Oh Shit, It's Happening Again As Bs Drop 2-1 Decision To Devils; Herald Reporting Vesey Will Sign With Bruins
Buckle up, Boston. It’s really happening. Again.
It was a scant three weeks ago when it was written and stated that Claude Julien should warrant serious Jack Adams consideration for Coach of the Year for having his revamped squad within spitting distance of the #2 seed in the Wales (with this writer leading the charge). But here we are today and the Bruins are barely holding onto their postseason voucher thanks to tallying just two of 14 possible points in their last seven games after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Devils in Newark last night. The similarities to last year’s epic collapse are strikingly parallel and the Bs are staring down a potential ridiculous, unacceptable choke for the second year in a row.
The Bruins didn’t look truly desperate until New Jersey took the lead they’d never relinquish 4:05 into the third on their second power play goal of the game. But other than Brad Marchand’s second period tally, the Bs couldn’t solve a very good Keith Kinkaid. They outshout the Devils 40-15 in the game and 16-3 in the third period yet the equalizer never came. Just a very frustrating loss in the biggest game of the year.
Fortunately they got help from the Canadiens, of all people, when the Habs knocked off the Red Wings, allowing the Bruins to still control their own fate/cut their own throat. With the Isles holding a firm grip on the #7 seed and the Flyers holding two games in hand on the Bruins, third place in the Atlantic is the Bs most likely ticket to the playoffs. That’s where they currently sit with 88 points, one point ahead of Detroit; both the Wings and Bs have five games left.
Their remaining schedule: at St. Louis (tied for points lead out West, still battling for division), at Chicago (who, fortunately for the Bs, are pretty much ensconced in third place in the Central), then a three game homestand vs. Carolina, Detroit, and Ottawa. So, once again, the Bruins are gonna ride this out to the bitter end. What looked like a sure thing just a few weeks ago is now anything but and all wary eyes are firmly on the Bruins, not quite believing that they may just shit the bed once again.
But things apparently weren’t entirely bad on the day, organizationally speaking. To wit: According to an extremely well-placed source within the Boston-area college hockey community, (Jimmy Vesey) will opt for free agency and sign with the B’s. The above comes from trustworthy longtime Herald beat guy Stephen Harris*.
That’s a huge get for the Bruins even though it can’t help them this season. Signing Vesey will make losing Loui Eriksson a hell of a lot more palatable even if he will be rookie. He worked extensively on his two-way game last season to become a more well-rounded player which was probably music to the Bruins ears.
Oh, and there’s also this.
Hmm. Vesey coming here, Grizzy apparently going to sign as well. Sounds kind of familiar…
The Bs called up Austin Czarnik and Seth Griffith this morning. Ryan Spooner was already hurt (along with John-Michael Liles) and Brett Connolly joined him last night so Czarnik and Griffith will fill their spots for the time being.
(*—Harris’s beat and reporting, along with his partner-in-crime Steve Conroy, is one of the very few things that has maintained its quality since the Herald declined steeply in both quality and relevancy—save for their sports department, which may just be better than the Globe’s these days.)
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