• 11 months ago
Poke The Bear with Conor Ryan Ep. 197

Today, Conor Ryan is joined by Evan Marinofsky of the New England Hockey Journal to discuss the Bruins' recent surge and how the team has put this run together. Plus, Conor and Evan break down the biggest surprises and breakout performances over this stretch.


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Transcript
00:00 I mean Colorado would probably get the edge, but I feel like the Bruins have the edge in net
00:04 They're like, I don't know. I think the Bruins could find a way to
00:07 stifle them over a seven game series that could be kind of like the Canucks were like the
00:11 Avalanche come out like a two nothing lead and then but I'm getting we're getting so far
00:15 Ourselves with bruins on a little win streak. We're already like they're in the cup. They're in the cup final
00:20 And
00:22 Welcome in to poke the bear episode
00:31 197 presented by our friends over at fan duel. I'm Evan Baranofsky. That's Connor Ryan Connor
00:38 What is up?
00:40 Evan I'm doing well. How you doing doing great doing great
00:45 It is it's a good time with the Bruins there. They continue to roll Monday night. Neither of us were correct
00:51 Unless Bruins beat which we recorded on Monday. We were like we gave our predictions
00:56 I think I said for three overtime loss
00:58 Yes, and that turned out to be false didn't even come close for one win for the Bruins
01:03 And I asked you this Connor was that the best Bruins performance of the season?
01:09 Yeah, I mean you can probably view the the nine goal game against Montreal is a bit of an outlier
01:14 I think I'm factoring in just how tough of a team Winnipeg is
01:19 you can see why they've piled up a lot of points really stingy defensively kind of play a
01:24 Pretty boring game all things considered
01:26 But I still have enough talent the defense may get a lot of shots on that obviously Connor Hellebuck is Connor Hellebuck
01:33 But I think when you look at the Bruins and how they performed in that game
01:38 That one had all the makings of a game that you start coming right like to hold it on to a 2-1 lead
01:44 We're like, alright in late in third period
01:46 We've seen this script kind of play out before right of like a hell of us gonna pull a hell of buck
01:51 You know what's gonna happen?
01:53 And then I was you know, look at like a 3-2 overtime when it was still in play
01:57 So I was thinking about that too. I'm like golly he's gonna get this right
02:00 But I think when you look at their response to you know
02:06 Having the opportunity to extend their lead Jake to brush contributes. They get an empty net goal from our shand
02:11 And that game there and I think especially in the first two periods like it's good on the Bruins to respond on the third and crunch
02:18 time when the Winnipeg Jets made that push as we all expected but
02:22 First two periods burns really didn't give them much of anything like swimming was solid when he needed to be but Bruins had zero
02:29 High danger chances against at five if I play in the first two periods alone
02:33 I think goes eight nothing in favor of the Bruins. So I think when you look at
02:37 The fact that you had more guys contribute on the score sheet. You got a goal from coil who continues to
02:42 Entrench himself as the first line center the brush keeps on
02:46 Going here with 14 points in 14 games and now
02:49 Jakob Loko is up to
02:52 You know points in three straight games two goals and that elevator roll in the third line and all he does is win
02:57 He all he does is when greatest winner in our of any hockey generation ever
03:02 He's the embodiment of the red hour bag victory cigar the guy just put him out there and like, yeah
03:07 They're automatically more likely than not going to win these games
03:10 So I think when you look at just the fact that you had a lot of guys contribute on the score sheet
03:16 the defense put together a really strong performance against a
03:19 Pretty dangerous Winnipeg team and then what's been kind of their biggest issue all year is holding on to these lead leads in
03:25 Executing a crunch time. I think the Bruins kind of passed all those tests in pretty high fashion on on Monday night
03:32 I was gonna say they had every bit of this game locked down
03:35 In terms of offense defense and protecting lead because just like you I'm sitting there when it's 2-1 and I'm like, alright
03:41 When's one a peg gonna score here? I'm waiting for it. It's gonna come and
03:44 Debrus scores that goal and it's like, alright, it's a different ballgame now
03:49 again, I
03:51 You know people aren't aware
03:53 Winnipeg is the best team in hockey
03:55 Statistically right there still I think number one in points in the league if I'm not mistaken
04:01 So Bruins are I think a number one I want to say because of the win
04:05 Last night that Vancouver I think has jumped up Winnipeg by like a game or two
04:10 So, okay, but Winnipeg is Winnipeg if they're not one they are definitely - it's I think yeah
04:15 I think over and they got a little bit of a gap. So Winnipeg is right there
04:18 and again to have that performance against that kind of team says a lot about
04:24 About the Bruins and I mean coil continues to roll like I every game
04:30 It's become less and less of a fluke season and more and more of alright
04:35 This guy is cementing himself as the number one center and there's really no
04:38 There's really no questions. I mean we've said this all year and I think we've all kind of been waiting for alright
04:45 Like when's the drop-off gonna you know, when's the you know, the inconsistency in production gonna hit it's not hitting and he's playing with
04:53 Martian imposter knock so you are
04:55 Guaranteed some secondary assists at the very least but he's done more than that. I mean he's scoring he's getting chances
05:01 He's he works great with those two and I mean it hits it a bigger question of I mean to you
05:09 What is more encouraging right now how good their offense has been or that their defense is sort of starting to figure things out
05:16 I
05:17 Would say the offense is more surprising
05:20 but I think the more encouraging thing is the defense riding the ship here because I think if you look at this team and
05:26 How they're going to you know orchestrate a pretty deep play up front if that, you know ends up happening
05:32 It's gonna come down to gold ending in defense and I think you need games like this where you're holding on to
05:38 One goal lead late you're able to extend leads. You're able to hold them off when they they pull the goalie. I
05:44 Think listen, you'll take all the contributions right now. You'll take the nine goal game
05:48 You'll get you know guys like to brush Keaton up and Lauco and you hopefully that can carry over
05:52 I still think that's more of a
05:54 Pleasant surprise that you have all these guys contributing
05:57 It's a good sign for this team both
05:59 Rest is regular season and you know moving forward you got a lot of guys that I think you can build around in the years
06:04 I had but I think for right now when you look at the blueprint of this team and how they're going to win
06:08 You need this defense to really kind of short things up and again not to say that you're gonna go
06:12 you know holding a team to zero high danger chances to the first 40 minutes of a game, but
06:18 When you look at the personnel they have out there. It should be the case where they're really
06:23 Limiting how many good looks a team can have out there again?
06:26 It's not like this is Montreal where half the line if you don't know who the fuck is out there
06:29 Like when if it has a very good deep team a lot of guys I can
06:33 Find the back of that on all four lines there
06:36 So I think for them that defense really clamped down and take care of business
06:40 You've seen that in the game against the Devils
06:42 I know they're banged up, but they really kind of controlled the game late
06:45 They're held off Colorado who can score a couple of goals in just a couple of shifts with their their stop power up front
06:52 I think the defense really kind of riding the ship and locking down is the most encouraging thing in terms of how they want to
06:58 Build their game, especially in the months ahead
07:00 Yeah, I I don't disagree with that
07:02 I think just you know as you said when the playoffs come around that becomes such a huge thing and you have to have it
07:07 And you know for a long time guys like Lindholm and grizzly weren't
07:11 Performing up to the you know
07:13 What we know they could be and to see them sort of start to write the ship there is helpful before I give my answer
07:19 This just hit me as we were talking. Yes a
07:23 Winnipeg Jets Stanley Cup final would be boring as hell. Oh
07:29 Gary Bennett is gonna be beside himself if that happens
07:31 And even and and so that's one two is that the travel to Winnipeg would be terrible
07:37 I mean
07:38 Can you imagine like all the tweets of be of the the reporters being like this travel?
07:43 I can't I hate going to Winnipeg travel sucks. There's nothing to do a marooned in, Minnesota
07:48 I really like Chicago. We have to connect you. There's not a chance of fucking hell. You're connecting from Boston - there's not a straight flight
07:55 I don't think for Boston or pay you got to go to
07:57 Toronto or Minnesota or one of those places that imagine I would think yeah and just to go to Winnipeg
08:03 And I know that some of the players they're like, oh no, it's like not that bad and I've never been so hand up
08:09 I've never been I'm going completely off what people say online
08:11 So I guess it's never a good idea, but it is not the most riveting a city
08:15 Now I will say I will say it's like people who rep Worcester. Yes
08:23 I have no tie to Worcester. So I got I was you know, I went to school out in Western Mass and Amherst
08:29 So like I'll defend Western Mass, you know, maybe not Springfield but like Amherst area I will defend Worcester
08:36 I have no allegiance to if we want to dump on Worcester. I'm more than happy to but it is getting better
08:39 I'm getting nicer. I'm sure that's what they say
08:42 And then there's a lot of good restaurants out there all the power to you, but I'm just trying to stay in Boston
08:47 The Southie the Southie man is gonna say in Southie
08:52 But the one positive of Winnipeg Stanley Cup would be that that place would go nuts
08:57 Like that arena would be a madhouse. That would be the closest thing
09:02 You have to like a college atmosphere, which I think would be really cool to see on TV or to see in person
09:07 But I want to like teleport there. I don't want to have to go through the travel
09:09 I don't want to have to like dude. I want to go home after like I want to be like, alright
09:13 I'm in Winnipeg. I'm in my seat. I'm watching the game and then I'm home. I'm back. I can play Xbox
09:19 I can you know hang out with my buddies. I haven't just gonna leave all of us in gray
09:22 When I pay he gets on the Wonka glass elevator, this goes back and forth. Goodbye guys
09:27 I oh you kidding me screw all of you. I'm going in that first. I'm out of there
09:31 You guys can take the next trip home
09:33 Maybe I'd let yet. Maybe I'd let yet
09:35 Walk a good luck the Wonka glass elevator that the just goes to nowhere. Yes
09:41 But yeah a Winnipeg Stanley Cup and I know a couple years ago. They were close or they were a favorite
09:48 And I remember you know
09:50 and and there was always remember the year in
09:52 2017 when the Ottawa senators were like a goal away from the Stanley Cup and it was like Oh an Ottawa Nashville final that
09:57 Would that would that would not be the greatest thing to watch?
10:01 Gibu shades boring-ass system. Oh
10:04 Not all the way there
10:05 It's like if like the 2011 lightning made it like in that team had a lot of like star players the top of man that system
10:11 snooze terrible terrible a Bruins Canucks Stanley Cup
10:16 Yeah, I was telling our good friend. I understand that yesterday. I can imagine like 13 years later
10:21 Bruins connect two very different teams and how they've changed
10:25 But I was gonna say I don't think the series would go quite like the way it did
10:30 Years ago in terms of the reality, but March and is still there and I mean it happens in every playoff series
10:36 You play each other enough you start to hate each other
10:38 You even see when teams play a back-to-back like guys get annoyed with each other and this and that so
10:44 Yeah, Vancouver. We'll have to do a podcast some point like who would the ideal who would the most exciting?
10:49 Matchup be in the Cup. I mean
10:52 Vancouver is the easy one just because the history but like Vegas Vegas would be really cool
10:59 Vegas would be I think that's number one Eichel
11:02 Bruce
11:05 La would be cool just to go to like just have to go to LA. I think it'd be LA school
11:10 So I'll give it that Colorado entertainment factor probably Colorado to a lot of high scoring games
11:14 Yes. Yep, Colorado would be cool. Colorado would be cool. And in terms of like being favored in each of those series I would I
11:22 Mean Colorado would probably get the edge, but I feel like the Bruins have the edge in net
11:28 They're like, I don't know. I think the Bruins could find a way to
11:31 stifle them over a seven game series that could be kind of like the Canucks were like the
11:36 Avalanche come out like a two nothing lead and then but I'm getting we're getting so far
11:39 Ourselves with bruised on a little wins. You were already like they're in the cup. They're in the Cup final
11:44 You feel if you guys feel that the Bruins are gonna be in the Cup final
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12:53 Connor I heard in that ad you said who's gonna hoist a Lombardi trophy next month
12:58 Do you want to make a prediction who you think is gonna hoist a Lombardi trophy next month?
13:02 Mullen the Lions baby. Let's roll. Oh, I'm rooting for the Lions. I
13:06 Want to see the Lions I believe
13:09 like San Francisco had a so-so game like I
13:12 still like I
13:15 Feel like the Chiefs are still gonna beat the Ravens just cuz like I feel like that that team is due for to let down
13:19 Baltimore but like the Chiefs aren't the strongest they've been throw the lines man
13:24 I just want I just want Dan Campbell of giving like a 45 minute
13:28 Soliloquy during media day. That's what I need. I would agree with you
13:31 I also the Niners look shaky that night
13:35 I'm gonna put the Lions past the Niners and I'll put the Chiefs past the the Ravens
13:40 I just the Chiefs always just find a way like they really kind of are the new
13:45 Patriots in terms of even with the weakest teams they still find a way
13:49 So and with the Taylor Swift thing like I think the Chiefs and I don't want to see them when I don't see the Chiefs
13:55 When I want to see the Lions win, but I think the Chiefs ultimately pull it out
13:59 It'll be really sad if lines get all the way to the Super Bowl and lose that would be that would be so heartbreaking
14:03 That would be peak lines. Actually. Yes. Yes, because I'm Buffalo was peak Buffalo. They lost to the Chiefs go figure
14:11 Anyways to continue on the topic of what's more encouraging the Bruins D or the Bruins offense which one writing the ship is better
14:19 I'll go with the offense
14:22 that was one thing we have tabbed all year as
14:26 Not a kind of a disadvantage for the Bruins. It's not an area of strength
14:29 There's been a lot of question marks
14:32 in in amongst those lines whether it be Montgomery not playing the fourth line or not Montgomery not playing the kids or
14:39 Guys getting ridden too much or you know jumbling around and for the first time all season
14:46 Feels like they've got three definitive lines and you can even say the fourth line too with with Boquist Patra and Heinen like
14:54 You know Martian coil Pasternak looks really good
14:58 Van Reams Dyke
15:01 Zaka and DeBrusque looked awesome on
15:03 Monday night in terms of second and third effort in terms of working the puck down low and having good long ozone sequences that kind of
15:12 That go towards the strengths of those three players where it's digging for pucks
15:16 Winning net front battles that lines got it
15:20 That line is something and then Loco geeky and Frederick have been you know outstanding
15:25 I mean Loco now has this new offensive front that we never knew he had Frederick is terrific
15:30 I mean when you consider the season the passes and the playmate the playmaking that he that he does during a game
15:36 I think has been sensational and Kiki's fit really well down the middle
15:40 To me. I think that's been the big development now again defense has been great
15:46 I think that was always gonna that was always gonna be figured out just because of the the guys you had
15:50 Wasn't always guaranteed with this with this forward core now again
15:55 They could stop
15:57 You know, it could go away. It could you know, but I think having that element where you know
16:03 You hope the defense is gonna be there
16:05 But knowing that you can score more than two goals in a game and that they're doing it not in ways that are just snipes
16:11 Off the rush or you know shots from the perimeter that are you know bouncing off seven people going in
16:17 It's good hard goals that are in high danger areas that are around the front of the net and I mentioned this young Bruins beat
16:24 The goals you score in the playoffs and I think there is something to be said there and also in terms of the trade deadline
16:30 like
16:30 If this continues again, it's been a you know, like a two-week three or since Christmas
16:35 So it's been more than two or three weeks now, which time is flying Connor damn that almost Christmas crazy, baby
16:42 It is almost Christmas again. That's why I'm gonna leave the tree up. Yeah, that's right
16:46 Up for next Christmas. It's coming quick
16:48 But in terms of the deadline like if this continues
16:53 Do you need to go out and add a top six winger?
16:57 Maybe not maybe you just need to add like another depth piece and kind of see what you got
17:01 You know, like, you know, you'd maybe you now don't trade Jake DeBrusque you say we're holding on to him
17:06 We're gonna see what he gives us for the for the stretch run and we're gonna go with that and you know
17:10 Maybe we get to an agreement in the offseason
17:11 Maybe we don't but that could also change your trade deadline outlook if this continues. So
17:16 I think the offense has been incredibly encouraging these last bunch of weeks
17:21 It's becoming less and less of just like oh, it's a just a you know
17:24 A good stretch and it's turning more into like, okay, this might be sustainable
17:28 Yeah, no, absolutely
17:29 I think it's also you looking at guys that are carving out roles for like not this year
17:35 But like for the years ahead where you realize that you now have guys you can plug in place
17:39 Into the middle six that I don't think you have to really worry about them anymore, right? Like I think Trent Frederick is
17:45 He just has a knack even last year of just elevating in the guys around him
17:49 We saw how good him and coil were and it wasn't like that
17:52 It's like Marsh Shannon Bergeron chemistry or anything like that
17:55 It just seems like Frederick always says the little things that can help a player out there and you're seeing that with
18:00 Him in this new role whoever he kind of plays with
18:02 It elevates guys around. I mean that was a great pass. He had to let go to set up that goal there
18:08 I think you're just seeing Frederick be a lot more confident in his game
18:12 Lauco a guy that seemed like he was kind of rudderless for a while like getting scratched from games not, you know playing seven eight minutes
18:19 He's contributed more further up the lineup and I think been a lot more engaged and then geeky is a guy that
18:25 Again for the future, you know, he's only signed through next year, but he's a guy
18:30 I think you can look at his spot and his versatility and be like, alright
18:33 He's a guy we can put in the middle six. We know he can give us
18:35 35 40 points. I mean he's got what 20 points in his last 27 games. It's coming back from that
18:42 Upper body injury in November. I think he had six hits on Monday night as well. So that that third line is almost like just a
18:50 I was gonna say it sounds really stupid like that that third line. It's like an elevated fourth line, but that's how
18:56 It kind of works
18:58 But like in terms of you know playing simple hockey
19:02 Very physical but just having guys that I think are really rounding out their overall game, especially the offensive zone
19:09 I mean, I think we knew what to expect from
19:11 You know a line that has pasta knock was gonna elevate guys around him and you'll take guys like coil stepping out a guy like
19:18 DeBrusque
19:20 really heating up here over the stretch
19:21 but I think having that third line with guys like Frederick and geeky and Lauco guys that
19:26 you either were hopeful for but you didn't didn't have a long kind of sample size of
19:31 What they've done up at this level in terms of being a steady, you know
19:37 1520 goal guy 40 point guy you're seeing a lot of those guys take big steps forward this year
19:42 And it's been huge for this team's overall depth
19:44 It has and I you know, I wonder where the guy like Frederick because again, he's on a three-year deal
19:49 And so it'll be you know, I'm curious to see what he's like at the end of that. It's three years, right?
19:54 I'm not mistaken
19:55 Is it three or two? I don't geek he's definitely - but I
19:59 Forget what this sign for I thought it was three, but I could be wrong
20:02 But anyway, my point is I'm curious to see what Frederick is like at the end of his deal in terms of what is it?
20:07 You know, what's he going to be viewed as in the market? Is he a top six wing?
20:11 Is he a third line wing like that's where I'm curious where he how he ascends especially over this next stretch two years
20:19 Okay. Yeah, I was I just give you a sign but I wish that was what it was. Yeah, just now peace out
20:24 but I
20:26 What's interesting to me is, you know what?
20:29 He's viewed at as I said what how he's viewed in the market in terms of you know
20:33 Is is he a top six guy? Is he a third line guy?
20:36 Because I wouldn't surprise me if in two years if this could keeps up team comes along and says hmm
20:42 I could see him in our top six and suddenly prices out but he's been worth it so far. He's worth it so far
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22:03 I'm hungry. So yeah, sorry Evan. I
22:06 Need to eat something
22:08 Anyways, a offense good defense is good Bruins are good. Everything is good
22:14 One thing that's been real good and I think we've touched on it a little bit is Parker Wotherspoon
22:22 Wotherspoon what a find by the Bruins scouting staff, you know, he was with Bridgeport for a long time
22:28 He's with the Islanders organization for quite a bit
22:30 Unfortunately can't planter Patrick wah, I bet he's very disappointed about yeah
22:35 But a good find and again a nice depth piece on that back end that I think is gonna come in handy over these next
22:42 Bunch of months. Yeah. I mean, I think you look at his game. It's not flashy
22:48 Not, you know anything too crazy in terms of how we can impact the game
22:52 But sometimes you just need a guy that plays, you know, simple
22:55 solid brand of hockey
22:56 so she further down the lineup and whether it's
22:59 He ends up being like a seventh defense in which he seems like an ideal fit for that
23:03 But even when you see him like taking over he took he slotted in for Shattenkirk on Monday a lot to like about just what?
23:09 He brings further down the lineup. He's 6-1 not like
23:12 He's not like a Jared to norty or just like this behemoth guy
23:16 Who you know is gonna beat the shit out of everyone but like you watch him in
23:19 You know battles along the board
23:21 Defending the net front those those kind of smart simple plays that
23:25 You're looking for for a guy that can add a little bit more heft a little bit more
23:28 Sturdiness back there on the blue line
23:31 And so as you said for a season where you've had so many guys that have been really great value signings
23:38 Well, it's kind of you know slipped under the radar a little bit in terms of you know
23:42 What he's provided to this team again, you're not asking him to be a top four guy or anything like that
23:47 But if you're looking for a third pairing guy a guy that can slot in when needed first man up when the injuries inevitably happen
23:54 There's a lot to like about his game
23:55 That's not to say that he's like going to be destined to being a seventh D in the playoffs
23:59 Like he's he's playing at a very very high level right now. It's really encouraging to see what's funny is with
24:06 With a play style like Wotherspoon, you know in my job with the hockey journal
24:10 There's a lot of prospects I see who are
24:12 good sturdy solid defensemen and that you know, they're committed division one and summer NHL draft prospects and this and that and
24:20 You know, they always sometimes you'll see them try to do too much
24:23 You know, they're always rushing the puck or they're always, you know, just you know, trying to get going out of their realm
24:30 You know being super offensive and and this and that and it's like man
24:33 If you just stay and do your job and play it simple. There's a market
24:37 There's a big market for defensemen in the NHL and in pro hockey who just do their job
24:42 Who just play good solid defense make smart simple passes, you know, they don't light up the score sheet
24:48 But there's a market for it and Wotherspoon is is that right now?
24:52 I mean that's essentially his game and he plays smart
24:55 He does a little things right and I think Wotherspoon has turned into a really nice find for this team
25:02 And again, as you said, I mean he was in for Shattenkirk on
25:05 On Monday night and you know, does that continue where you know, it's matchup based
25:10 I mean you're a hundred percent
25:11 I think you know gonna see why this one in the playoffs and I don't think it's just gonna be because oh someone got hurt
25:16 Like as you said, I think he's played his way into being a guy that you put in there and have eat up real minutes
25:22 So that's definitely been a an encouraging thing
25:26 But anyways Connor, what can the people look forward to from you over at Boston calm of the Boston Globe?
25:31 Yeah, we're gonna have game recaps features columns breakdowns all that good stuff throughout this Bruin season over at Boston comms
25:39 You can read all that over there. You're gonna follow me on Twitter X
25:42 Whatever it's called as of the day of recording you can follow me at Connor Ryan underscore 93
25:49 Go do all that. That's Connor Ryan. I'm Evan Maranovsky both the bear listeners. Have a great rest of your week
25:56 *Outro*
25:58 *Outro*

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