The cross-continental blood feud between the Bruins and the Canucks has simmered down. It has been almost 13 years because the two groups staged one of the crucial bitter, contentious Stanley Cup Finals that the B’s managed to win in seven video games that every performed out like mini-operas.
But may we see a renewal of hostilities tonight? The Canucks – a shock crew that continues to show itself to be as official as any contender within the NHL– come into the Garden on Thursday because the NHL’s prime canine. Just two factors behind them within the general league standings are the Bruins.
It’s uncertain we’ll see the identical type of fireworks we noticed when the 2 groups tangled right here the season after their epic Cup closing tilt. All the names on the Vancouver roster are totally different, as they’re for the Bruins, except for Brad Marchand.
Marchand, in fact, would signify a reasonably large exception for Canucks followers, given his front-and-center villainy in that way back collection. But it’s a totally different period and these present don’t have any actual historical past towards one another.
What the sport does signify is fairly good litmus check for each groups.
The Bruins little doubt are in a unique mindset than their visitors. While the Canucks scored a powerful win over the surging Hurricanes in Carolina on Tuesday, the B’s are coming off a woeful efficiency of their 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
After that efficiency, the B’s are extra focused on fixing their very own sport than what the opponent might deliver. But maybe dealing with the most effective crew within the league may also help snap the B’s out of no matter funk they have been in on Tuesday.
“It’s a good challenge,” mentioned Pavel Zacha after the loss on Tuesday. “It’s another game we have to think about and be 100 percent ready. They’re a really good team, so I think we have to get excited for the challenge.”
The Canuck arrive on a 10-0-2 heater. Their final regulation loss was over a month in the past to St. Louis on January 4. They lead the league in objective differential at plus-60. They lead the league in objectives for (3.78 per sport) and are second in objectives towards (2.54).
The Canucks and B’s are neck-and-neck on the ability play. The B’s are a tick forward of the Canucks at 26% (fifth) and Vancouver is 25.8%. The B’s would appear to have a bonus on the penalty kill however that will be a bit deceiving. While the B’s at the moment are rated eleventh (82.6%) and the Canucks are sixteenth (79.%). But the B’s PK been plummeting – they allowed two extra PP objectives to Calgary – and the most important contributor isn’t with the ability to keep out of the field, in response to coach Jim Montgomery. They’re taken the third most minors within the league (201). Meanwhile, the Canucks have completed a significantly better job of staying on the fitting facet of the legislation. They’ve taken 156 minors, twenty fifth most within the league.
And the Canucks are driving a excessive off the primary huge acquisition of the commerce season, reeling in two-way middle Elias Lindholm, a participant the B’s reportedly had curiosity in. Who wouldn’t? Sometimes it may take some time for an enormous add-on piece to seek out his manner, however Lindholm wanted no such grace interval. In his first sport for the Canucks within the 3-2 win over Carolina, Lindholm scored twice, was an enormous a part of he Vancouver penalty kill and made a game-saving block close to the tip of regulation. He might be an ideal set-up man for star wing Elias Petterson.
The Canucks have each proper to be ok with themselves. Quinn Hughes is in Norris Trophy hunt, Thatcher Demko is on the prime of the Vezina dialog, Brock Boeser (30 objectives) is rejuvenated and Vancouver’s J.T. Miller main scorer (22-46-68) is likely to be enjoying a few of the greatest hockey of his profession. In cost of all of it is Jack Adams front-runner Rick Tocchet.
Yes, the Canucks are excellent as soon as once more, perhaps even worthy of the antipathy B’s followers held for the 2011 model.
But the B’s aren’t so unhealthy themselves, Tuesday’s lackluster efficiency however. Calgary middle Nazem Kadri’s banger of a quote after that sport was telling in how the remainder of the league views the B’s – and what they’re in for the remainder of the season.
“A pack of hyenas can take down a lion,” mentioned Kadri.
The B’s have proven they will play with anybody within the league, as evidenced by their report. But it wouldn’t damage if the B’s discovered their inside hyena.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”