Bruins' season defined by "too many men on the ice"

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 19, 2010 9:14 PM EDT

Bruins fans should have been shocked that the B's blew a 3-game series lead and a 3-goal Game 7 lead, but they should not have been surprised at the way it ended. The too many men on the ice call late in the third period of Game 7 that led to Simon Gagne's game-winner was just the latest of several moments in the Bruins' '09-'10 season that were shaped by too men on the ice calls and non-calls.

Classic Conspiracy

I will take you back to New Year's Day at Fenway Park where Marco Sturm had just lifted the Bruins over the Flyers 2-1 with an overtime goal in the NHL Winter Classic. The smoke from the fireworks that erupted from atop the press box had barely cleared from the air before members of the Philly media were breaking down the tape and writing about how the B's should have been called for too many men on the ice moments earlier. Four and a half months later, these same scribes would write about how the call at the end of Game 7 was karma for the non-call at Fenway.

When you try to cheat, you face the wrath of Satan

The Bruins were in double overtime of Game 4 in their first round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres when the Sabres were whistled for a too many men on the ice penalty. As the power play was ticking away, Michael Ryder found Miroslav Satan in slot. Miro "The Hero" faked a shot on the forehand and beat Ryan Miller with a backhander to take a 3-1 series lead over the Sabres.

Facts about the '09-'10 Bruins and Too Many Men on the Ice Calls:

- The Bruins were called for Too Many Men on The Ice 14 times this season (12 in the regular season and twice in the playoffs).

- The Bruins first and last goal against of the season were the created by "too many men on the ice" penalties. Brooks Laich of the Washington Capitals scored a power play goal on opening night after the B's were whistled for too many men on the ice in the first period.

- The league average was 8.03 too many men on the ice penalties per team for the regular season.

- The Bruins accounted for 5% of the 241 too many men on the ice calls in the NHL during the '09-'10 regular season.

Tweet Comment 56 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

good article, sir.

those videos made me wish opening day was here already….

by delta on May 19, 2010 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Those were the days!
Nice job by Sturm keeping that puck in and that’s Mike Richards bouncing off of Bergy…..crap, is it draft day yet?

by SkateHitShoot on May 20, 2010 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s also a big year for too many men in the playoffs in general. I think we’re close to doubling last year’s total.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 20, 2010 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

I love Savard, hes my favorite player, but that too many men penalty is INEXCUSABLE

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 20, 2010 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

I like his offensive skill set, but I have never been a Savvy guy. I hate the way he carries himself on the ice. The way he didn’t take accountability after the too many men on the ice call speaks volumes about his leadership skills (or lack of).

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 21, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont look at it that way.
This explains why you were on my case about him forever.
Savard is and always will be my favorite current Bruins player, but he made a mistake here. The reality is, the Krejci injury forced him into a role he was not ready for yet after coming off of a terrible injury.
Does the penalty still suck? Hell yeah

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 21, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

How does an injury to Krejci force Savard into a too many men on the ice penalty?

It was a dumb penalty, it happens. Flyers were called for one yesterday. But as your site manager said earlier, Savy not manning up and owning the penalty as he should says more to me about his character than anything he does on the ice.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 23, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree, that was a bad panalty.
My point is, Savard was forced into a role as the offensive guy when Krejci got hurt, which he was not ready for yet

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 23, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Well he is an offensive guy…he is just not a scorer. He is a first line center who thrives on having solid wingers around him, which he did not.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 23, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree there
Taylor Hall, baby!

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 23, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

So how many years now are we going to be discussing his “leadership” on this team?

by 13_Legion on May 24, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Well his contract’s until 2017, and he has a full No-Trade Clause for 2010-11 and partial NTC for 2011-12 through 2013-14.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

How often will we hear about the Bruins’ “Team Character” or lack thereof?

every time they lose more than one or two in a row, it’s a “crisis of character”

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

If failing to win one game out of four tries to advance to the conference finals isn’t about character then I don’t know what is.

by SkateHitShoot on May 24, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it has more to do with losing Krejci and the Flyers getting Gagne and Leighton back.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

As in, if that was the case going into the series I could see the Bruins getting swept.

Either way they exceeded expectations for the year.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I completely agree that losing Krejci when they did, coupled with Sturm already being out killed them but one game was all they needed. They may not have done well in the conference final but those last four games and those last 45 minutes showed a lot about what this team has and lacks. The opportunity for somebody to make a difference was there and nobody took it.

by SkateHitShoot on May 24, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Simon Gagne took it.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

HA…That’s f’n funny.

by SkateHitShoot on May 24, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

So he didn’t make a difference?

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

no .. that was so true it made me laugh..

by SkateHitShoot on May 24, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Haynes was THE difference

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 24, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Gange… my. Phone sucks sorry

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 24, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

haha, no worries

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s some nice typing errors.

You managed to type someone else’s name.

by 13_Legion on May 25, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m just saying a leader would have stepped up and said “my bad” and taken some accountability. I did not hear Savard saying anything close to that. Instead you heard him go “I don’t know what happened” and implied that it was Sobotka’s fault. This guy should not wear the “A” at all next year.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 24, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

“Mr. Savard, your comeback in the second round may have helped the Bruins win a couple games and then Krejci going out and Gagne coming back sure made a big difference. It was a team effort to get to 3-3 with 2 minutes to go after being in overtime in game 4 about to sweep the Flyers. But we can’t help but notice that you called for the linechange and screwed it up.

Can we pin this whole mess on you?"

co-signed, everyone in the media

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 24, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Once again, you missed my point completely. I’m not pinning the entire loss on him. They never should have been in that situation to begin with. All I am saying is be accountable.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 24, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah he is but you still have to recgonize he is a great player and you are being a bit harsh on him.

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

bbs, you gotta be joking right? saying savard should be accountable at a time like that isn’t being hard in the guy. besides, he’s supposed to be one of our franchise
players so he should get used to being criticized

make a bonehead move in a situation like that you should expected to be scrutinized

by delta on May 25, 2010 8:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

make a bonehead move in a situation like that you should expect to be scrutinized

by delta on May 25, 2010 8:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

sorry bout the double post

wow. Mobile post failure.

by delta on May 25, 2010 8:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It was worth having it be read twice by her

by 13_Legion on May 25, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

haha no worries my phone sucks typing.
I just think people are being a little hard on Savard. He screwed up, yeah, but Im more pissed at the refs for calling it. There were a lot of too-many-men penaltys this post season. And the penalty was not even near the play and did not affect anything.Kind of a cheap call.

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding? I will bite my tongue as much as I can because this is a Bruins blog and I am not a Bruins fan.

But how in God’s name can you be mad at the ref’s for calling a blatantly obvious penalty? The fact that it was not near the play does not matter. That is like saying you can’t call a guy for slashing at someones face if it is well behind the play. There are rules for a reason. When and where an infraction takes place does not matter. The fact that it did not affect anything also does not matter. Had it gone uncalled it could have…need I remind you of the game winning goal in the winter classic? A non too many men on the ice penalty did in that instance make a difference.

The Flyers got called for a too many men on the ice penalty last night and you know who I was pissed at? The guy who jumped on the ice before the last guy jumped off. Not the ref, or the coach, or anyone else on the ice. Just the guy who committed the penalty.

I would be willing to bet that if it wasn’t your boy Savy that committed the penalty then you wouldn’t be so quick to jump to that guys defense.

He committed a penalty. It happens. Unfortunately for him, he and his team paid the ultimate price for it but instead of manning up and owning it he decided not to do so. He doesn’t deserve to wear a jersey with a B on it, let a lone an A.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 25, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Um, if it was anyone but Wideman Im willing to say what I said. Relize too, Savard hasnt played for a while, and I have questioned the Bruins judejment letting him play.
Oh, and by the way, forget B and A, how about C? lol, jk, it just made me laugh

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Would you please stop it?

Savard had been playing for two weeks at this point.

What, his brain still only functioning at 90% of normal so he can’t decide to come on or off?

by 13_Legion on May 25, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude sorry. I agree he screwed up, but to say he is a problem is a bit ridiculous.

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think it is, and apparently I am not the only one.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 27, 2010 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

meh I guess

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 27, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

hey thanks for beating the habs by the way

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 25, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

You are welcome.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 27, 2010 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you for chiming in. I’m glad a few people agree with me.

It was actually Sobotka that jumped on the ice, but Savard skated to the bench riased his stick and then while Sobotka was going over the boards decided to stay on the ice.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 25, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

You are welcome. I have no grudge against Savard but I have seen enough of him to feel like he is a good talent with a bit of an attitude problem.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 27, 2010 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah but you know that the media guys are fishing for a quote and getting annoyed when he won’t give them one.

Was Wideman on the ice? He’s gotten pretty good at laughing at his mistakes this year (granted, out of necessity)

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 25, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

agree
Im not sure, I havent seen any replays of it.

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ve looked through all the dressing room transcripts and cannot find anywhere where Savard took any responsibility for his role. He was given plenty of opportunity to so and he didn’t.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 25, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

you know that the media guys are fishing for a quote and getting annoyed when he won’t give them one.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on May 25, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

By fishing for a quote they gave him plenty of opportunity to man up and be accountable.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on May 25, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

hahahaha
love it

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

OMG all they talk about is me over at BSH. I wish I could respond to some of their stuff…. Its time to move on, Im not there anymore, just stop talking about me at this point

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

I’m sure it’s golden.

by 13_Legion on May 25, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh it is.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 27, 2010 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

/sigh

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/

by bestbostonsports on May 27, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Like I said before. Let it go. Don’t mention BSH and they won’t mention you.

Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!

by EREX21 on May 27, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions