Stanley Cup of Chowder - Full coverage: Bruins vs. PanthersDavid Pastrnak is legend.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11233/stanley-fave.jpg2018-03-15T22:17:45-04:00http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/rss/stream/168868352018-03-15T22:17:45-04:002018-03-15T22:17:45-04:00Recap: Short-staffed Bruins fall flat in Florida, lose 3-0
<figure>
<img alt="NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iDE3t3vxrMhQigNb4rMu8OCzs3c=/0x0:3950x2633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59048187/usa_today_10708495.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When it’s not your night, it’s not your night.</p> <p id="zD7RYB">You can only outrun the injury bug for so long, I guess.</p>
<p id="i3unhe">The <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> were shorthanded coming into this game, and were even more shorthanded after <span>David Backes</span> was ejected for a hit to the head of <span>Vincent Trocheck</span>.</p>
<p id="z7KR2R">The result? A 3-0 loss in a game you can’t help but think was a built-in loss, given the circumstances.</p>
<p id="4naSXY"><em>(All highlights from Chris/</em><a href="http://www.twitter.com/crzycanucklehed"><em>@CrzyCanucklehed</em></a><em>)</em></p>
<p id="fjRfMJ"><span>Aaron Ekblad</span> got things started with a nifty tap-in after some great pressure from Florida. <strong>1-0 </strong><a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/"><strong>Panthers</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>
<div id="7gcIpj"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/lotjp" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="o0BDsn">Some miscommunication leaves <span>Nick Bjugstad</span> wide open for a tap-in. <strong>2-0 Panthers.</strong></p>
<div id="K2GZCO"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/rdw8r" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="nrMzFn">Vincent Trocheck picks a corner through a screen on the power play to make it <strong>3-0 Panthers.</strong></p>
<div id="7QufzL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/ek5ie" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="IqAODY">And that’s it! The Bruins couldn’t muster enough to beat <span>James Reimer</span>, who was sharp when he needed to be. Florida improves to 16-4-1 since the All-Star break, per NESN.</p>
<h3 id="ARa7PF"><strong>Game notes</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="YpixRH">On the one hand, it wasn’t hard to see this loss coming. The Bruins were dealing with injury issues from the get-go, and losing Backes certainly didn’t help. Mistakes doomed the Bruins in this one, particularly the troubles between Marchand and <span>Nick Holden</span> for the second goal. However, the Bruins did fire nearly 50 shots on net, and came a bounce or two away from being in the game. </li>
<li id="UC6hdL">Per Jack Edwards, tonight was the first time since the second game of the season that the Bruins were shutout. NOT BAD.</li>
<li id="HVLaww">
<span>Jonathan Huberdeau</span> made arguably the biggest play of the game in the first, reaching into the crease and swatting the puck off the goalline to keep the game at 2-0.</li>
<li id="DzttSm">Not much to pin on <span>Anton Khudobin</span> in this one. The first two goals were tap-ins from the crease, while the third was a rocket through a screen. He was fine.</li>
</ul>
<p id="uPS90j">Back at it on Saturday night in Tampa!</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2018/3/15/17127884/bruins-panthers-recap-bruins-lose-in-florida-nhl-playoff-race-bruins-injuriesDan.Ryan2018-03-15T20:52:36-04:002018-03-15T20:52:36-04:00David Backes gets ejected for a “hit to the head” of Vincent Trocheck
<figure>
<img alt="NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/m3zRl09-oEyZ_A3LufYOU2OWq5g=/0x0:3357x2238/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59047259/usa_today_10684267.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Another game, another controversial hit.</p> <p id="rjrxGc"><span>David Backes</span> just returned from a suspension. He might be facing another one.</p>
<p id="xoIUCH">Late in tonight’s first period, Backes hit <span>Vincent Trocheck</span> in the neutral zone. Trocheck was leaning forward, reaching for the puck. </p>
<p id="IgGsSn">The hit, from Chris/<a href="http://www.twitter.com">@CrzyCanucklehed</a>:</p>
<div id="CKamc1"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/t/6uea0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="CYoVMx"><em>(</em><a href="https://streamable.com/6uea0"><em>Link to the video</em></a><em>, for those on mobile/Apple News.)</em></p>
<p id="aM2bkP">Backes received five minutes for fighting and a match penalty, per the broadcast, for a “hit from behind.”</p>
<p id="zFLr6x">A hit from behind?!?!!?</p>
<p id="UHp0fP">Chances are, the in-game officials screwed up and meant to call it a check to the head. It’s still a bad call, but at least it’s not a completely nonsensical bad call.</p>
<p id="C80lTT"><strong>(EDIT:</strong> Yes, apparently that’s what happened. It was called a hit to the head.)</p>
<p id="H2Lj2H">What’s your take on the hit? Seems to me to be similar to the <span>Patric Hornqvist</span> hit on <span>Charlie McAvoy</span>: Trocheck was reaching, and it sure looked like Backes initially made contact with the shoulder.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MfQ_etFSAPugOK4AGyXL3dzQ4d8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10435281/hit.png">
<cite>NESN</cite>
</figure>
<p id="VNr3fk">Bad call all around? Bad hit? Mixture of both?</p>
<p id="c6KyS1">Here’s a zoomed-in, slow-mo version:</p>
<div id="Zt2fPE">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Slow-mo version. <a href="https://t.co/VPEmx6St5C">pic.twitter.com/VPEmx6St5C</a></p>— #1 WINGELS FAN (@bruinshockeynow) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruinshockeynow/status/974441338400903168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="oeZV3g"><strong>UPDATE (8:44 PM): </strong>So now that this was ruled a match penalty for a hit to the head, here’s what the rulebook says:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Rpb5fh">48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, <strong>in his judgment</strong>, the player <strong>attempted to or deliberately injured</strong> his opponent with an illegal check to the head. If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion.</p></blockquote>
<p id="zj7sf3">Emphasis mine, but it’s interesting. Basically, this means that the referee decided that not only did Backes hit Trocheck in the head (or as the principal point of contact, whatever), but that he did so intentionally and wanted to injure Trocheck.</p>
<p id="dDIFai">That’s a pretty big leap to make.</p>
<p id="WLkxq9">The Bruins ended up making the extended penalty kill, and still trail 2-0 early in the second.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2018/3/15/17127550/david-backes-ejected-hit-to-the-head-of-vincent-trocheck-nhl-hit-to-the-head-controversial-callDan.Ryan2018-03-15T17:15:02-04:002018-03-15T17:15:02-04:00Public Skate: Bruins vs. Panthers
<figure>
<img alt="NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-BUJDv-umjILB1wLuC6UpWqcG9c=/0x0:3099x2066/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59033649/usa_today_9795358.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It’s OK to talk to strangers if it’s about hockey on the Internet.</p> <p id="N9f7TB">Happy Thursday!</p>
<p id="bbEJWX">Large bears! Wild cats! Who would win in a rumble?</p>
<p id="GxXvSq">I say bears. Unless it’s in the everglades, then the cats might have the edge.</p>
<p id="ZmhR9f">Anyways...</p>
<p id="sCkq3H">Discuss.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2018/3/15/17122834/bruins-panthers-hockey-discussion-thread-discuss-hockey-online-with-your-pals-its-fun-dont-worryDan.Ryan2018-03-15T12:42:11-04:002018-03-15T12:42:11-04:00Bruins lines vs. Florida: No captain, my captain
<figure>
<img alt="NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5RkfZ3fPbgtzEOak98wa_tTaJZc=/0x0:3210x2140/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59041141/usa_today_10702129.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>An already depleted lineup gets more depleted.</p> <p id="g5eqzB">With two more guys on the shelf, it's another new-look lineup tonight!</p>
<p id="uONcvz">Per the team: </p>
<p id="gRGzrT"><span>Brad Marchand</span> - <span>Riley Nash</span> - <span>David Pastrnak</span></p>
<p id="K14Y3V"><span>Danton Heinen</span> - <span>David Krejci</span> - <span>Rick Nash</span></p>
<p id="pfhjqR"><span>Tommy Wingels</span> - <span>David Backes</span> - <span>Brian Gionta</span></p>
<p id="BdkncV"><span>Tim Schaller</span> - <span>Sean Kuraly</span> - <span>Noel Acciari</span></p>
<p id="bD4pQZ">On defense:</p>
<p id="ynBr43"><span>Nick Holden</span> - <span>Kevan Miller</span></p>
<p id="gJqAdR"><span>Torey Krug</span> - <span>Adam McQuaid</span></p>
<p id="zlEWFV"><span>Matt Grzelcyk</span> - <span>Brandon Carlo</span></p>
<p id="YZImLW">Krug and <span>Paul Postma</span> apparently shared that slot in practice. This could indicate that Krug is a game-time decision.</p>
<p id="hHqt1T">Expect Anton Khudobin in net.</p>
<p id="XxdprH"></p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2018/3/15/17125274/bruins-lines-vs-florida-no-captain-my-captain-zdeno-chara-injury-jake-debrusk-injuryDan.Ryan2018-03-15T06:59:02-04:002018-03-15T06:59:02-04:00Preview: The Bruins head south to face the red-hot Panthers
<figure>
<img alt="NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pSHMrTxmgw5rkp1OxiDazIxpwE8=/0x0:3303x2202/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59033621/usa_today_9795362.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hey, wait a minute... | Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After a thriller in Raleigh, the Bruins look to maybe not fall behind by three goals this time.</p> <h3 id="tC5nXM"><strong>Just the facts</strong></h3>
<p id="vhyRzi"><strong>When:</strong> 7:30 PM</p>
<p id="D5zJBH"><strong>Where:</strong> BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida</p>
<p id="FJQreE"><strong>How to follow:</strong> NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub</p>
<p id="9j0yoy"><strong>Rival SBN site: </strong><a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com">Litter Box Cats</a></p>
<h3 id="Y5BOXw"><strong>Know your enemy</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="u2kv7R">
<span>Aleksander Barkov</span>: 25G-44A-69PTS; <span>Vincent Trocheck</span>: 26G-38A-64PTS; <span>Jonathan Huberdeau</span>: 23G-40A-63PTS</li>
<li id="zBkQQI">
<span>Roberto Luongo</span>: 14-8-2, 2.61 GAA, .926; <span>James Reimer</span>: 16-13-5, 3.16 GAA, .907</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="gVO0zI"><strong>Game notes</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="BmTthV">The <a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Panthers</a> are SURGING! The Cats are 8-1-1 in their last ten games (and that includes a loss to Ottawa in their last outing). With 75 points, the Panthers are (before Wednesday night’s game) just three points behind the New Jersey devils for the second wild card spot with two games in hand. SURGING!!!!!</li>
<li id="kmuIC2">Going back to the beginning of February, the Panthers are 14-4-1 in their last 19 games. On February 1, the Panthers were tied with the <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> for 13th place in the Eastern Conference. They were eight points behind the second wild card team, with three other teams between them. This has been a Andrew Hammond <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Senators</a>-esque run for the Panthers.</li>
<li id="t0jxTY">The run has been powered by old buddy Roberto Luongo, who has returned from injury on top of his game. Prior to his loss on Tuesday night against Ottawa, Luongo had gone 7-0-1 since coming off the shelf.</li>
<li id="qFSA7h">Frankie V! <span>Frank Vatrano</span> had a goal in his first game with the Panthers, then was held off the scoresheet last time out. True to form, he had eight shots on goal in those two games. </li>
<li id="SzOxBq">The Panthers have a McGinn, a McCann, a first name MacKenzie and a last name MacKenzie. St. Patrick’s Day is Saturday. Is this game fixed in favor of the Panthers???? MY COLUMN:</li>
<li id="otqAEE">Expect a weird <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Bruins</a> lineup tonight. No one was recalled on Wednesday, but chances are someone has already been made available to get down to Florida tomorrow in the event that one or more of <span>Zdeno Chara</span>, <span>Jake DeBrusk</span> or <span>Torey Krug</span> can’t go.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="BCZQsf"><strong>Never forget</strong></h3>
<p id="2eZNCa">Say, speaking of Zdeno Chara...</p>
<div id="fOeL8x"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NmCLFzzC36U?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="A5iegJ">6’9” AND HE’S A BALLERINA! </p>
<p id="xoh76Y">See ya tonight!</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2018/3/15/17122792/bruins-panthers-preview-bruins-road-trip-aleksander-barkov-roberto-luongo-zdeno-chara-brad-marchandDan.Ryan