On Surging Canadiens and what’s next for Boston

The Montreal Canadiens ousting the Boston Bruins in seven games was no fluke. Yes, the Bruins are the superior team but the NHL playoffs is all about matchups and getting hot at the right time. Montreal was the better team in the series and deserved to advance to the Eastern Conference. “We just beat the best team in the league,” Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. The Canadiens for now put a wrench into the theory that you need to be a big, strong, puck possession team to win in the playoffs. However, it doesn’t hurt to have one of the NHL’s best goaltenders in Carey Price and a phenom on the blueline in PK Subban. Those two make a world

Bruins neutralized Crosby with Bergeron, opted for Chara – Malkin matchup in Game 1 at even strength

One of the top storylines coming into Game 1 was how the Boston Bruins intended to utilize Zdeno Chara in a matchup role and who he would be paired with. Do they go for the matchup against Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin? That was among the burning questions, and, as expected, the Bruins went for the Patrice Bergeron – Sidney Crosby matchup, while going for the Chara – Evgeni Malkin matchup at even strength. The first wrinkle Bruins head coach Claude Julien threw was splitting up his top pairing of Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. With Andrew Ference returning to the lineup, Julien was comfortable enough to pair Johnny Boychuk with Zdeno Chara and go with Ference and Seidenberg in a primary

Penguins coming off as whiners after Game 1?

GAME 1 FALLOUT The Penguins have expected a physical series and they set the tone physically for the first 35 minutes of the game, but the Bruins would eventually get into the Penguins head, similar to how the Flyers did so effectively last spring. Although the Penguins are a much more physical team than the Vancouver Canucks were in the 2011 Cup Finals, Boston does feel they can attack and get under the Penguins skilled players skin like they did so well against the Canucks in 2011. The second period scrum that saw Evgeni Malkin pummel Patrice Bergeron, and Sidney Crosby, Zdeno Chara barking at each other, led to the Penguins losing their composure. “I don’t think the situation at

Scouting the Bruins Defensemen: Has Krug made Bruins better equipped to match up against Pens speed?

SCOUTING THE BRUINS DEFENSEMEN BRUINS PRACTICE D-PAIRS ON TUESDAY Zdeno Chara – Dennis Seidenberg Matt Bartkowski-Johnny Boychuk Torey Krug – Adam McQuaid Wade Redden – Dougie Hamilton Andrew Ference – Aaron Johnson BRUINS QUICKER ON THE BLUELINE? The Penguins were 3-0 against the Bruins in the regular season, all one goal games. What stood out in all three games is that despite how good defensively the Bruins are, the Bruins “D” struggled at times to match up against the Penguins speed upfront, something of a concern for Boston. The Bruins play a tight structure and like to keep teams to the outside,  but when breaking down the matchup of the Penguins forwards vs Bruins defensemen, Pittsburgh has the ability to

Penguins – Bruins By the Numbers

PENGUINS – BRUINS BY THE NUMBERS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Goals For: 5-on-5 (30) | 5-on-4 (12) | 5-on-3 (1) | 4-on-4 (2) | 4-on-5 (2) | Total (47) | GF/G (4.27, 1st in NHL Playoffs) Goals Against: 5-on-5 (21) | 5-on-4 (3) | 4-on-5 (4) | Total (28) | GA/G (2.54, 8th in NHL Playoffs) Power Play: 13-for-46, 28.3% (1st in NHL Playoffs) | Home Power Play: 8-for-27, 29.6% | Road Power Play: 5-for-19, 26.3% Penalty Kill: 35-for-39, 89.7% (3rd in NHL Playoffs) | Home Penalty Kill: 20-for-22, 90.9% | Road Penalty Kill: 15-for-17, 88.2% PITTSBURGH LEADERS Goals: Sidney Crosby (7), Pascal Dupuis (7), James Neal (6), Jarome Iginla (4), Evgeni Malkin (4), Chris Kunitz (4) Assists: Kris Letang (13), Evgeni

Jagr dealt to Bruins

Mark you calendars Penguin fans. The Dallas Stars today traded Jaromir Jagr to the Boston Bruins for forwards Lane MacDermid, Cody Payne and a conditional second round draft pick. The conditional second round pick will become a first-rounder if the Stars win two rounds. Jagr lead the Stars with 14 goals and 26 points and Jagr played so well that Dallas strongly considered resigning him. For the Bruins, Jagr is their consolation prize for missing out on Jarome Iginla. In 1,380 career NHL games, Jagr has scored 679 goals, 1000 assists. The Penguins and Bruins play in Boston on Friday April 19th.

Bruins reportedly closing in on deal for Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla is a healthy scratch tonight and all indications are Iginla is on the verge of becoming a Boston Bruin in the next 24 hours. According to reports from TSN, and other outlets, the potential deal in place is rumored to be Iginla to the Bruins in exchange for a first round pick, center Alexander Khokhlachev and defenseman Matt Bartkowski. It’s not clear if an extension is being demanded from the Bruins, something the Penguins were interested in, sources say. The rumored return for Iginla is not a significant one. The first round pick will in all likelihood be a late first rounder, Matt Bartkowski’s ceiling at best is a No. 3 pairing defenseman, and Khokhlachev is a smallish

Thursday’s Latest Penguins Trade Deadline Buzz: Shero and Nieuwendyk to strike another deal?

THURSDAY’S PENGUINS TRADE DEADLINE TOP-5 1. There’s a strong sense that the Penguins and Bruins, the two top Cup contenders in the Eastern Conference, are chasing the same players leading into the April 3rd trade deadline. It’s a group that is becoming thinner and what’s interesting is that both teams are also said to be considering the same options at the deadline; Adding a top-4 defenseman, bottom two-line player or top-6 forward. 2. One team the Penguins continue to scout heavily of late is the Dallas Stars. The Penguins have scouted five of the Stars last seven games and the Penguins were in attendance last night for Stars – Avalanche game. Adrian Dater of the Denver Post points out the

Pittsburgh 2 – Boston 1: Post-Game Thoughts (10) on the Penguins being 2 for 2 against Bruins this week

POST-GAME BUZZ The Eastern Conference top team? the Pittsburgh Penguins are two for two against the Boston Bruins this week, defeating Boston 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Consol Energy Center, extending their winning streak to nine games. The Penguins were outshot 32-18, but gave up just one goal as the Penguins suddenly have look of a defensive sound team over their last five games. It marked the fourth time in five games, the Penguins have given up 1 goal or less. The Penguins had to play the final two periods without top defenseman Kris Letang who left the game with a 1:26 remaining in the first period and never returned. Replays showed Letang appeared to get injured after taking

Will Penguins scoring prowess dictate trade deadline plans for other top East contenders?

PENGUINS GETTING ATTENTION OF OTHERS? The Penguins are far from perfect team. They have issues on the penalty kill, are inconsistent defensively and they don’t exactly get great goaltending from Marc Andre Fleury. That said, the Penguins are scary good offensively and chatter in league circles is the Penguins scoring prowess is getting the attention of at least one top Eastern Conference contender who are said to feel the need to bolster their scoring punch as the Penguins have the look of a team that could go on a run and just outscore everybody, regardless of how good of a team they are going up against defensively.