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Game 6, from minute one to minute 60, seems like one gigantic missed opportunity for the Boston Bruins. From Kevan Miller’s early giveaway to Loui Eriksson ringing yet another piece of iron, and even David Desharnais saving a would-be goal, the Bruins missed their golden chance to become the first of the four that will punch their ticket to the third round.
But what else did you expect on a night where B’s shooters were credited with a combined 17 missed shots -- including four from second line center Patrice Bergeron and another three from top line winger Milan Lucic -- on Montreal netminder Carey Price?
Though the missed chances went both ways -- Brendan Gallagher missed a wide open net on a great second period look -- Boston’s inability to bury the puck on the looks they have has become maddening for just about everybody in Black-and-Gold. In no real order, I suppose, the Bruins could really use a good bounce for Lucic, Eriksson, David Krejci, and Brad Marchand (a player in the midst of a previously unimaginable 19-game playoff scoring drought).
Right now, even though Lucic had a strong Game 5 (as did Eriksson), they’re not getting them.
Then again, did you really expect a win that’d eliminate Montreal in Montreal? Or that the Bruins could eliminate any team-x in team-x’s building in a Game 6? I wouldn’t think so. Especially when the Bruins’ recent history in that situation should’ve tells you otherwise, anyways.
Before last night’s Game 6 at the Bell Centre, the Bruins were just 1-4 in Game 6s where they had the chance to eliminate their opponent. The one win came in 2010’s first round series victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The four losses? 2010 versus Philadelphia, 2011 against Montreal, 2011 against Tampa Bay, and last year’s first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. All of these games, if you remember, were played away from Boston’s TD Garden. So, factor in last night’s loss, and the Bruins are 0-5 when entering an unfriendly building for a Game 6 while in control of the series.
So, maybe.. just maybe, you should’ve seen this one coming back to Boston.
Though it doesn’t sound like Julien’s club is fearful of what a return to Boston means for this series.
“A Game 7 is a Game 7. You go in there, you give it your best shot, and as a coach, as players, as a team, and you go from there,… Julien said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ve been through those many times and like I said, you hope that your experience is going to help you get through those.…
Since taking over behind the B’s bench in 2008, the Bruins have been involved in eight Game 7s, winning four of them, and holding a 3-3 record in Game 7s played in Boston. Four of those home Game 7s have gone to overtime, with Boston winning two (2011 vs. Montreal, 2013 vs. Toronto).
In essence, the Black-and-Gold have done everything they can to destroy the hearts of their fans.
This year won’t be any different, either.
On top of an inability to slow P.K. Subban down -- seriously, you’ve hit the point where all of New England holds their breath when this guy has the puck on his stick -- the inexperience of Boston’s blue line is starting to show. Whether it’s been Miller’s mishandling of the puck, or Matt Bartkowski’s bid to take the most minor penalties in one playoff series, this has been a series where you’ve found yourself trying to craft some robot knees for Dennis Seidenberg.
But again, that’s not worrying Julien, whose seen enough Game 7s to know what’s up with his club.
“There’s wins, there’s losses — you bounce back from those. But I think tomorrow night’s a good time for them to just go out there and play and be themselves and we’ve always encouraged our young players to be that,… noted Julien. “It’s also important for our leaders to hopefully pave the way for those guys to be more comfortable and give them the opportunity to play their game.…
Here’s the thing, though: The Bruins have to do more than play their game. They’ve played their game for much of this series, and it’s brought them to this point -- a 3-3 series tie. This is where the Bruins will have to bury their chances. With Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek showing signs of life -- scoring three of Montreal’s four goals in Game 6 -- the Bruins will need their Lucics, their Jarome Iginlas, and their Krejcis to step up to the challenge.
If not, we’ll be talking about yet another missed opportunity. The only difference is that this one would be their last ‘til the fall. That’s something that the Bruins -- led by the Cupless Iginla and 37-year-old Zdeno Chara -- have to be aware of when they take to the ice tomorrow.
“The last thing you want is regrets, and if you hold back and you don’t do the things you know you can do and you don’t leave it all out on the ice, then you have regrets,… Julien, a coach that’s won eight of his last ten playoff series behind a Bruins bench, said. “That’s what desperation is all about, is leaving it all out there on the ice, and you can walk away knowing you gave it your best shot.…
Ty Anderson is a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.Anderson[at]gmail.com