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Bruins playoff success comes with a new group of faces
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(Photo: P. MacCallum) Bruins are getting the job with many new faces
Of the 20 Bruins players who have gotten ice time during the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs, only 10 played in last year’s disappointing playoff run
Let’s take a look at those 10 guys and see how much they really have contributed to the Black and Gold thus far in the playoffs.
As a rookie Marchand is playing in his first ever Stanley Cup Playoffs and has continued the success he had throughout the regular season. Marchand is tied with fellow Bruin Zdeno Chara, and Lightning forward Steven Downie for the lead in playoff plus/minus. Marchand carries a four game point streak into tonight’s Game 4 against the Flyers.
As a Panther for the past five seasons, Horton never got to see NHL playoff action until this season. Horton struggled in his first few playoff games, but then settled down nicely and came up huge for the Bruins in their seven game series win over the Canadiens. Horton scored two overtime-goals including the series winner in Game 7. With his goal and assist in Game 3 against the Flyers, Horton also carries a four game point streak into tonight’s game.
Kelly was acquired by the Bruins just prior to the trade deadline and wasn’t expected to produce much for the Bruins in the playoffs, but producing is something he’s done, and done often. Kelly scored three timely goals for the Bruins in the series against Montreal. Kelly has played great two-way-hockey and has been a big reason to the Bruins success.
Dennis Seidenberg: 1-5-6 plus-7
Seidenberg was sent over to the Bruins from Florida at last year’s trade deadline. An injury to the Bruins blue-liner caused him to miss the entire postseason. The loss certainly hurt the Bruins. This year Seidenberg has been arguably the best Bruins defenseman. No. 44 is averaging 28:32 of ice time per game, that’s just 27 seconds less then captain Zdeno Chara who leads the Bruins in average time on ice.
Rich Peverley: 1-4-5 plus-4
Peverley was acquired by the Bruins on the day of deadline to add depth to the Bruins forward group. Playing alongside Kelly, Peverley has been solid for the Bruins in the playoffs. Peverley has been good in the faceoff circle for the Black and Gold, winning 45.9 percent of his draws.
Tomas Kaberle: 0-3-3 plus- 5
The Kaberle to Bruins rumors have been crazy for the past two-plus seasons. When the Bruins finally pulled the trigger for the “puck-moving-defenseman” they so desperately needed, it looked like the struggling power-play would be saved. Well we were all wrong. Kaberle and the power-play have really struggled thus far. With his struggles, Kaberle’s playing time has dwindled. Kaberle is averaging 18:06 of ice time per game.
Adam McQuaid: 0-3-3 plus-4
When gritty defenseman Mark Stuart went down with an injury, McQuaid was called up to fill his spot, and he hasn’t looked back since. With McQuaid’s gritty Stuart-like-style, it was easy for the Bruins to ship Stuart to Atlanta and give McQuaid a spot in the Bruins lineup. McQuaid has been very solid for the Bruins in the playoffs and looks to continue that success. McQuaid missed Game 3, and is expected to miss tonight’s Game 4 after suffering a neck sprain in Game 2.
Gregory Campbell: 1-1-2 minus-2
Coming over in the Horton deal, Campbell was looked upon to lead the Bruins fourth line. Campbell certainly did that as he tied a career high with 13 goals in the regular season. This postseason is also Campbell’s first. Being stuck on the fourth line means not a lot of playing time for Campbell, but Campbell accepts his role, and you will never see him not giving it 100 percent on every shift.
“The Sheriff” has only played in two games for the Bruins this postseason due to injuries with Chara, and McQuaid. Hnidy hasn’t seen much playing time, playing in just less than seven minutes total in his two games. Hnidy was signed by the Bruins in February to add depth to the Bruins blue-line. Hnidy’s veteran presence in the locker room is worth the deal alone.
Last season Tuukka Rask came in and won the starting job from Thomas. When Timmy did get the nod between the pipes he struggled. Thomas had off-season surgery and the trade rumors went off the charts. The Bruins couldn’t work out a deal with anyone and ultimately kept Thomas. What a choice that was. Thomas had a tremendous season, in what should be his second career Vezina Trophy award. After a few bad games against Montreal, Thomas has been nearly perfect. Thomas has stolen a few games for the Bruins, none better than his 52 save performance against the Flyers in Game 2.
