Pre-game Thoughts on Game 7

Just a few quick thoughts before it's time to drop the puck on this series' deciding seventh game:

• I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins have to (pardon the bad pun) weather the storm early tonight. Carolina hasn't had to play with "desperation" at all in this series yet, while the Bruins have been playing for their playoff lives for the past two games. In some cases, especially in game five, it was clear that the Bruins were working harder and wanted it more, winning puck battles and out-hustling the 'Canes. Chances are that won't happen tonight, as the 'Canes are now facing a do-or-die game as well.
• Look for Milan Lucic to get involved early. His hit on Dennis Seidenberg essentially kickstarted the B's in game five at home. Any physical activity, be it from Lucic, Byron Bitz, Shawn Thornton or Zdeno Chara, gets the crowd going and energizes the team. Lucic is going to have to keep it within the rules, as an early power play would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the 'Canes, a pristine chance to quiet the home crowd.
• Keep an eye on Marc Savard. Claude Julien said that he sent Savard to the room at the end of game six essentially because he didn't want to risk further injury and that the game was already in hand. The game, as referenced by the last eight minutes, really was far from over, making me wonder if Savard's knee is more injured than we're being told. There is little short of a cripplnig or life-threatening injury that will keep a hockey player out of a playoff game let alone a deciding seventh game, but the Bruins need Savard to be 100%, at his play-making best.
• At some point in this game, Tim Thomas or Cam Ward will make a momentum changing save. This may seem like common sense or a broad prediction, but look for it to happen for one side. For Thomas, he has made one in each of the last two games, making two quick saves in the first period of game five just after the Bruins have scored and making a sprawling save last game to keep the 'Canes off of the board. While Thomas or Ward may not "steal" the game, one of them is going to have a chance to come up big for their team tonight.
• A lot is being made of the 'Canes "being here before", a reason for them not to worry. Also, a Versus analyst said that the pressure now shifts back to the Bruins, who are now expected to win. To me, the pressure is on each team equally. The 'Canes don't want to be a team that blew a 3-1 series lead, and the Bruins don't want to get eliminated in the second round as a top-seed. As far as experience goes, the Bruins are no slouches in that department. Everyone on their assumed starting line-up tonight experienced a game seven last year, excluding Byron Bitz, Michael Ryder, Stephane Yelle, Chuck Kobasew and Steve Montador. Bitz is the lone-playoff greenhorn here, however, as the others have significant playoff experience (Ryder with the Habs, Yelle and Kobasew with the Flames and Montador with the Ducks). Two of the leaders of Carolina's 2006 Cup-winning team are currently with the Bruins as well: Aaron Ward and Mark Recchi. While the 'Canes may be more-experienced, the Bruins certainly aren't a group of novices.
• To me, this is the Bruins' game to lose. They have proven in the past two games that if they play the way they are capable of playing, they can win. If they can play physical but careful, and continue to work hard up and down the ice, they should be OK. Does that mean I think this game will be easy? No, this won't be a flashback to last night's thrashing of the Capitals by the Penguins. But if the Bruins play their game and do what they've shown they are capable of doing, they will put themselves in a good position to win.

Go B's.

Thoughts on Scott Walker Incident, Game 6

One of the biggest stories to come out of the Bruins' game five win over the Hurricanes was the Scott Walker "sucker punch" incident, viewable below.

Today, the NHL announced that Walker would NOT be suspended, and would instead have a $2,500 fine levied against him. Bruins fans are understandably frustrated by the ruling. After the incident occurred, Walker was given a two-minute instigator penalty, a five-minute fighting major and a game misconduct. Aaron Ward, on the receiving end of the punch, was given two minutes for roughing, probably for the shoving match he was involved in with Matt Cullen prior to Walker's interruption.

The reason that Bruins fans are up in arms over this ruling is that, according to the NHL rulebook, anyone assessed an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of a game is automatically suspended for the next one. From the NHL Rulebook, rule 56.a:

(NEW for 2005-06) A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major for fighting, a ten minute misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. In addition, the player's coach shall be fined $10,000 -- a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.

(NEW for 2005-06) (NOTE 1) No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension.

If the above rule is to be taken at its word, then there's no way Walker could NOT be suspended. However, upon review, apparently by the league itself, specifically disciplinarian Colin Campbell, the suspension was "rescinded".

The problem here is that apparently Campbell, who has been skewered by hockey fans league-wide for his inconsistent policing of the game (see, just this playoffs, Milan Lucic, Alex Ovechkin, Donald Brashear, Mike Komisarek...list goes on), thought that what Walker did deserved a fine, but not a suspension. By fining Walker, Campbell is conceding that he did SOMETHING wrong, just apparently not enough to sit for a game.

The Bruins are understandably miffed by the ruling, as GM Peter Chiarelli noted that the team "respectfully disagree[d]" with the ruling. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are relieved, and seemingly feel that Ward was the recipient of some kind of payback for "liberties" the Bruins have been taking all series.

Rutherford said that the "incident" was "clearly brought on by [the Bruins]", saying that his team has been taking shots from the B's after the whistle all series. I'm not sure what he's been watching, but the B's have hardly been the only one's taking shots, as, in my opinion, they've remained relatively restrained considering the number of times 'Canes have, shall we say, "visited the crease" of Tim Thomas this series.

What it all means is that the 'Canes will still have the services of one of their grittier forwards tomorrow, and that the Bruins may be without Ward, who is being evaluated for a fractured orbital bone. He is traveling with the team, and if I had to guess, I'd say he plays tomorrow, probably with a mask or a full cage.

This, along with the Jussi Jokinen slash of Zdeno Chara, may work in the Bruins' favor. Last night's game proved that when the B's play physical, they can neutralize Carolina's speed game, the aspect of their attack that has given the Bruins the most problems. The infusion of anger and borderline hatred for the 'Canes may be what the Bruins need to keep up the physical play.

Winning tomorrow will be tough, as the 'Canes have been stellar in their own building this playoffs. However, if the Bruins can play another game like they played last night, they won't lose again for the rest of the playoffs, not just tomorrow night. The question remains, though. Can they keep up the consistent effort? Can they play "Bruins hockey"?

These are questions that will be answered in under 24 hours, when the Bruins will be on a plane back to Boston, either with the Hurricanes following shortly behind them, or alone, making summer vacation plans.

Go B's.