Ty Anderson: Bruins fall to Fast-paced Rangers

I just came in to make a comment about K. Miller, so i am glad to see what you wrote, Ty.

I have no idea why CJ does not give him a seat upstairs and put Morrow in, Morrow has looked good when he has played, yes a few mistakes, but that's par for the course when a guy sits for a month and he is a young developing player. They are hurting Morrow's development in a bad way.

It's to the point where I pray Miller gets into a fight and pops his shoulder out or something... He's just NOT a good player, and with this current team he is being exposed on a nightly basis.

Also agree with you on Chara. He gets sh!t on non-stop but is still consistently the best Dman out there on a nightly basis. I do think though, he needs to play less minutes as later in the games his mobility and puck moving and controlling pucks severely diminish. I mean the guy is like 65, maybe slide his minutes down a tad?

I like CJ as a coach, but his loyalty to some players (for unknown reasons) is maddening. Some guys on the team have no leash at all and some guys can screw up 10 times a game and cause goals and still play every single game without repercussion.

I agree, Chara on that last rush with 20 to go was a real head scratcher, not sure if he knew how much time was on the clock, or what he was thinking, real sloppy. Otherwise, Chara's the least of our problems on 'D'.

Great game to watch, and agree that it felt more like a playoff game. It was a great first two periods for the Bruins, and then they were chasing the game a little too much after the Rangers put in that first goal.

Miller definitely got caught puck watching on that second goal, and didn't pick up his man in front of the net. He probably could have deflected that puck to the corner, and instead looked like he was letting it go by to play it off the bounce off the boards... problem is the puck never made it to the boards because of that nasty tip by Fast.

Yes I understand he didn't look the best on the 1st goal either.. but that goal was more Bergeron's fault than anyone else's. Miller moves the puck up the boards to Pastrnak who gets pinched, and Bergeron is already taking off up the ice. He should have been back making sure the play made it out of his zone, and it's his man (Zuccarello) that creates that goal. Yes, Miller could have been harder on the puck when he went to the boards, and yes, Pastrnak could have made a better play on the puck... but Bergeron deserves blame when he's at fault too. I'm totally fine with having Miller watch some games from the press box, and I think it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing to create a bit more of a competition for that last D-Man spot.

Can we please get off calling Chara anywhere near an elite defender anymore? The dude is tall... that is literally his only skill now... he is tall and has a long reach. That last 20 seconds was abysmal... floats back to retrieve the puck, and then makes a terrible, lazy outlet pass that gives the B's zero chance of making a play up ice. His minutes need to drop BIG time or else he's just going to end up getting injured or completely worn out come playoff time. Chara could use a game or two in the press box. I know normally it's customary for the captain to go down with the ship, but the captain shouldn't be the reason that the ship goes down in the first place.

Also... if Spooner buries that turnover, or Lundqvist doesn't make that insane save on Talbot, we're all a lot happier today!

I really wish we were happier today. There aren't a lot of "must-wins" this early in the season, but this game felt like it to me (and not cause a rangers fan was watching with me). Two and a half weeks ago we were a point out of first. Now, despite having 2 games in hand to everyone in the division ahead of us, we are in fourth. This win would have put Boston in third, 2 points out of second with 2 games in hand against a struggling Detroit. There are 6 teams in this Division who can easily make the top 3 (eg. Florida out of nowhere) and we can't expect everyone to keep slumping. If they don't pull out some wins against their next couple of teams, they are going to slip out of playoff position. Montreal will be getting Price back in a couple weeks, Tampa Bay is actually starting to play, and we can't expect Ottawa and Detroit to continue to struggle. They would have gained some ground last night with Detroit losing. 2 minutes left in a tight game, the tie should have been ridden out. Sloppy and disappointing. If they miss the playoffs, it's this game and the huge blown lead to Buffalo before the Winter Classic that I'm looking back on.

Agree with everything Ty, but you can't seriously believe that Z is still an elite defenseman. He is way too nonchalant with his efforts and is simply too slow to keep up with speedy wingers. Zibanejads goal the other night was a perfect example. He's not entirely useless, but should be getting no where near the minutes he's getting, and not coming anywhere close to the PP

Agree with everything Ty, but you can't seriously believe that Z is still an elite defenseman. He is way too nonchalant with his efforts and is simply too slow to keep up with speedy wingers. Zibanejads goal the other night was a perfect example. He's not entirely useless, but should be getting no where near the minutes he's getting, and not coming anywhere close to the PP
- TylerSeguin19

You're spot on... that goal by Zibanejad was a perfect example of what Chara is now. JIWASINSKIJR made a good point in the last thread... if this is what he looks like now, just imagine what he'll be like towards the end of the season

You're spot on... that goal by Zibanejad was a perfect example of what Chara is now. JIWASINSKIJR made a good point in the last thread... if this is what he looks like now, just imagine what he'll be like towards the end of the season
- mixturebill

I'm curious, I understand this year and next year that he is not a #1 and not worth 7 million dollars. When his salary drops to 4 million in a couple years, do you, and the Chara is no longer elite club, believe he will be worth it at nearly half the price?

I'm curious, I understand this year and next year that he is not a #1 and not worth 7 million dollars. When his salary drops to 4 million in a couple years, do you, and the Chara is no longer elite club, believe he will be worth it at nearly half the price?
- Videoj

When he is 40 and making $4? No, not worth that.

Chara's worth is a two prong question.

Is he worth his salary? Obviously not this season alone, but over the life of the contract it is probably an even wash even if he isn't playing well.

Is he worth our expectations that he is a "top pairing" D-man? This is a more difficult question to answer. In my opinion he is not a top paring guy on a contending team.

He "should be" considered a second pairing D-man on a contending team that plays him only 18 to maybe 20 minutes a game.

He should NOT be on the ice for power plays, he should NOT be on the ice for 3v3 and rarely if ever on the ice fo 4v4.

He also needs to be playing with a guy like Hamilton last season or Boychcuk a couple seasons ago. A mobile guy with some offensive upside that can clean up his messes here and there with position OR speed. (Meaning I think he is a solid #4 on a deep contending team.)

He reminds me of Chris Pronger his last years in Philly and I wouldn't be surprised if he was injured now (something nagging him that he is playing through) or gets injured soon........just like Pronger.

This isn't a bad thing by the way, nor is it his fault, it's just the way it is with age.

The problem is the lack of common sense and creativity in the Bs organization that thought a couple years ago that he was going to still be the stud D-man he was his last solid year, the Hawks Cup year. The Presidents Trophy year was still a good year, but the point I'm trying to make is that he peaked a few years ago and has "slowly" dropped in his game. Still a stud for a couple years but a noticeable drop from his PEAK.

To be a real Cup contender you need a Norris Trophy D-man and a 1B sidekick. Presently we have neither.

Of course over the lifetime of the contract I'd say he's worth it. Won a cup, nuff said.

I just think, despite age, despite regression, it is a non-factor to discuss. His minutes should be less, he played 25 minutes last night, even if it's down to 21-22 minutes, it would make him more effective in the long run. He's no savior, but he is still a shut down D.

Next year I hope he plays with C. Miller full time. Seids with Trotman and Mcquaid with Krug. Unless some trade/signing happens, I think that is the best option we have. For now, sit K. Miller and see what Morrow can do!

I don't know guys, it's still tough to watch Chara closely and say it's not elite in his own end. The transition game has gotten worse -- both for and against -- but when it comes to locking it down in his own end in the final few minutes with a lead, there's not many other guys I'd take. Now Kevan Miller on the other hand...