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Wings without Larkin again
Summary - if you needed a reminder that this is still a rebuild, I hope you paid close attention tonight. There are times when it doesn’t pay to watch this team. It’s a bit of a fan masochism to fixate on what can be a train wreck at times.
4 goals for Bergeron (three of them on the power play). 4 assists for Marchand. This is the type of game that you knew was coming but didn’t want it to materialize.
The rookies. At least we have the rookies. 21 points split between Raymond and Seider as the two combined (with Hronek) for a power play tally. Other than that this was a disgusting embarassment.
Some nights, it feels like this team is just a couple players away. Some nights, it feels you need 3 or 4 new defenseman and about 7 or 8 forwards. Of course that’s just exaggerated by how badly this one went. We have players in 3rd and 4th line positions that can probably hold on to that place.
The sad part is, what is the incentive to really improve the team right now? If, organically, they are better, it’s a sign that we’re on the right path. However, if they’re having a lot of bad performances, it means a higher draft pick. You don’t have any reason to spend picks or assets to get better. You don’t even have a big payoff in firing Blashill mid season. The team would have to finish dead last to pick third overall. Is it worth taking that opportunity away?
One of the concerns going into this year was the more “normal” travel schedule. The team is going through some growing pains. The press did their best to make it sound like the loss in Montreal was on Bertuzzi’s shoulders. That one player would have been the difference in that. Bert was back, this game was worse.
We need Larkin back, for sure. But even then, these nights are going to happen. It’s just not the team many had hoped for at this point. Vrana being lost hurt, for sure. Larkin being out hurts. But the rest of the team just falls completely apart, that’s not an issue of 1, 2 or even 3 players. That’s a team issue. And right now, this roster has to figure out how to become a team.
First Period:
Veleno draws penalty at 2:55
Raymond at the left point on the opening unit. Wings lose faceoff, puck down the ice. Can’t get into the zone and set up. Zadina it’s a nice zone entry 50 seconds in and gets a shot attempt (not on net). Finally decent cycle work with 2nd unit, can’t convert on the opportunity.
Namestnikov takes a stupid penalty engaging a player while he didn’t have a helmet on. Bruins score on the advantage. Wings only get 3 shots in the first period to Boston’s 11.
Second Period:
Wings finally get some good pressure on the Bruins and at about 6 minutes in have a near minute long cycle, Boston ices the puck. Fabbri wins the draw and some more nice cycle work. Staal makes a good play to keep the puck near the O zone, Bruins ice again, but win resulting faceoff and get puck down and change.
Wings avoid a gimme as Pastrnak fans on a wide open net at 8:50.
Bert and Raymond on breakaway, Bert to box for knocking stick out of McAvoy’s hands. Another PK, another PPG for Bergeron
Bergeron with a power play hat trick after Seider heads to the box.
Third Period:
Wings get 5 on 3 opportunity for 70 seconds after consecutive Bruin penalties. A total of 11 shots on goal 7 minutes into the third is cringeworthy. Raymond makes it count with a wide open net, grabbing his 10th point and 5th goal. Seider gets an assist so the Wings now have 21 points from the rookies.
Bruins get it right back short handed.
Some of my previous posts:
Previous post:
Wings without Larkin again
Previous Post:
Hungry Habs Hamstring and Humble Wings
Previous post:
Seider gets rookie of the month, Montreal pregame
Previous Post:
Leafs win high tempo game over Wings
Previous Post:
Veleno called up. 
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