By Ian Moran
Special to BostonSportsJournal.com
Ian Moran played in over 500 NHL games, including 66 in the postseason, in 15 years as a defenseman with the Penguins, Bruins, and Ducks before retiring in 2008. The Acton native attended Belmont Hill and Boston College before being a sixth-round pick of the Penguins in 1990. The Duxbury resident is currently the head New England scout for Neutral Zone, a first-of-its-kind hockey scouting and news site which identifies, ranks and profiles NCAA and Ontario Hockey League (OHL) prospects from across North America. Ian will be breaking down each Bruins playoff game for BostonSportsJournal.com. You can follow Ian on Twitter at @IMHockeySkills.
WHY THE BRUINS LOST GAME 5
TWO OTHER THINGS THAT STOOD OUT
Subtle shove: Connor Brown’s very subtle play to create space on the Leafs' first goal is something that is happening more and more often around the NHL. The B's had numbers on the defensive rush (it was actually a 3-on-3 with Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron creating back pressure), but as Matthews wrapped the net, Brown gave Krug a push on the hips to create space for himself. Krug goes flying and Toronto is up 1-0. That same subtle push allowed the Avalanche to tie it up in their game vs. Nashville on Friday night and it’s a play that more and more forwards are doing to create space for themselves.
AUSTON MATTHEWS TRIES TO WRAP THE PUCK AROUND BUT IT'S DEFLECTED TO CONNOR BROWN WHO SLAMS IT HOME!#NHLBruins 0 - 1 #TMLTalk
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/rjjTHPCbLo
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 22, 2018
NATHAN MACKINNON FEEDS A GORGEOUS PASS TO GABRIEL LANDESKOG WHO SCORES TO TIE IT WITH 4 MINUTES LEFT!#StandWithUs 1 - 1 #GoAvsGo
(@PredsNHL Lead Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/ZxYxwEWjXM
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 21, 2018
Watch it Charlie: Nazem Kadri’s saucer pass to Andreas Johnsson was a beauty, but Charlie McAvoy needs to match Johnsson’s speed driving to the net, not Kadri’s. It’s a tough play for McAvoy because as Kadri delays and cuts to the middle, Johnsson is flying wide and his speed is the one that matters. On a rush, forwards are trying to create opportunities off of mismatched speeds and this goal was a beauty.
ANDREAS JOHNSSON SCORES HIS FIRST PLAYOFF GOAL IN THE NHL! 2-0 LEAFS!#NHLBruins 0 - 2 #TMLTalk
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/hFlsag6gHF
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 22, 2018
TWO UP FOR BRUINS
SEAN KURALY SCORES WHILE FALLING! BRUINS WITHIN 2!#NHLBruins 2 - 4 #TMLTalk
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/qlqwCy9ydf
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 22, 2018
ONE DOWN FOR THE BRUINS
TWO UP FOR THE LEAFS
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK! THE LEAFS ARE UP 3! WOW!#NHLBruins 1 - 4 #TMLTalk
(@NHLBruins Lead Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/l1418L8IIC
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 22, 2018
ONE DOWN FOR THE LEAFS
Too many shots: They gave up 45 shots and I’m guessing close to 90 genuine opportunities. So in the two Leafs' wins, Anderson has made 40 plus saves in both ... good luck if that continues.
TUUKKA TICKER
His play is always a topic, so we’re asking an expert to assess him.
I really don’t think Babcock does much except talk to the refs about how great his killers were and how he doesn’t have enough game film to evaluate his power play. I’m serious. The B's need to move their feet and play smart because Babcock is going to make sure the refs know that he needs tape so he can evaluate his younger, more inexperienced Leafs as they battle The Big Bad Bruins. Again, I’m dead serious. The B's will have at least five penalties and have to kill off one 5-on-3.
ADJUSTMENT I EXPECT BOSTON TO MAKE
Watch for Torey Krug, David Pastrnak, and David Krejci to not have set PP positions as they try to set up one-timers and establish a strong net-front presence in Game 6 to adjust to Toronto's PK.