Can Bruins’ defense stifle Tampa Bay’s superstars in Playoffs? NHL.com’s Dan Rosen weighs in
Dan Rosen from NHL.com’s Dan Rosen discussed on the Toucher & Hardy radio program the likely matchup between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. He pointed out the Lightning…
Mar 27, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) defends Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Rosen from NHL.com's Dan Rosen discussed on the Toucher & Hardy radio program the likely matchup between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. He pointed out the Lightning as a tough team, highlighting players like Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman. Rosen emphasized the need to contain these top players and noted the Bruins' defensive focus as crucial. While recognizing Boston's depth advantage, he expressed worry about matching Tampa Bay's star talent, particularly given the Lightning's recent strong form.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Fred Toucher: We are used to disappointment, recently with the Boston Bruins, and a lot of people are not thrilled with how this playoff situation is shaking itself out. What do you think of the probable matchup of the Bruins against Tampa Bay?
NHL.com's Dan Rosen: Well, I think the Tampa Bay Lightning are probably the team in the playoffs that, you know, in the Eastern Conference, will be the underdog that nobody wants to play. And for good reason. I mean, listen, their high-end talent is probably better than anywhere else in the conference, to be honest with you, when you're talking about Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and these guys. But it all spins out in a big way until you get to Andrei Vasilevskiy. Obviously, Vasilevskiy might be the X factor; we don't know. I mean, well, you know he's got to prove it again. He continues to prove it. But you have to believe that he's going to continue to do it because he's been one of the best playoff goalies of all time. So I don't love the matchup, to be honest with you. But I will say that goaltending looks like the Bruins can match it, at least from what they have, which not a lot of teams can say with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In terms of depth, I think Boston probably has an advantage. It's just the high-end talent. You're going to have to shut down that high-end talent to be able to win this series. And that's, you know, over the course of a seven-game series. I've got to think that Nikita Kucherov, Stamkos, Hedman, and Brayden Point are going to have a say. Can you shut them down enough without, you know, I mean, you need Pastrnak to be great, but you don't have the—you can't match that high-end talent. So you have to be able to shut it down. That's got to be the focus. I will say that the Boston Bruins this season, their focus has been doing a good job of shutting down other teams because they do not have a dynamic offense outside of Pastrnak, really. So they have a chance. But I don't love the matchup, especially with the way the Tampa Bay Lightning have been playing of late.
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Mazz’s Tiers: Biggest injuries in recent Boston sports history
It's time for the lastest Mazz's Tiers! This week, with the news of Trevor Story's season coming to an end due to a shoulder injury, Mazz ranks some of the biggest injuries in Boston Sports that have affected the season for teams, and other injuries that have affected the careers of players!
***Please note that tragic injuries or occurrences were NOT included on this list***
But before the Tiers, here's a look at a few of the names on the list...
Rob Gronkowksi was a member of 3 Super Bowl winning teams with the New England Patriots, however, he did not appear in Super Bowl 51 due to injury. Gronkowski would go on to win a 4th Super Bowl title in the 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Drew Bledsoe spent 9 seasons with the New England Patriots. In 124 games with the Patriots he threw for 29,657 and 166 touchdowns. Bledsoe was famously replaced by Tom Brady after being injured on a hit by Mo Lewis of the New York Jets. Brady would go on to win 6 Super Bowls as the starting quarterback for the Patriots and he would then add a 7th Super Bowl title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kendrick Perkins was the starting center for the 2007-08 NBA Champions Boston Celtics. Perkins appeared in another NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2010, but he missed game 7 after suffering a knee injury in game 6 of the series.
Patrice Bergeron won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. Bergeron spent the entirety of his career in the NHL as a member of the Bruins and registered 427 goals and 613 assists in 1,294 regular season games.
Jim Rice spent the entirety of his Hall of Fame career as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Rice appeared in 2089 games as a member of the Red Sox and hit 382 home runs while driving in 1,451 runs and ending his career with a .298 batting average.
Tier 1
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Former Boston Bruins Bobby Orr acknowledges the crowd ahead of the Bruins home opener to their 100th Season at TD Garden on October 11, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Bobby Orr - Knees - Multiple Years
Gordon Hayward - Ankle - 2017-18 Season
Drew Bledsoe - Lung - 2001 Season
Tom Brady - Knee - 2008 Season
Tier 2
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics points to his teammates during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on February 11, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Cam Neely - Knee - Multiple Seasons
Kevin Garnett - Knee - 2008-09 Season
Dennis Seidenberg - Wrist - 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
David Krejci - Wrist - 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Jim Rice - Hand - 1975 Season
Tony Conigliaro - Face - 1967 Season
Rob Gronkowski - Ankle - Super Bowl 46
Tom Brady -Ankle - Super Bowl 42
Tier 3
Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesJayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics grabs his ankle during Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Kevin McHale - Foot - 1986-87 Season
Robert Edwards - Knee - 1998 Season
Zdeno Chara - Jaw - 2019 Stanley Cup Final
Patrice Bergeron - Back - 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Jayson Tatum - Ankle - 2023 Eastern Conference Finals
Kendrick Perkins - Knee - 2010 NBA Finals
Kyrie Irving - Knee - 2018 Eastern Conference Finals
