mark Stuart, which will help, but they lost a huge impact player whom they won't have anyone to replace with. The bench is getting short for the Bruins and they need to end this series on Monday and give themselves some rest. If not, the momentum, confidence and fresh legs could carry Philly right past them.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Fantasy Baseball Friday: May 7th
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Welcome back for another week of fantasy baseball review. Beginning next week we'll finally start looking toward the week ahead.
Weekly Top 10: Hitters
1. Andre Ethier (Dodgers) - He has a line of .480, 5, 13 this week. Wow! It's nice to see the ankle healthy.I really never thought he was going to be that good, but it looks like I was wrong. It doesn't hurt he's also one of the most clutch hitters in baseball.
2. Alfonso Soriano (Cubs) - Is he back from the dead? He might be, but he still doesn't steal bases anymore. My suggestion is to trade him while he's hot and get the most you can. He will get hurt sometime soon.
3. Brett Gardner (Yankees) - In case you haven't noticed, the young lefty is having a stellar season so far. He has a .430 OBP and 13 stolen bases. Looks like he'll stick in the Yankees outfield
4. J.D. Drew (Red Sox) - Ho hum. He has one good week, he has one bad week. He might even get you two good weeks and then hit the DL. Stay away
5. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) - Hanley has been his usual self with the bat, but only has 2 steals so far. Really? H-Ram has got to start using his legs.
6. James Loney (Dodgers) - He's off to a very good start this season, and even has some people using him as a starter in deep leagues at first. I am a huge fan of his, but do not expect power numbers.
7. Evan Longoria (Rays) - As you may know, he's one of my favorite players and a fantasy baseball star. Why else would one of my sons be named Evan.
8. Jason Heyward (Braves) - I am very impressed with the rookie. He's been able to adjust after seeing opponents a second time. He's shown patience, and is driving the ball to all fields. There is no doubt he'll be a fantasy super start for the next 12 years.
9. Jayson Werth (Phillies) - Talk about getting ready for a big payday. It looks like he won't get it from the Phillies, but he'll get it from someone. He keeps getting better and better.
10. Denard Span (Twins) - Is turning around after an awful start. He's getting on base more, scoring more runs recently, but needs to start snagging more bags.
Weekly Top 10: Pitchers
1. Roy Hallady (Phillies) - What can you say about the man. In his first 3 starts at Citizens Bank Ballpark he's only allowed 1 homer. That will surely keep him in the Cy Young race all year
2. Neftali Perez (Rangers) - The young phenom has solidified the closer situation in Texas. He should have no trouble doing that the rest of the year.
3. Matt Cain (Giants) - While I certainly hate the Giants, I've always been a fan of Cain. After a breakout season last year, he's keeping it up so far this season.
4. Scott Olsen (Nationals) - While he may be a DB, apparently he can actually pitch. He's allowed only 2 runs (1 earned) over his past 20.1 innings pitched amassing two wins in those three games. Keep an eye on him.
5. Rich Harden (Rangers) - Don't look now, but Harden is pitching pretty well so far. I still would be scared of his history of injuries.
6. Brett Cecil (Blue Jays) - 2.61 ERA, 21 K, 4 BB, .77 WHIP & a .167 OBA? Damn, I might just have to pick him up myself.
7. Andrew Bailey (A's) - I have to admit when I'm wrong. After he was injured in Spring Training I declared he'd be somewhat of a bust this season. Boy was I wrong as he hasn't allowed a single run so far along with a perfect 5 for 5 in saves
8. Robinson Tejeda (Royals) - Tejeda has been one of the best middle relievers in the game in 2010. If you need one, he's a pretty good one to pick up as he already has 15 appearances.
9. Jeff Neimann (Rays) - I'm pretty sure every member of the Rays has a horseshoe stuck up you know where. This kid has been stellar, especially in his last two starts where he's allowed just one run in 14 innings.
10. Justin Verlander (Tigers) - He seems to be turning things around after a rough start. He's a true ace, so don't panic too soon.
The David Ortiz Disappointments of the Season (so far):
Gil Meche (Royals) - Wait, how much does this guy make? Ouch. His WHIP 2.28 would be a might nice ERA. In his 5 starts he's allowed 26 earned runs.
Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks) - In his last two starts he's allowed 18 runs in just 6.2 innings. Not really worth the trade if you ask me.
Javier Vasquez (Yankees) - Speaking of bad trades. It didn't work the first time round in the Bronx, and it looks like it wont work this time either.
Chris Coghlan (Marlins) - The 2009 Rookie of the Year is having a serious sophomore slump. Is he Jerome Walton? I doubt it.
Aramis Ramirez (Cubs) - Is he the NL version of David Ortiz? In half of a season in 2009, he did put up very good numbers, so I don't think so. I hope you have a backup 3rd basemen until he returns to form.
Gordon Beckham (White Sox) - Beckham is a very good ball player. He will turn around the season, and I specifically look at Dustin Pedroia's rookie season as a parallel.
Here's what I have to say
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
- Please tell me it’s not true, L.T. I’m talking about the real L.T., too, Lawrence Taylor. While he was a superstar on the field – he’s one of my all-time favorite players and the reason why I wore No. 56 in high school football – he’s a real loser off the field. After a career with run-ins with the law, he’s now being accused of raping a 16-year-old. I love L.T. the player, but I really hate the person (if he’s found guilty).
- Kudos to the Oakland Raiders for making a great decision by cutting No. 1 pick and franchise QB JaMarcus Russell. Can you say one of the all-time biggest busts in the NFL?
- Adam “Pacman” Jones to the Bengals. Are we really surprised that they took another gamble on another low-character player? The Bengals are an NFL franchise and rehabilitation center.
- What a huge blow to the Bruins: David Krejci out of the rest of the season. If you thought the B’s had a chance to win it all before, do you have a difference of opinion now? A great playoff run will end in the conference finals if the B’s have to play the Penguins. But here’s hoping Montreal and Pittsburgh play an epic 7-game, physical series with a few double-OT games sprinkled in. I never wish for injuries, but (watch out Crosby)….
- Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox. Regardless of what game you’re going to watch, I’m betting the Sox are the No. 3 choice right now. They just don’t have any star power.
- LeBron James and that fake injury to his elbow. Are you taking the bait on this so-called injury?
- The World Cup is fast approaching, are you excited? Do you even know when it starts? Didn’t think so.
- How hot are the Tampa Bay Rays? Well, they lead all of baseball with a 21-7 record going into tonight, but what’s more impressive is they are 12-1 on the road. Yes, only one loss on the road which is absolutely amazing. I’m still not buying that they are the best team in baseball, or even the AL East, because I don’t think that bullpen will hold up. Rafael Soriano will get hurt and then it will be a closer-by committee (which never works). They are much better than Boston, however. Everyone should agree with that.
- A boxing fans’ dream: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Make it happen. I’d be rooting for “Money” Mayweather no doubt!
- Thumbs up or thumbs down with this weekly column?
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Bruins continue dodging bullets
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Whew. Another close one.
Let's face it folks, this has not been a pretty series for the Bruins thus far. While the end results have been positive, the B's have left a lot to be desired in this series thus far.
Luckily for the Bruins, Milan Lucic and Marc Savard came through with dramatic goals that were not necessarily textbook, more just throwing the puck at the net in hopes that something might come of it.
But the fact of the matter is after playing extremely well in the series against Buffalo, the Bruins have played a very sloppy series thus far against the Flyers and very easily could be heading into Philadelphia down, 0-2.
While at times they have appeared to dominate the play, like the first period and overtime of game one, they have yet to play a complete, 60-minute hockey game in a solid fashion, let alone a dominating one.
And, of course, just like there always is with the Flyers, there's a controversy. Apparently Dan Carcillo, the man who decided to go high with a hit after the whistle on Savard, took issue with Savard's actions during the altercation. Yes, I'll say that again. The guy who too a shot at the head of the other guy who just came off a two-month holiday because of a life-threatening cranial injury is whining about what went down.
Carcillo alleges that Savard bit him. What's more, he says he has marks to prove it. On the other side, Savard accused Carcillo of trying to pull out his teeth. Who do you believe? The guy whose nickname is "Car Bomb" and had the fourth-most penalty minutes in the league, despite playing in fewer games than two of the three guys in front of him, or the guy who hasn't been in a fight since the 2002-03 season?
Trying to look at this as objectively as possible, the biggest question I have is this: How did Savard manage to bite down hard enough on Carcillo's fingers to leave marks if he had gloves on? Kind of hard to believe. And if the glove was off, then why wasn't there a fighting major?
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Whew. Another close one.
Let's face it folks, this has not been a pretty series for the Bruins thus far. While the end results have been positive, the B's have left a lot to be desired in this series thus far.
Luckily for the Bruins, Milan Lucic and Marc Savard came through with dramatic goals that were not necessarily textbook, more just throwing the puck at the net in hopes that something might come of it.
But the fact of the matter is after playing extremely well in the series against Buffalo, the Bruins have played a very sloppy series thus far against the Flyers and very easily could be heading into Philadelphia down, 0-2.
While at times they have appeared to dominate the play, like the first period and overtime of game one, they have yet to play a complete, 60-minute hockey game in a solid fashion, let alone a dominating one.
And, of course, just like there always is with the Flyers, there's a controversy. Apparently Dan Carcillo, the man who decided to go high with a hit after the whistle on Savard, took issue with Savard's actions during the altercation. Yes, I'll say that again. The guy who too a shot at the head of the other guy who just came off a two-month holiday because of a life-threatening cranial injury is whining about what went down.
Carcillo alleges that Savard bit him. What's more, he says he has marks to prove it. On the other side, Savard accused Carcillo of trying to pull out his teeth. Who do you believe? The guy whose nickname is "Car Bomb" and had the fourth-most penalty minutes in the league, despite playing in fewer games than two of the three guys in front of him, or the guy who hasn't been in a fight since the 2002-03 season?
Trying to look at this as objectively as possible, the biggest question I have is this: How did Savard manage to bite down hard enough on Carcillo's fingers to leave marks if he had gloves on? Kind of hard to believe. And if the glove was off, then why wasn't there a fighting major?
Monday, May 3, 2010
Savard's heroics mask a big problem
By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Say what you will about whether or not Marc Savard should be playing this postseason. You can have your opinion. Mine is that the Bruins pay some guys a lot smarter than me a lot more money than I make to make those kinds of decisions.
Regardless, Savard's goal was beautiful. Not just because of the fact he was returing after the two month injury on a cheap shot. Not because he snuck it past Brian Boucher through an opening most couldn't hit a ping pong ball through. It's because in most cases Savard passes up that shot and looks for a pass. But being the intelligent player he is, he realized the golden rul of playoff hockey: In overtime, just get the puck on net and good things will happen.
But while all of that is true and all's well that ends well, Savard's overtime winner has made people forget one major thing: the Bruins were outplayed for most of that game. After a beautifully played first period, the B's fell apart in the second and third periods and did the exact opposite of what they did in the first.
They were not aggressive. They did not play well in the neutral zone. They didn't take the body. They didn't forecheck. They didn't backcheck.
The Flyers are still by my estimation an inferior opponent and if the Bruins are planning on relying on that kind of shoddy play to win, they may still beat the Flyers, but what about the Penguins if they come calling in the next round? Or even Montreal, who have been playing possibly the best hockey of the playoffs thus far?
I can tell you this: It won't be good.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Say what you will about whether or not Marc Savard should be playing this postseason. You can have your opinion. Mine is that the Bruins pay some guys a lot smarter than me a lot more money than I make to make those kinds of decisions.
Regardless, Savard's goal was beautiful. Not just because of the fact he was returing after the two month injury on a cheap shot. Not because he snuck it past Brian Boucher through an opening most couldn't hit a ping pong ball through. It's because in most cases Savard passes up that shot and looks for a pass. But being the intelligent player he is, he realized the golden rul of playoff hockey: In overtime, just get the puck on net and good things will happen.
But while all of that is true and all's well that ends well, Savard's overtime winner has made people forget one major thing: the Bruins were outplayed for most of that game. After a beautifully played first period, the B's fell apart in the second and third periods and did the exact opposite of what they did in the first.
They were not aggressive. They did not play well in the neutral zone. They didn't take the body. They didn't forecheck. They didn't backcheck.
The Flyers are still by my estimation an inferior opponent and if the Bruins are planning on relying on that kind of shoddy play to win, they may still beat the Flyers, but what about the Penguins if they come calling in the next round? Or even Montreal, who have been playing possibly the best hockey of the playoffs thus far?
I can tell you this: It won't be good.
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