From: kiszkaw@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: Re: Bruins, Canadiens, Adams in general
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 06:29:53 GMT

In article <1gamcjINN9hq@bigboote.WPI.EDU>, patchman@wpi.WPI.EDU (Peter Bruce Harper) writes:
>
> Boston Bruins:
> Strengthes:  Extremely explosive offense.  The likes of Juneau and Oates can 
> put on quite the show.  I like to watch these two in action, although I have
> trouble 'liking' them because of who they play for.  They are great players,
> but I would question if Juneau can keep up the pace.  He became the leading
> scorer when Lindros was injured.  And let's not forget that goalies can win the
> Calder without scoring many points (Felix Potvin).  Beyond Oates and Juneau 
> they have Kvartalnov (sp?), Leach, and Ruzicka (sp?).  Kvartalnov was doing 
> great when he was on the Oates line, but has dropped off considerably now that
> he is on the second line, particularly since returning from his throat 
> problem.  Leach is consistently decent.  Not as good as Oates or Juneau but

While Kvartalnov may not be netting a goal a game any more, it's due to his
picking up on his defense.  He's not always breaking for the net everytime a
Bruin touches the puck.  He's staying with his man (or trying to more often,
anyway) and trying not to give up too many opportunities to the opponent.
Also, he's been moved from the "Bonanza Line" (Replaced by Steve Leach) and
placed onto a line with Panteleyev and centered by Poulin.  I whole-heartedly
admire Poulin as a quality center, but he is definitely defense-minded and
certainly not the play-maker Oates is.  If Ruzicka could find some consistency
(Will probably happen sometime around pigs flying), he'd be an excellent center
for these two.  You'd have a solid second line.

> posses a great slap shot.  Will probably get 40 goals this year, 35 at least!
> Ruzicka is inconsistent at best.  One game he'll get 5 points, then he'll
> get 0 for the next 3.  They need more consistency from him.  Bourque also
> contributes, but no where near what he did last year.  Other than him, not

Bourque certainly isn't getting any younger, but keep in mind that he doesn't
have to carry the team anymore like he did in the past.  The afore-mentioned
explosive offense is taking some of the load off his shoulders and freeing him
to concentrate on what he does best:  Defensive work.

> too much to be said about the defense offensively.  I would say that the Bruins
> have one of the top 10 lines in the NHL,  but they do need more mixed scoring,
> more than just the occasional goals from guys like Donato and Heinze.
> On defense the Bruins are fairly solid.  Bourque is unquestionably one of the
> best ever, but he's looking a little off this year.  He's still solid but he
> seems a little more shaky this year.  David Shaw  is a great defensive defense-
> man.  Don Sweeney has also been solid on the Blue line.  Wesley has been
> decent, but is still subjected to the occasional lapse, like deflecting the
> puck into his own net.  Other than that their corpse is somewhat aged.
                                                ^^^^^^
They're not dead yet!!  :)
In all seriousness, they've got the oldest team in the league (Average of all
player's ages.  Reggie certainly hikes the number up a bit.)

> 
> Weaknesses:  I'd have to point out the Rookie scoring and say that if it keeps 
> up the Bruins can go far, but if not, they may be in trouble.  The Bruins 
> forecheck well and aren't afraid to go into corners for pucks, but I notice 
> that if you hit them back you can knock them off their games (see loss to

This is a legitimate problem.  They seem to have a little trouble dishing out
the hits, and even more trouble receiving them.  This is undoubtedly due to the
small size of the B's.  I know you added in a leter post not to count on Neely,
but the Bruins really do need him back.  Put simply, they've got to get players
who are big enough to endure punishment, yet talented enough to put the puck in
the net.  The recent additions of Featherstone, Huard, and Kimble are steps
in the right direction, but Featherstone is really the only one who will see
the ice on a consistent basis.  Kimble and Huard are forwards, and Sutter seems
apprehensive about replacing Juneau et al with one of them (With good reason).
Steve Leach is about the closest thing they've got to another Neely: Size and
talent.  He's really finishing his checks.

> Buffalo 7-2 in the Aud earlier this season and to Washington).  They could use
> a little more scoring from their other lines (more than just their 1st line).
> Penalty killing has been good with Dave Poulin and Ted Donato, but they need
> more offense on even-strength situations.  Goaltending could also become a
> problem.  Moog has been playing well this year, but not what he has been the
> last few years, and Reggie Lemelin is just old.  True, Rej has had some great
> games this season but the slightest injury and he's done for.  Overall they
> have decent goaltending but it could become a problem should something happen 
> to Rejean.  (True, this holds for any team, but at Reggie's age he is more
> prone to get injured).

I really don't see any change in Moog.  A few soft goals in LA at the start
of the season and his reputation is ruined.  I certainly don't think he's
playing flawlessly, but he's solid.  Someone mentioned that Andy's GAA is the
lowest in the league right now and that he's lost his value.  Keep in mind
that he's right with the top of the pack in wins, and that the GAA may be just
a little bit deceptive.  Moog and Lemelin are seeing fewer shots than ever
this season.  This has been one of Brian Sutter's biggest concerns: Keep shots
against down.  Fewer shots doesn't always make a goaltender's job easier, and
truly unstoppable goals together with fewer shots against adds up to a high GAA.

> 
> Overall:  Boston has got great offense from their first line, and decent 
> scoring from their second, but the constant shuffling of Ashton and others as
> scratches doesn't help to steady the 3rd and 4th lines for some scoring.
> Defense is solid but doesn' tgenerate a whole lot of offense.  Goaltending is
> good but should have an eye on it at all times.  Oh yes, as far as depth in
> Providence, yes they have scored the most goals, but they also allowed the
> most, in fact, last I knew they had allowed more then they had scored.  I'd
> question Featherstone on D too.  Seems a little shaky to me.  
> 
I'd give him a bit more time.  He's been gone a while.

> -Pete
> 
> 
> 
> *************************************************************************
> *  "I am the Lizard King,          *   Peter Harper                     *
> *   I can do anything!             *   Worcester Polytechnic Institute  *
> *        - James Douglas Morrison  *   Worcester, MA 01609              *
> *                 Poet             *      patchman@wpi.wpi.edu          *
> *              (1943-1971)         *      patchman@hongkong.wpi.edu     * 
> *************************************************************************

Bill Kiszka
kiszkaw@woods.ulowell.edu
go Bruins!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey