A Week Late and a Dollar Short: The End of the Boston Bruins Playoff Run

The title of the blog is both about being late with this writing but also because the Bruins always started slow this series and only could dig themselves out of the holes twice. I am sorry that this blog is so late. It seems like everyone has forgotten the Bruins actually existed in the last week. However with being on duty the rest of last week, and my graduation, as well as clearing out the Seniors after graduation The week just got away from me. I wanted to evaluate the Bruins playoff series loss to the hated Montreal Canadiens. After taking reading what "fans" have said about who is responsible for the loss, and I'll evaluate each one I have seen so far.

Head Coach: Claude Julien

I always feel like there is always too much blame placed on the head coach for losses and not enough credit for wins. Fans seem to forget the Julien changed the Bruins Franchise and led them to a Stanley Cup in 2011, an appearance in 2013, as well playoff appearances every year since he first started coaching in 2008. Fans have blamed him for who he played on defense, mainly Mezaros or Bartkowski. Either way he had fans against him with either choice, but what else can he do with Seidenberg injured. I am personally a fan of Claude Julien and I think the whole "Fire Claude" fans aren't actual fans, but actually just ridiculous in general.

Defense

This I can understand, as it was an issue at points throughout the series. Chara was clearly hurt (at least in the last game), Mezaros and Bartkowski clearly didn't perform up to standards. However there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to the defense. Barkowski has a lot of potential, just some growing to do. Krug and Hamilton will become great defenseman for years and years to come for the Bruins. Seidenberg coming back next year, I don't expect any big changes next year in this department. Maybe adding some depth would be smart. After losing Seidenberg, that really hurt us, do depth will be something we go after next year. 

Players MIA

There were a couple players for the Bruins that were Missing in Action for this series. Marchand is the biggest name that comes to mind. He didn't do anything in the series except for take stupid penalties and hurt Bruins momentum. The entire first line just didn't seem to click at all on any consistent level throughout the 7 games series. It was like an entirely different line from the 1st round to the 2nd. I will agree that this had a lot to do with it. However, that is when the secondary players step up. The 3rd line (Fraser, Soderberg, Erikkson) were great but it has to be more than just those 3. The 4th line was not as good as it was in the 2011 or 2013 playoff runs. Depth is huge, the Bruins have it, but they just disappeared. 

Tuukka Rask

This one is the most ridiculous of them all. For most of the series, Rask's numbers were comparable to Carey Price's. I am a firm believer that if a shot hits the net, then the 5 people in front failed to do their job. Most of the goals that Rask allowed were no chance or absolutely cannons from PK Subban. Rask is here to stay, the goalie of the future, and the 2014 Vezina Trophy winner. Anyone who blames this series on Rask needs to re-evaluate whether or not they are a fan. 

Luck for the Canadiens

This one makes me laugh quite a bit. Yes there is a lot of luck that goes into a game of hockey..bounces of the puck, calls on the ice, etc. However the difference was that the Bruins were unable to finish on their luck and the bounces. The Habs seemed to have finished every single chance they had, capitalize on every lucky bounce. So yes, luck goes into the hockey game, but the team has to capitalize on that luck. Yes the Bruins did hit the post it seemed like 100 times and pucks hop over their stick at least the same amount of times. But that is no excuse...

At the end of the day, the Bruins did not play well enough to win this series. Canadiens won this series. They played better, capitalized on all of their opportunities and played with the lead most of the time. More importantly, they were not afraid of the Bruins. They took the physical game the Bruins had and gave it right back. Montreal was the only team I was really afraid of and for good reason. I have to give credit where credit is due. Montreal won this series and deserved to move forward. Their forward outskated, the defense played really well, and played a really smart series. However, I will say that even though Price played well, the Bruins had more than their fair share of opportunities to score and didn't finish. If they do, the Bruins win this series in 6. Again though, Montreal outplayed and did so when it mattered. 

These playoff series will be occurring more frequently and as a fan I am looking forward to it. The Bruins are going to be really good for years to come (think Cup Favorites for the next few years). It is a great time to be a Bruins fan, despite the loss. Too bad they don't receive more attention. They deserve it. 

NOTE: Leo, I will not be rooting for the Canadiens, that is like treason. To be fair I am not rooting for any team, I am just looking forward to more great hockey. It's the best playoffs in the 4 major sports

Time to Get Back to Writing: Tale of Two Graduations

When leaving my sisters house this evening, my brother Leo (that's just easier) told me I need to keep blogging. I would be neglectful if I didn't mention the fact that the Bruins came back from a 3-1 Deficit and scored 3 goals in 5:32 and an empty-netter to seal the game. Leo wants it to be clear that the Canadiens blew that game and Carey Price should've made that save on Reilly Smith goal, but hey a W is a W. That should be a very exciting series, maybe a blog in the future about it could appear on this blog. I keep saying I want to keep writing, but I never know the topics. I need to work on that to make this a regular thing.

As of this writing I am two weeks away from receiving my Master's Degree of Education in Psychology with a concentration in Student Personnel Administration (essentially I get to work with college students for the rest of my life) from Springfield College. Yesterday marked the 2nd year anniversary of my graduation from Undergrad at Northeastern University. I find myself comparing the two graduations in my head and there are some very different takes on these two monumental moments in my life.

Before my undergrad graduation, I would've done anything to delay the moment. I had built many different relationships with people I love dearly (from my wife, to my best man Max, Big Al, Z, Jake to my favorite ladies Caitlin, Alia, Jillian...the list goes on) and I knew that we were all going in different directions in our lives and who knows if those relationships would last. Distance makes everything more difficult. It was the best 5 years of my life. I was taking a step into what my life is going to be as being an RD and getting my master's degree. I spent the summer having as much fun as possible and try to have as much interaction with my friends as possible to make up for the lack of hanging out that I'd struggle with in Springfield.

The challenged I expected were there but the friendships made it through. Right now I have built a lot of very important relationships here at Springfield College, friends I will carry with me for a long time, but this graduation is one I am really looking forward to. These past two years have been very challenging in multiple ways with this year being particularly more difficult. There have also been great times as well....getting married is the best day of my life so far, grad nights at Theo's, and just the overall laughs I have enjoyed. However, I don't live with my wife and that is quite frankly terrible. I am looking forward to graduation so that I can get a job and work full time and finally live with my wife. I don't want to delay my graduation even a little bit as I am ready to move forward. I am going to miss my friends I've made here (the wrong crowd, Cora, the many RAs and Residents that I have built relationships with). I am excited to see where I end up, hopefully closer to Boston, and finally (for real) start my life with my wife and continue my career. I'm ready to be more of a presence with my family and friends again. I'm ready