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Back in the saddle


It's amazing what a trip to the Stanley Cup Final can stir up in you. No, I personally didn't get to any Final games this year (yet...), but damn if it didn't get the sports writer in me fired up - which is why, you could say, I'm writing this today.

I find it comical and equally unsettling that it's been almost eight years since I updated this blog. Mostly I forgot about it, but also life happened as it often does.

That being said, I've been feeling the need to sit down and write (whether about the Bruins or otherwise), and the biggest buzzkill is updating this blog to reflect everything that has changed in my life since 2011. So, this is what you get.

Yes, my name changed to Biz Durling (married to my husband Ryan for 4 years now!), I no longer give a damn about the New York Yankees, and deep down, sports writing will always remain my passion.

Good? Now that we've cleared that up, let's move on.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

First Cup Final since 2013 and what a cast of characters the Bruins have this year. From young talent to more seasoned vets, this year's melting pot of players has created a synergy and balance of skill that has led them to the most coveted place in sports - the Stanley Cup Final. Let's break down a couple of the key player findings so far this series:

  • Brad Marchand, a 100 point regular season forward, who, so far this Final against St. Louis has put up a mere three points (1g, 2a) in five games and earned a measly -3 +/- rating.
  • Tuukka Rask, a rockstar goaltender (.937 sv% in the playoffs) who also extra'd as a football blocking sled to the Blues for the first couple games of the series. 
  • Zdeno Chara, a 42-year-old, broken-jaw'd, behemoth defenseman who WILL play, swollen face be damned. 

While those are just some of the blatant headlines of the series, there are some less subtle trends that are causing just as much of a stir. If there's one thing this series against the Blues has done, it's either highlighted the injuries the Bruins have encountered this post-season, or has exposed just how bad they look against a team that forces them into a much slower, much more physical game.


To put it into perspective, last night's Game 5 at the Garden yielded only three total goals, none of which came from the "Big Four" - David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, or David Pastrnak. In fact those four have combined for a dismal two points in the last two playoff games - both which ended up in Bruins losses.

Perhaps even more alarming is how much the Bruins weren't able to do the things right that they've been doing all season. Nevermind the tape-to-tape passes they've nearly perfected all year, but mainly the small things like battles against the boards, and even faceoffs. In Game 5, the Bruins won a mere 40% of faceoffs, with David Krejci being the main offender, winning just 4 of the 17 he squared off on (24%).

So, what's the deal? Either everyone is hurt and they are literally muscling through what they can, or the Blues just have their number. I've never seen Marchand so timid of taking a hit, nor the entire defense turn over so many possessions or get thwacked before reaching the offensive blue line so often.

Whatever the reason, they need to watch some tape, ice some joints and figure it out, preferably by puck drop on Sunday. Enterprise Center is going to be loud, but the pressure is going to be on for the Blues. They will be without forward Ivan Barbashev (currently serving a 1 game suspension), and they will have the whole city of St. Louis past and present riding on their shoulders.

Seems like a good a time as any to disappoint a thirsty fan base, don't ya think?

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