Stanley Cup of Chowder - Bruins vs. Hurricanes Complete CoverageDavid Pastrnak is legend.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11233/stanley-fave.jpg2013-04-08T23:56:33-04:00http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/rss/stream/39614052013-04-08T23:56:33-04:002013-04-08T23:56:33-04:00Bruins vs. Hurricanes Recap: Bruins win 6-2
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<figcaption>well this is awkward | Jim Rogash</figcaption>
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<p>Rad Marchand almost netted the hat trick, but who cares that he didn't - the Bruins hit QUOTA!</p> <p>In their biggest scoring explosion yet this season, Brad Marchand, Rich Peverley, Nathan Horton and even Andrew Ference and Jordan Caron got on the scoresheet with goals tonight. Although the lines seemed wonky before the game, perhaps a game against the far-inferior Hurricanes was what was needed for the lines to gel. </p>
<p>Or maybe Claude will blow up the lines tomorrow. Who the hell knows.</p>
<p><b>Pluses</b></p>
<p>+ Caron scored! Good for him! It'd been about a year since the last time he scored an NHL goal.</p>
<p>+ Tuukka Rask was unbelievable yet again. If there are still people trying to make a case for Anton Khudobin to be the starter....well let's just say that's how we're going to weed out the idiots from now on. The Hurricanes had a few very good chances, and Rask shut the door on the majority of them.</p>
<p>+ How about those wraparounds? Rich Peverley's goal on Justin Peters and Brad Marchand's delightful Jaromir Jagr wraparound attempt rebound goal on Dan Ellis were probably goals that better teams would have defended against, that better goalies would have stopped; even so, it's good to get a few ego-boosters once in a while.</p>
<p>+ Regardless of their opponent's skill level, the Bruins have found themselves unable to beat lesser teams by more than a goal or two all year, so a 6-2 win is a great thing even if it was slightly sloppy at times.</p>
<p>+ Maybe this will be the end of the Pandawful experiment. We can dream, right? Just keep him in the press box with fellow geezer Wade Redden. </p>
<p>+ Seidenberg had a great game with three assists.</p>
<p>+ QUOTA</p>
<p><b>Minuses</b></p>
<p>- Stop allowing 40+ shots on goal per night.</p>
<p>- Stop letting the other team dictate play/keep the puck in your defensive zone.</p>
<p>- STOP TAKING ZERO SHOTS ON YOUR POWER PLAYS</p>
<p>- The Bruins are seemingly still unable to put the foot on their opponent's throat in the third period. The two late goals were entirely on the defense and not particularly the fault of Tuukka Rask.</p>
<p>- All in all, there were some mistakes made, but obviously nothing serious, and the Bruins took advantage of some poor goaltending by the 'Canes. At the very least, they were successful at exploiting their opponent's weaknesses; now to correct their own.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4203534/bruins-vs-hurricanes-recap-everybody-loves-marchandsarahconnors2013-04-08T20:47:37-04:002013-04-08T20:47:37-04:00Public Skate: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, third period
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<figcaption>Jim Rogash</figcaption>
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<p>Trees for goals all up in here</p> <p>goal 4:
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<p><img src="http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2ajncea.gif"></p>
<p>goal 5:
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<p><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3348/3444024147_bde1c1e888_o.gif"></p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4203138/public-skate-bruins-5-hurricanes-0-third-periodsarahconnors2013-04-08T19:55:54-04:002013-04-08T19:55:54-04:00Public Skate: Bruins 3, Hurricanes 0
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<figcaption>Grant Halverson</figcaption>
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<p>the Bruins have three goals on NINE shots. </p> <p>The game so far in gifs:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The first goal!</p>
<p><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq3z8fCkia1qcyq2wo1_500.gif"></p>
<p>The second goal!</p>
<p><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljr5ayvwuv1qgq61yo1_250.gif"></p>
<p>The third goal!</p>
<p><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1t20may691qjrxbg.gif"></p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4202986/public-skate-bruins-3-hurricanes-0-yes-this-is-real-lifesarahconnors2013-04-08T18:25:15-04:002013-04-08T18:25:15-04:00Public Skate: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, 7PM ET
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Y'all ready for this?</p> <p>I made a pretty good weather joke in the preview, I'm pretty proud of it</p>
<p>WHAT'S ON TAP</p>
<p>also have a gif</p>
<p><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9p6hltapC1qcqqkzo1_500.gif">/p></p>
<p>YOU SHOULD DO THIS TONIGHT LUCIC</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4202708/public-skate-bruins-vs-hurricanes-7pm-etsarahconnors2013-04-08T13:37:15-04:002013-04-08T13:37:15-04:00Bruins vs. Hurricanes: A PDO comparison
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<img alt="Tuukka Rask: Pretty good goalie. Never listen to radio callers." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BkDaMBYol1zHiCf9tWGLSZBooR8=/0x116:4000x2783/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11171593/20130330_gav_se7_061.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tuukka Rask: Pretty good goalie. Never listen to radio callers. | Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Earlier today in the preview we noted that Carolina's PDO is pretty fucking awful. How do the Bruins compare?</p> <p>For a more in-depth analysis of what PDO is, <a href="http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2013/01/21/pdo-explained/" target="_blank">this article by Cam Charron is a nice start</a>. I like PDO because it's easy to calculate, it's a really interesting calculation of "luck" and it's also really funny when a team who has really good or bad "luck" starts regressing to the mean (see: last year's Minnesota Wild). The "league average" is 1000 - your save % and your shooting % at even strength on average should create a number close to 1.</p>
<p>From earlier, here's the Hurricanes' PDO chart (averaged over every five games) (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.shutdownline.com/hurricanes/statistical-analysis/now-this-is-just-depressing.html">Thanks again to Shutdown Line for creating this chart!</a>)</p>
<p><img src="http://shutdownline.com/images/PDO.JPG"></p>
<p>The Hurricanes started out around average, and now they are really bad! The thing is - the Hurricanes aren't very likely to rebound. There are ten games left, and neither Dan Ellis nor Justin Peters is a standout goalie likely to suddenly ramp up his save percentage. Sure, they might steal a game here or there, but nothing that, combined with the Hurricanes' mediocre goal-scoring ability right now, is going to shoot that PDO through the roof.</p>
<p>There's only so far luck can carry you, especially with bad goaltending.</p>
<p>Now for everyone calling in to hate on Tuukka Rask or Anton Khudobin or whatever else have you, let's take a look at the same chart for the Bruins:</p>
<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/MBxpL5Y.png?1?8085"></p>
<p>Oh look at that! The line wiggles a bunch, but it wiggles around that 1000 mark - up for five, down for five. It never deviates too far above 1000 - indeed, the highest "five" was between games 20 and 25, and that's because it included a game where Boston scored four goals on 21 shots 5 vs. 5 against Toronto. Conversely, it never even dips as far down as 950 - because OH HEY, Boston has consistently good goaltending at even strength in combination with a pretty average shooting percentage. In fact, if anything, the Bruins have a slightly lower shooting percentage at even strength, which highlights the fact that our goaltending is actually REALLY consistently good. Suck it, haters.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, if you take another look at the Canes' chart, it's obvious that losing Cam Ward really sucks - their PDO was above 1050 until he got hurt, and while it was likely to regress anyways, without Ward it's now down below 900. Yikes. That sucks.</p>
<p>For the record, right now through 37 games the Bruins' PDO is 1004. Above average. Aw yeah.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4197246/bruins-versus-canes-PDO-wow-carolina-is-unluckysarahconnors2013-04-08T13:00:04-04:002013-04-08T13:00:04-04:003 Questions With... Canes Country
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<figcaption>LOOK OUT CAM! | Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>We talk Cam Ward, Alex Semin, and Staals</p> <p>Hello. Today we talked with <a target="new" href="http://www.canescountry.com/">Bob Wage of Canes Country</a> about where the <a href="https://www.canescountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hurricanes</a> are, and the importance of goaltending.</p>
<h4>1. The Hurricanes aren't mathematically out but it's not looking good for them this year. Is it all <span>Cam Ward's</span> injury?</h4>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>The loss of Cam Ward has been significant, but there have been a few other issues related to the current losing streak, (1-10-1). The team also lost <span>Justin Faulk</span> to a knee sprain and he was leading all blueliners with time on ice. Also, the team hit a scoring drought at the worst possible time and lost several games by a 4-1 margin, so goaltending was not the only problem.</blockquote>
<h4>2. Alex Semin signed a one-year deal with y'all before this season. How has that worked out?</h4>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>The Canes signed Semin to a 5 year deal worth $7 million a year a couple of weeks ago. We ran a poll on Canes Country and 84% of fans responding seemed happy with the signing. Personally, I am happy he is coming back. It is good to see management willing to spend the money to bring more high end talent to Carolina and he has been a hard working team player for the most part for the Canes.</blockquote>
<h4>3. <span>Jared Staal's</span> ELC runs out after this year. What move do the Canes make to bring Marc into the fold before re-signing Jared?</h4>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>Good question about <span>Marc Staal</span> and many others around the league are probably wondering the same thing. But I doubt the Canes would want to give up what the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a> would want in return for the defenseman, right away anyway. Although Jordan is signed for 10 years, so you never know what might happen in the years ahead.</blockquote>
<p>Thanks again to Bob for answering my questions. Please do check out their coverage today.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4196334/3-questions-with-canes-countryCornelius Hardenbergh2013-04-08T10:38:03-04:002013-04-08T10:38:03-04:00Bruins vs. Hurricanes Preview: A storm is coming
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>“A bruise is a lesson...and each lesson makes us better.” -Game of Thrones</p> <h4>Just the Facts</h4>
<p><b>Game Time</b>: 7 PM, TD Garden, Boston, MA. TV Broadcast: New England Sports Network (NESN), NHL Network (US). Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub.</p>
<p><b>Records</b>: <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bruins</a> (24-9-4, 52 points, fourth in the East) vs. Hurricanes (16-19-2, 34 points, thirteenth in the East)</p>
<p><b>The Other Side's SB Nation Site: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.canescountry.com/">Canes Country</a></p>
<p><b>Get Tickets here</b>: <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nhl/boston-bruins-tickets" target="_blank">Boston Bruins Tickets</a></p>
<p><b>Hurricanes projected lines:</b></p>
<p>Ruutu - J. Staal - Skinner<br>Dwyer - E. Staal - Tlusty<br>Bowman - Brent - Larose<br>Dalpe - Nash -</p>
<p>Harrison - Bellemore<br>Gleason - Corvo<br>McBain - Sanguinetti<br>Bergeron</p>
<p>Peters</p>
<p><b>Bruins projected lines:</b></p>
<p>Lucic - Krejci - Horton<br>Marchand - Campbell - Jagr<br>Paille - Kelly - Seguin<br>Caron - Peverley - Thornton (Daugavins)</p>
<p>Chara - Hamilton<br>Seidenberg - Ference<br>Boychuk - Bartkowski</p>
<p>Rask</p>
<h4>Preview:</h4>
<p>Saturday night's game was a bruise of epic proportions. The Bruins came out entirely flat against the Canadiens in a crucial game that could have launched the Bruins into second place in the east. A bounce-back game is in order - this Hurricanes game is perfectly timed for that.</p>
<p>The Hurricanes have struggled mightily since their star goaltender, Cam Ward, went down with a knee injury. They've gone 1-8-1 in their last ten games, and have also lost Joni Pitkanen and Justin Faulk along the way. The most recent blow was losing Alex Semin to an upper-body injury; he didn't play Saturday, and is day-to-day. Semin may have been the 'Canes' best chance to make this a very competitive game tonight, as he's typically very good against the Bruins.</p>
<p>Without Semin, the Hurricanes are rolling 7 defenseman. Joe Corvo lead the team in ice time last game against the Rangers with 21 minutes; we're all too familiar with Joe Corvo's defensive lapses. Henrik Lundqvist made 48 saves against the Canes on Saturday, and as fantastic as that is - that the Canes got 48 shots to the net - the Rangers needed ten fewer shots to pot four goals, including one by Brian Boyle, who is not exactly known for his offensive prowess. Before that, they were shut out by the Lightning's new acquisition Ben Bishop in a 5-0 game; the Lightning are Not That Good, so that should tell you all you need to know about the Canes' struggles right now.</p>
<p>Want to see something even more depressing? <a href="http://www.shutdownline.com/hurricanes/statistical-analysis/now-this-is-just-depressing.html" target="_blank">Shutdown line tracked the Canes' PDO in five-game segments</a>. (PDO, if you forget, is the sum of a team's save percentages and even strength chances and is basically an indication of luck.) It's plummeting faster than air pressure during an actual hurricane, and shows no sign of stopping. (That article's worth a look; it also breaks down their PDO before/after key injuries.)</p>
<p><img src="http://shutdownline.com/images/PDO.JPG"></p>
<p>PDO for average teams should be right around 1.000 or slightly below. Definitely should not be sub- 0.900. In a full season, maybe they'd have time to get back to the mean, but...yeah, probably not happening this year.</p>
<p>On the Bruins' side of things, everything looks a lot less bleak after considering the Canes' situation, doesn't it? Tyler Seguin has been moved to the third line to work with Daniel Paille and Chris Kelly, who might be back tonight, and that line is actually pretty intriguing - I'd call it less of a demotion for Seguin, as so many seem to be clamoring about, and more of a "let's try to spread the scoring across three lines" move by Claude Julien. If Kelly coming back means Pandolfo sits and we get a fourth line of Daugavins-Peverley-Thornton, it's a demotion for Peverley for sure, but if that's the case, look to see him and Campbell, who is centering Brad Marchand and Jaromir Jagr, potentially swap spots if things don't go well.</p>
<p>And of course, the Krejci line is intact, because they've had the best chances over the last two games. I don't hate it.</p>
<p>Game Thread at 6. See you there.</p>
https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/4/8/4196434/bruins-vs-hurricanes-preview-a-storm-is-comingsarahconnors