Your Boston Bruins headed into the Christmas break the proud owners of a 4-game skid. How bad was it? The Bruins hadn’t lost 4 games in a row since all the way back in 2019. I mean it was historically ugly. The B’s were outscored during their skid by a 2:1 ratio, and it wasn’t like they were losing to the class of the league. The boys lost to the Wild (2x), the Jets (who arguably have their best skater on IR) and the laughingstock of the Original Six who have this chooch as one of their leadership core.
So the B’s limped into the Christmas break looking to relax, recharge and refocus. Things got off to a rocky start when Jeremy Swayman and Jakub Lauko got stuck in an elevator en route to Kevin Shattenkirk‘s house for dinner. Per Lauko “We’re fine. Sway was crying a little but I gave him a goalie hug”. For those of you that are unaware of Lauko on social media, I suggest you rectify that immediately as he’s very funny and def worth a follow.
So after their time off the B’s were looking to right the ship and get things headed back in the right direction. Thankfully the NHL schedule makers obliged by sending the boys to Buffalo, where the B’s have had some success as of late.. I’d say 17-2-1 over their last 20 heading into last night’s game kind of makes this a hammer and nail rivalry?
The B’s got on the board first when Mason Lohrei followed up a James van Riemsdyk shot by burying the rebound. “A shot with purpose” as Homeboy Jack would have said if he was on the call. One thing I’ll say about Lohrei is that you can teach him defensive gap control and systematic breakouts, but an offensive instinct like this? Not so much, that’s something that you either have or you don’t and it looks like Lohrei has it.
Charlie Coyle doubled up the score later in the opening 20 while on the power play and the boys took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Jake DeBrusk broke into the BUF zone and dropped the puck to Brad Marchand before receiving the puck back as he dropped down the LW. DeBrusk circled the net and found Coyle in front for the drop knee one-timer upstairs. Beauty.
In the middle frame, Coyle got another one on the power play. David Pastrnak gained the BUF zone (see the BUF defense just give him the blue line? That’s what you call a bad gap, even on the PK) and laid the puck to DeBrusk in the RW corner. DeBrusk found Coyle moving laterally in the low slot where he dangled one defenseman before banking the puck of Erik Johnson’s skate and into the net past Devon Levi.
Just past midway of the 2nd, Morgan Geekie scored on (you guessed it) another Bruins power play. After some great puck movement by the Bruins, Geekie put the puck on net from down low on the RW that banked off Levi into the corner of the net. Great net front presence by Pavel Zacha added to the chaos in the blue paint.
Speaking of Geekie, have you all checked out his little brother Conor? This cat is cut from a different cloth all together. The first round pick of the ARZ Coyotes is living his best life for Team Canada at the World Juniors and has what I would call a “unique” pregame ritual. You should also look up the tape job on his stick.
The Sabres got one back when Johnson made up for his earlier gaffe when he blew a clapper past Swayman from the RW dot through a forest of legs and sticks but it was too little too late as this game was never really in doubt.
The Bruins are off until the weekend when they host the NJD on Saturday and then head off on a quick 2-game road trip first to the Motor City for a tilt with DET on Sunday before squaring off with CBJ on Tuesday.
Some observations from the last few games as well as last night:
- Geekie has been a solid addition proving his worth up and down the lineup. This year and next for $2M? Yes please.
- Coyle is showing the league what most of us have realized long ago: He is a true dominant center and can be a one-man cycle when his game is on.
- I got some great odds on a Devon Levi for Calder bet, and I don’t think you can hang this entire game on him: BUT this is why I’m not a good gambler.
- Marchand was subjected to a double minor last night when he gave a forearm shiver that was called a cross-check and then was mean to an official. I’m sorry, but this seems to be a problem across all sports: Who the fuck pays money to see the refs? Get over yourselves, you’re not the story, you’re not the draw and even your own family isn’t there to see you. A combined 10 power plays in a Wednesday night late December game is egregious.
- Think the Bruins have missed Derek Forbort?
- The Sabres wore their black “Buffalo Head” jerseys last night. I’m sorry, I’m not really a jersey guy, but I know what I like and don’t like and those sweaters are awful. The bright blue and gold is iconic and should never be put aside for those horrible tarps.
- Want to feel old? Ray Bourque turns 63 today. Happy Birthday Bubba
- Tage Thompson was held out of this game for personal reasons. Are the Sabres fully in tank mode now?
- For all you couch general managers, the Bruins have maintained a 4 point lead in the division while keeping pace with the other division leaders in the league. And they did this while in the midst of a 4 game skid. Why? The main reason, in my humble opinion, are the goaltenders. This tandem has been the best in the league and yes, the Bruins will have to pay Swayman next season, but at this point I’m confident Don Sweeney will figure it out with the cap increasing and be able to keep both of them for at least next season. Enjoy the problem of having two #1 goaltenders. And speaking of goaltenders, how much of a beauty is Swayman? Takes a bite of a wing mid press conference without missing a beat.
And I’d be remiss to not highlight Charlie McAvoy with the save of the game in this one:
I mean nothing quite sums up the holiday season like helping out friends.
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The Morning Skate 