https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-307621494?tid=277549076
- eggsegan

With Sunny out for game 3 you have to insert Mackenzie mac

I think net net, this could be worse for Bruins. Hear me out.

We will miss Sunny but we are going home and cant further dictate matchups.

However, next time there is anything close to a boarding committed by Bruins the Blues bench will be screaming for blood. Guessing we see a 5 min major and or suspension in next few games. Plus there are more than a few on the Bruins side who are already labeled as repeat offenders.

Still sucks to have him miss a game

One game!
- arh777

As I thought.

I think net net, this could be worse for Bruins. Hear me out.

We will miss Sunny but we are going home and cant further dictate matchups.

However, next time there is anything close to a boarding committed by Bruins the Blues bench will be screaming for blood. Guessing we see a 5 min major and or suspension in next few games. Plus there are more than a few on the Bruins side who are already labeled as repeat offenders.

Still sucks to have him miss a game
- Gerk

I agree that I think this could rally them even tighter, especially for a teammate who they all seem to really like so well.

Add to it:
Krejci's head shot on Blais
Krug's charge on Thomas
The missed too many men on the Bruins power play goal
The poor call on schenn at the end.
The non-call on Chara.

All points bringing them to us against the world and instead of whining about like teams of years ago they seem to be more fortified by, more determined by it, more resolved.

I agree that I think this could rally them even tighter, especially for a teammate who they all seem to really like so well.

Add to it:
Krejci's head shot on Blais
Krug's charge on Thomas
The missed too many men on the Bruins power play goal
The poor call on schenn at the end.
The non-call on Chara.

All points bringing them to us against the world and instead of whining about like teams of years ago they seem to be more fortified by, more determined by it, more resolved.
- Jason Millen

Just a heads up... The Bruins didn't have too many men on the PP goal. Someone took a screenshot from another point in the game, and then started saying it was during the PP goal, and Blues fans ran with it. The Blues have 5 guys on the ice, and Tarasenko is out there on that screenshot, and he wasn't out there on the PK. No clock in the corner, but it's sometime during the 1st or 3rd. Either way... not on the PP goal. While we're at it, Krug's check wasn't a charge, so you can give that one up too.

And you guys are forgetting that the Bruins lost Grzelcyk to an injury on a dangerous hit. Personally I think that's a bigger event to rally around than someone getting suspended for throwing a dangerous hit, and a few missed calls which c'mon... we all know happens both ways.

Just a heads up... The Bruins didn't have too many men on the PP goal. Someone took a screenshot from another point in the game, and then started saying it was during the PP goal, and Blues fans ran with it. The Blues have 5 guys on the ice, and Tarasenko is out there on that screenshot, and he wasn't out there on the PK. No clock in the corner, but it's sometime during the 1st or 3rd. Either way... not on the PP goal. While we're at it, Krug's check wasn't a charge, so you can give that one up too.

And you guys are forgetting that the Bruins lost Grzelcyk to an injury on a dangerous hit. Personally I think that's a bigger event to rally around than someone getting suspended for throwing a dangerous hit, and few missed calls which c'mon... we all know happens both ways.
- mixturebill

It’s pretty clear from watching game two that the Blues are working to nullify the Bruins skill through physical play. Finding that edge is and has always been the challenge.

Personally, I agree with the league’s ruling on the Sunny hit. That’s exactly the hit that they’ve been trying to get out of the game. Galphabet Soup made it worse with his body positioning, but Sunny has to either change his line or ease up. In my mind, part of the reason G changed his position was to try to avoid the hit. As a defenseman, he’s got to accept that he’s likely to be hit in that situation. That Sunny didn’t let up or change his line is the core of the problem though.

It’s pretty clear from watching game two that the Blues are working to nullify the Bruins skill through physical play. Finding that edge is and has always been the challenge.

Personally, I agree with the league’s ruling on the Sunny hit. That’s exactly the hit that they’ve been trying to get out of the game. Galphabet Soup made it worse with his body positioning, but Sunny has to either change his line or ease up. In my mind, part of the reason G changed his position was to try to avoid the hit. As a defenseman, he’s got to accept that he’s likely to be hit in that situation. That Sunny didn’t let up or change his line is the core of the problem though.
- eggsegan

Haha Galphabet soup is a good one... haven't heard that one before.

The Blues definitely took the Bruins off their game with their physical play in game 2. I think Grzelcyk going out with the injury affected them big time. That being said, the Bruins have actually been outhit by every team so far this postseason, including the Leafs. It hasn't really been something that's held the Bruins back so far because their skill guys were playing pretty well, and they were scoring on the PP. But if the top 6/PP isn't producing offense AND the team is getting outplayed on the physical side... that's a recipe for a loss. I expect to see something close to the Bruins performance in game 2 against the Leafs where the hit everything in sight. If that's the case, then game 3 will be very exciting... I just hope nobody gets hurt on either side.

Just a heads up... The Bruins didn't have too many men on the PP goal. Someone took a screenshot from another point in the game, and then started saying it was during the PP goal, and Blues fans ran with it. The Blues have 5 guys on the ice, and Tarasenko is out there on that screenshot, and he wasn't out there on the PK. No clock in the corner, but it's sometime during the 1st or 3rd. Either way... not on the PP goal. While we're at it, Krug's check wasn't a charge, so you can give that one up too.

And you guys are forgetting that the Bruins lost Grzelcyk to an injury on a dangerous hit. Personally I think that's a bigger event to rally around than someone getting suspended for throwing a dangerous hit, and a few missed calls which c'mon... we all know happens both ways.
- mixturebill

I think you may be misinterpreting my post. I don't doubt for a second that Grzelck's injury will be a rallying point for the Bruins. It should be. My post wasn't about who should rally. It also wasn't to bemoan the officiating, though I see how it could come across that way, but rather I was only talking about how these events will likely pull the Blues even tighter together.

Ask the guys around here what I have been saying for years - win regardless of officiating. Some games you win with its help. Some games you have to overcome how it hurt your chances. Some games it doesn't factor into the result much. What you cannot do is let it become your mental focus and impact how your work to play your own game. It's a bigger version of MMA and boxing where you can't afford to leave the decision in the hands of the judges.

The Blues team has had a feeling of us against the world for months now. They are a tighter knit bunch than I have seen in a long time and some of the prior locker room potential issues seem to be at least minimized. From being written off by fans and media, from expecting the team to be blown up via trades and waivers, to hardly anyone giving them much of a chance against the Jets, to the Stars getting all of the NBC attention, to all the talk being of the Sharks and Jumbo Joe, etc.

I also thought what you thought about the too many men on the ice until I saw two different screen shots on twitter. One that had 5 Blues and one that had 4. Of course, the one with 4 could have been doctored as I didn't look that closely. It's twitter so there definitely could be some buyer beware on the "screenshots".

As to the Krug hit, under the rule it's a charge. Under how the officials call the game, it's not often called that way. The notion of needing active strides before the hit is something made up by the fans and/or media.It isn't in the rules anywhere that I have seen. This is before you consider the puck wasn't there anymore and that Krug skated directly past the puck choosing not to play the puck to make the hit. Also to qualify, I'm talking about a 2 minute penalty charge. Not a major, not a suspension or the like. It's a simple 2 minute penalty in my mind. Thomas being hurt already is what has him out. The hit aggravated the already existing injury. Without the existing injury, I believe Thomas is fine after that hit and still playing. Of course, the Blues players' perspective won't likely be even that objective which is why I think it is another rallying point as Thomas is very well liked among the players, especially for a rookie.

Are we really going to feed into the Bruins fans who feel it's their job to come put Blues fans in check for saying anything they don't like, just because they are only troll bumholes half the time they post on hockeybuzz?

Meh, don't say I didn't warn you.

Just a heads up... The Bruins didn't have too many men on the PP goal.
- mixturebill

More info on that too many men....I probably would have blown it dead for the illegal/premature substitution (from a years back, is this still a thing?) rather than assessing an actual too many men on the ice penalty. It effectively was a horrible change where the D coming on was almost at the red line before the D coming off was near the wall.

Are we really going to feed into the Bruins fans who feel it's their job to come put Blues fans in check for saying anything they don't like, just because they are only troll bumholes half the time they post on hockeybuzz?

Meh, don't say I didn't warn you.
- Antilles

I don't mind a debate as long as it doesn't devolve.

Sunny suspension is the hand pass game of this round. Team thinks its BS and will respond.

Game 5 watch party sold out fast. People reporting being in the ticket master "line" for over an hour and not getting tickets.

I don't mind a debate as long as it doesn't devolve.
- Jason Millen

It started with a trolling meme followed shortly by 'you're egregiously wild homers who need to be put in check.' It's your thread, so if you're good with that sort of stuff, I'm fine just talking with people elsewhere.

It started with a trolling meme followed shortly by 'you're egregiously wild homers who need to be put in check.' It's your thread, so if you're good with that sort of stuff, I'm fine just talking with people elsewhere.
- Antilles

Fortunately, it doesn't matter if I'm good with it or not. I don't have any more control or say over what happens in the comments than you do, Guru does, Carcus does, bogiedoc does, Ogie does or any other hockeybuzz user.

Various users are assigned "referee" status and are responsible for removing inappropriate content, assessing penalties (think timeout), etc. The writers are NOT referees, a policy of which I happen to agree. (Ek may be the exception or maybe even he is not). My point is that all of us own the thread comments.

Given me being the writer, I try to have a really thick skin and to give people the benefit of the doubt. I realize I may be bias as a writer and a fan so maybe I go the other way a bit in giving people too much benefit of the doubt. I can count on one hand how many times I have reported a post to the site and sent a message to a referee.

I'm not sure how much you were around JJ's comment sections when the Blues were playing the Hawks in the playoffs but when I look back at those interactions, they didn't always start the smoothest. I'm sure there was some name calling, memes, etc but over time respect was earned and most of that all went away.

If you ever feel like something is inappropriate, please report it with the flag and/or send a pm to a referee.

All of us collectively own the comments section here. I want it to be bigger, more diverse and more debating at times. As a result of that and the acknowledgement of my inherent bias, maybe I tolerate things more than others would. Regardless, hopefully you'll stay around and keep contributing.

Game 5 watch party sold out fast. People reporting being in the ticket master "line" for over an hour and not getting tickets.
- Jason Millen

I was debating on if I should get some tickets last night and decided not to. Not surprised it sold out so quick. They have been fun, and the entire city is fired up.

Sunny suspension is the hand pass game of this round. Team thinks its BS and will respond.
- Gerk

Agreed. The Blues are going to come out fired up.

More info on that too many men....I probably would have blown it dead for the illegal/premature substitution (from a years back, is this still a thing?) rather than assessing an actual too many men on the ice penalty. It effectively was a horrible change where the D coming on was almost at the red line before the D coming off was near the wall.
- Jason Millen

Honestly, I would like to know when this actually happened. I haven't had the time to go back and watch the game, but I do have it DVR'd. I did not see the version with only 4 Blues skaters as you had mentioned in the other post, but that one has to be doctored if it's out there.

And I have never seen the play blown dead for illegal/premature substitution... but it is in the rule book separate from the "too many men" penalty. Illegal substitution is rule 68, too many men is rule 74.

I think you may be misinterpreting my post. I don't doubt for a second that Grzelck's injury will be a rallying point for the Bruins. It should be. My post wasn't about who should rally. It also wasn't to bemoan the officiating, though I see how it could come across that way, but rather I was only talking about how these events will likely pull the Blues even tighter together.

Ask the guys around here what I have been saying for years - win regardless of officiating. Some games you win with its help. Some games you have to overcome how it hurt your chances. Some games it doesn't factor into the result much. What you cannot do is let it become your mental focus and impact how your work to play your own game. It's a bigger version of MMA and boxing where you can't afford to leave the decision in the hands of the judges.

The Blues team has had a feeling of us against the world for months now. They are a tighter knit bunch than I have seen in a long time and some of the prior locker room potential issues seem to be at least minimized. From being written off by fans and media, from expecting the team to be blown up via trades and waivers, to hardly anyone giving them much of a chance against the Jets, to the Stars getting all of the NBC attention, to all the talk being of the Sharks and Jumbo Joe, etc.

I also thought what you thought about the too many men on the ice until I saw two different screen shots on twitter. One that had 5 Blues and one that had 4. Of course, the one with 4 could have been doctored as I didn't look that closely. It's twitter so there definitely could be some buyer beware on the "screenshots".

As to the Krug hit, under the rule it's a charge. Under how the officials call the game, it's not often called that way. The notion of needing active strides before the hit is something made up by the fans and/or media.It isn't in the rules anywhere that I have seen. This is before you consider the puck wasn't there anymore and that Krug skated directly past the puck choosing not to play the puck to make the hit. Also to qualify, I'm talking about a 2 minute penalty charge. Not a major, not a suspension or the like. It's a simple 2 minute penalty in my mind. Thomas being hurt already is what has him out. The hit aggravated the already existing injury. Without the existing injury, I believe Thomas is fine after that hit and still playing. Of course, the Blues players' perspective won't likely be even that objective which is why I think it is another rallying point as Thomas is very well liked among the players, especially for a rookie.
- Jason Millen

Apparently my Krug rebuttal was too long to display on the boards

But if you quote the text on my empty post, I believe it shows up... must be a weird glitch, or apparently the forum just really didn't like what I had to say haha.

(If you even care to read it anyways)

I don't mind a debate as long as it doesn't devolve.
- Jason Millen

I appreciate that Jason... I'm not here to troll. Honestly it's much more interesting hearing what the other side has to say, because I hear the Boston side of things all day long. I have a general understanding of what's going to be said in the Boston forum because it's the same stuff I hear on the radio, read online, or discuss with my friends.

It started with a trolling meme followed shortly by 'you're egregiously wild homers who need to be put in check.' It's your thread, so if you're good with that sort of stuff, I'm fine just talking with people elsewhere.
- Antilles

Let me extend the olive branch... we got off on the wrong foot. I really don't have any issues with you Blues fans, and honestly you guys seem like fine, upstanding hockey citizens.

I apologize for the "egregiously wild homerism" comment... but to be fair, it was only in response to the "two of the same hit's happening in the same game, and only one getting a hearing" comment. The Sundqvist hit and the Nordstrom hit on Blais are as patently different as they come. One was a shoulder to the head from behind, and one was shoulder to shoulder from the side.

You guys seem like good dudes... I don't want this to become like the Toronto/Boston relationship.

Thomas is not ok and ready. Don't expect to see Thomas again this playoffs.

If it was me and Sunny was out, I wouldn't insert Sanford. I'd likely insert MacEachern before Sanford but you may see him role with seven D, bringing Dunn back in for specialist duty at home with last change - Power play, Offensive zone good match-ups, etc.
- Jason Millen

What about Jordan Nolan? Similar games, no? Nolan brings more size...

Honestly, I would like to know when this actually happened. I haven't had the time to go back and watch the game, but I do have it DVR'd. I did not see the version with only 4 Blues skaters as you had mentioned in the other post, but that one has to be doctored if it's out there.

And I have never seen the play blown dead for illegal/premature substitution... but it is in the rule book separate from the "too many men" penalty. Illegal substitution is rule 68, too many men is rule 74.
- mixturebill

The premature substitution thing was created a number of years ago so they had an out for bad changes because the officials were letting bad changes go and it was getting worse. The officials were reluctant to call too many men penalties when the extra players weren't involved in the play and teams knew it and were taking it further and further to get any advantage they could. In my personal opinion, on the power play, it was a premature substitution call not a too many men. Again, just my opinion. I can't find the original i saw but here is a poor version of it from the NHL's goal highlight. Note the Bruin at their own blue line and note the Bruin behind him. The deeper Bruin is deeper in the zone than it appears from this angle based on the other clip of it I saw.
https://imgur.com/CsKvGHn

I agree that I think this could rally them even tighter, especially for a teammate who they all seem to really like so well.

Add to it:
Krejci's head shot on Blais
Krug's charge on Thomas
The missed too many men on the Bruins power play goal
The poor call on schenn at the end.
The non-call on Chara.

All points bringing them to us against the world and instead of whining about like teams of years ago they seem to be more fortified by, more determined by it, more resolved.
- Jason Millen

Exactly. Well put