By Michael Felger
Having fun yet, Bruins fans?
Felger, It's the middle of the second period and the Bruins just failed on another PP. Another PP that Seguin saw no part of, but started with Recchi, Peverley, Ryder. Even if the Bruins make it to the Cup finals, even if they win the Cup . . . Claude needs to be fired. How he can refuse to play Seguin on the PP is beyond comprehension. The only two things I can think of: (1) he thinks putting Seguin on PP will result in a SH goal, so he'd rather not score, or (2) he has an attitude of "I know better than everyone else.'' Either way, I don't want this guy coaching next year. Hell, fire him in between second and third periods. Marc Malden
To me there is no excuse for the following:
In 17 playoff games, Mark Recchi has played 45:54 of power play time. Rich Peverley has played 34:14 on the man advantage.
And neither has registered a point. Not a goal, not an assist. Nothing.
And both were on the power-play unit for full shifts on Wednesday night.
Did Doc Rivers keep playing Big Baby Davis in the playoffs after it was clear he wasn't right? No. Did Terry Francona play Coco Crisp over Jacoby Ellsbury in the playoffs in 2007 after it was apparent the rookie was more effective than the veteran? Nope. Does Bill Belichick EVER play the lesser of two players when it matters most, regardless of age or experience? Absolutely not.
Claude is the only guy in town who does this.
Hey Felgy, I can't watch it anymore . . . Claude (Schultz) has sucked all the fun from this playoff run. I can't sit there and watch one more wretched power play with Recchi and Kaberle, or seeing Seguin on a line with Campbell and Paille. Tampa Bay just tied the game at 2-2 and I shut off the TV and don't care if they win or lose. They're doing it without me. If the Bruins win, its in spite of Shultzy NOT because of him! Jay Hanson
This is what I mean when I say being a Bruins fan isn't fun. These playoff games are enthralling, gripping, intense. They are the best that sports have to offer. But I would never describe this experience as "fun.''
(I am so irrationally angry that I can barely think. If they blow this I won't rest until Klink and Schultz are both canned. Below is the best I can manage without writing SCREW YOU KABERLE! over and over for 9 pages). Felger You DB! After last night's debacle there really isn't that much to say. It's for all the marbles tonight. I don't want to hear anymore bitching from Claude because Frenchie McGashface worked the refs for some makeup calls. I don't care about Steve Downie trying to swap spit with Andrew Ference. None of that matters tonight. Tonight it's all about who wants it more. Who wants to be the next Stphane Matteau. Which team wants to look back at this series for the rest of their lives without being haunted by the specter of chronic, gnawing regret. On the surface, the Stanley Cup playoffs are designed to crown a league champion. In actuality, the playoffs are a physical and mental meatgrinder. They expose the strengths and weaknesses of all involved and the team that hoists the Cup is much more a survivor than a winner. Nowhere is that more evident than a Game 7. All I want tonight is a Game 7 worthy of this league's heritage and a performance from the Bruins that indicates they want to make history and not become a footnote in it. I only have one piece of advice. Adalius Tomas Kaberle should probably fly out to Vancouver regardless of the result. Mike Attleboro
Don't you wonder about Downie? Like what happens if Ference stands there and puffs out his lips just a little bit? They would actually be kissing, full on. I'm serious. Is this what Downie wants? I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, of course. I'm just saying.
Mike, You harp on that stat about close out games, the Bruins being 3-7. It's a bogus stat. 4 of those 7 losses occurred in one series vs. Philadelphia last year. Aside from that ONE series, they are 3-3, which is pretty good, really. Mike
Come on, babe. That's sort of like saying that other than the Super Bowl, the Patriots had a pretty good playoff run in 2007.
Felger, I can't take watching Kaberle anymore. Is Claude really going to let the other 20 guys sink with this February (they got him before the Perkins trade, for God's sake) import? The other Bruins (mostly) have been grinding since September and if you are not going to provide anything like Kelly and Peverley have as late season add-ons, then send him upstairs to the Marc Savard sidecar seating section!! And the 4-on-3 with Recchi (love the dude but man he looks S-L-O-W) and Kaberle in Game 5 was like Grady Little staying with Pedro. Seriously!!!?? Dan Chicopee
Seriously, Dan. Baring any surprises tonight, Claude is going to let this team sink or swim with Kaberle and Recchi on the ice. And I'll tell you what, even if Kaberle and Recchi score tonight, it doesn't justify how Claude has handled it.
Salut les Boys, Last night watching game with 2 friends. Montreal not play but we love hockey and watch the series we do every year and we love again and again is ridicule Julien! Not know if know but people in Quebec say "fait pas du Julien" if you have freind or famille person that look like heshe maybe about do something very stupid . . . rough slang translate like US people say . . . "don't pull a Julien"! So after watch him play Mark Recchi for again 43 minutes of game (Boston fans so happy he keep play Recchi on PP because he produce so much!!!) I share top things we talk about last night . . . things that make Julien . . . well Julien! Need say more? 1. Wannabie Frenchie: People in Quebec not have love for "Tete de Patate" (think Mr. Potatoe Head) because he is a . . . in English wannabie frenchie, you know? He not born in Quebec but because he have last name like Julien and can speak french (if you from Quebec you hear stupid Ontarion accent and you know he not real..other people no tell, like Tony with NY accent, you know?) he make people believe he French . . . we no want him!!!!!! 2. La tete monstrueux: Look at size of that Big Head!!!! 3.Head Games: Now trying play games in head wGuy Boucher . . . Boucher very young coach but already he better coach then Claude! Julien talking about referees, how Tampa should worry about themselves not Boston . . . he react to what Boucher say. This is what Boucher want, play games with Claude, distract him. Boucher know already Claude over his head coach NHL team, now he try and play games in the head . . . much too much for Claude to process. Soon Claude head cook all the way and you have a "pomme de terre cuite" behind Boston bench. 4. Blind River Ontario: He born in BLIND (make all joke here) River, Ontario. 5. Bag of used pucks? : Claude traded and team no get money, players or picks in draft for him . . . see article. Only can happen to Claude! 6. "L'entraneur de Marionnettes": When he change some things in serie this year not his idea or wish it only because somebody like Neely or maybe Chiarelli make Claude do it or when no choice like wSequin play because no Bergeron. He is an "l'entraneur de marionnettes." Sometime see strings from bench all way up to suite with Neely and Chiarelli. 7. "Pince de Noisettes" USslang translate mean Cheek Pincher you know? Claude so tight now because NeelyChiarelli tell him what to do, Guy Boucher play with him, Game 7 tonight, can't play 5 lines, etc. . . . you put a quarter in there and you get 2 dimes with nickel few minutes after. 8. Fired?!?: My other freind say "He know he fired if he lose serie wTampa" then after few seconds all 3 us look each other and agree he to stupid to figure out that. Even Boston win Coupe he no coach next year, no fire but Neely "promote'' or give him nice big title maybe like Vice President of Developmental Hockey Operations & Logistics (Then make him go to 162 Tier 2, Junior B and College Division 3 games so he never around team or front office). Claude then think he upper management and very important then maybe Winnipeg hire him and make big splash because hire Coupe Stanley winner coach. That is what 3 of us think happen. Salut, Jean
I post this e-mail to show that feelings on Julien's ineptitude transcend nationality, language and culture.
Mike, Was Belichick an ass clown for not pulling Bledsoe in 2000 for Brady? Then I don't think Claude not playing Seguin is as fire-able an atrocity as it seems to be painted over the past few days. I'd say Claude's rep as a stubborn, defense-first system guy who never takes ice time from veterans is more the issue than anything. I've heard you say even if Mo Lewis didn't happen, Belichick was starting to think about pulling Drew, so even though we can never know, Bill never took a beating for not making that change. Both Bledsoe's and Bergeron's injuries resulted in a positive team outcome. The only difference being; If Bergeron NEVER gets hurt, Seguin NEVER plays this postseason based on Claude's history whereas if Bledsoe NEVER gets hurt, MAYBE Brady still replaces him later in that season based on what we know about Belichick. We're now debating a conjecture and not a result. In other words eventually Belichick intended to replace Bledsoe with Brady whereas Claude had no intention of plugging in Seguin to spark their scoring or power play. I just don't think this is some sort of revelation or black mark on Claude's jacket. It is an NHL playoff miracle that happened to highlight one of this coaches already present flaws. Regards, Jake Boston
Fine. Can I still blame him for the power-play numbers?
Hey Felger, You always said talent wins in this league. The Bruins have a handful of very good players. Tampa has a handful of Elite players. This could be a long summer. Alex Salem
Tampa has more talent at forward. They don't have more talent at defense or in net. The Bruins should win tonight.
Felger, Do you think that the only chance the Celtics have to be a contender for the years to come is to sign Dwight Howard when his contract is up? What is the possibility of this happening? Zach Middleboro
Zilch, Zach. Zippo.
Hey, Felger, After Game 4 of the Bruins collapse, we come to find out that a friend of ours shaved his beard sometime between periods 1 and 2. He said he shaved it because he was sick for three days and it had a "coating" on it. We personally blame him for the loss, regardless of his condition. In your opinion, is there any legitimate reason for shaving a beard during an NHL playoff run? Mick Nashua, NH
Yes. Tom Caron.
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