lomekian

Yup. I never saw a legit reason why we didn't sign both. That was how Holland screwed up.

So the non-suspension of Malkin and the multiple incorrect 'goalie interference'' calls that wiped off our goals and put them on the PP despite NO contact, and the spectacular range of bought dives by the kid slip from your mind...particularly as the the wrongly wiped off goals and dives were in one goal games. Even game 7, though gassed, we got f***ed on 2 appalling calls late on. Fair enough....now we have categorical proof of how far away we are, this is sort of his last chance to change approach.

At least Franzen has recent memories of playing well to frustrate us. Lashoff is just not good enough for this level, never was, and never will be.

To be fair, Smith has been vastly improved in the last 3 months. Lets see if that's permanent first, shall we?

If legwand wants to stay after being made a 4th liner by babs, and for a reasonable price, i'd definitely keep him. Cant assume Weiss is suddenly going to play at his peak. The guy is still injured and virtually hasn't played in 2 years

Legwand got screwed by the coach. he was pretty good. Despite the weakness of his line-mates, that line wasn't bad 5 on 5. The obsession with keeping the same lines with a different roster was just madness.

Krug was a great find it has to be said. Hamilton was projected to be an immediate stud when drafted high. Smith was the chump change from Dallas and suddenly blossomed. The Bruins have a system, a core near their peak, and a winning team to step into. Much easier all round.

Hard to say whether Holland will make the changes....this is the first year where we have looked really outmatched in the playoffs, with our secondary players contributing nothing. Maybe it will be a shock the system. Organisational noises suggest that Franzen & Kindl may be running out of time, Alfie may not take the necessary pay cut to come back, and if they can't find an FA better than Lashoff we should all go home. It could be significant changes whether we want them or not, especially with the deadwood leaving. If alfie goes we suddenly have him, Quincey, Bert, Cleary, Sammy all leaving at once, with probably one of Franzen, Tootoo or Weiss bought out, That;s a minimum of 18m to spend (the cap increase should so salary raises for the RFAs).

Agreed. He's a very good bottom 6-er. I can see Babcock's thinking, but it doesn't work. Hopefully, whether its Mantha or an FA, we can get a proper threat on the first line next year.

And that, as they say, is that.....at least it wasn't that arsehole marchand

YET ANOTHER TOO MANY MEN CALL late in a game. Either our players are idiots, or the refs aren't calling that equally. I suspect its our players being idiots.....

Great finish by Z. that's what we've missed. Justice after 2 blatant missed interference calls on the last shift.

Legwand's been pretty good tonight....for what its worth. What has also counted against us is a total lack of chemistry on most lines. They look like strangers.. And Babs has been stubborn.

Don't feel strongly either way, but if Holland made those roster calls, would you keep him?

Boston have incredible balance to their roster. We have injured stars, rookies and mediocrity. If we were fully fit, it would be much closer, but we'd still be losing. We can't live with Boston's structure, size, physicality and Defensive puck movement. Boston have better players, and have recruited to fit a system. We are half -way between systems, half-way between age-groups, and lacking in quality in certain positions.

See any spearing/cross-checking to the face/ massive embellishment from the wings in this series? Its not how many, its how and when. The desperation to make 'even up' calls favours the team that plays on the edge, particularly if they have the better PP. This subtle 'game management' is creeping into all spectator sports. Its not giving all the penalties to one team, its the total inconsistency. Its hard to know where you are. And on that note, an AWFUL AWFUL turnover from Franzen and lack of coverage = 3-1. How the f*** did we miss the local boy Krug? He's been Massive. The Stripes have been pretty ropey as per usual, but our D has been FAR FAR worse than any official could be without be being sacked. I repeat. I HAVE NEVER SAID the refs cost us the series....our awful defence and anemic goalscoring have done that. But the refs have been poor. Again, as I;ve said before why do people want to have things black or white. Its not one or the other.

No. but I DO believe that the decision to not discipline malkin was a commercial one rather than a sporting one, because of his profile AND the need to extend the series. When you consider the horrible calls in games 6 & 7 of that series it did seem really suspect game to game.....but I think that was a separate issue, But if you really think in sporting monopolies those counting the cash don't 'lean' on people to look out for certain things, you are very naive. Of course you can't fix a series. But you can tip the balance a little. Which they did. given the mass orgasm when the pens won compared to the disappointment of the year before, its hardly controversial to suggest the league had a preference.

Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive. We are the weaker team, we deserve to be losing the series AND we 're getting screwed by the refs for good measure. Is that co-existence impossible?

DId you say the same after the Penguin's series in 09, when the league basically made an executive decision that sid needed his cup for marketing reasons? That was even worse because the off-ice disciplinary procedure was changed to make it more competitive. That was far worse than this, because it was decisions made in the cold light of day that broke their own rules. This is just the usual inconsistent NHL officials making things up as they go along and slightly favouring the NHL's preferred team. Its deeply frustrating because it is essentially a lack of impartial professionalism, but it happens to varying degrees in favour of certain teams every year. When we had the hall of fame roster, we got the calls in 02 in the SCF. Not true. Read the GDT for game 1.

His speech is a waste of air. Same with Pierre. Both add nothing of merit.

Watch the previous 2 power plays. Franzen having much much worse done to him, and despite his reputation doesn't dive. As ever the NHL officials are incapable of calling all players and situations with the same pair of eyes. Like the old days of Homer being pinged for goalie interference when Pronger was crosschecking in the face into the goalie. Smith & Franzen's penalties were pointless and stupid, but FAR WORSE has been happening in every game at the other end. Call it all or let it go, but make up your ******* minds.

So those telling me 15 pages ago that I was getting pissed at the officials for nothing......OOPS.

Though there should have been a penalty on the bruins just before they score. f*** the NHL. Can't we just have a level playing field. Bulls***. Again.

And immediately they score. Our special teams are an embarrassment.

My mistake - immediate bruins blatant sell a cheap one....boom....bulls***...then smith gives away a cheap one....