What the Boston Bruins Need To Do To Advance in Game Seven

So it has now come down to this:  Game Seven.

The Boston Bruins were just about given the key to the Eastern Conference Finals after Game Three finished with a 4-1 win in the Philadelphia Flyers' own barn.  That was until the wheels came off the wagon and the Flyers responded with three wins of their own.

What was once a comfortable series lead is now down to sudden death, and it looked like the Flyers were getting all the momentum after a disappointing Game Five. Although the Bruins lost Game Six, it was a much better game as the game was won on Mike Richard being at the right place at the right time, and some unfortunate bounces that went all for Danny Briere to pot the GWG.

So what does Boston need to do?

Defense :

They need to counter the Flyers' fore check.  When they are 5-on-5, they need to assign themselves a man and stick to them.  Goalie Tuukka Rask is doing a great job for the Bruins, but the D needs to get their heads into this and play D.

Offense :

Boston's offense in the last two games are looking like shades of the regular season. They need to get back to what worked.  Ryder is shooting way too many times from the point Paille looks like a snake bitten player out there.  He has all the speed to match the Flyers' but he cannot finish.

Get Back to the Basics :

Too many errors has given the Flyers too many chances.  They need to stick to their assignments, hit when they need to hit, and resist the urge to make those boneheaded moves that gets them in trouble (both turnovers and penalties).  The long passes, to the most part, are not working. 

If there is a clear break out of one or two players then yes, but when the neutral zone is clogged up, do not take that chance.  Too many whiffed shots that negated scoring chances.  Ryder did a few of these.  Take the body.  The body cannot work the puck if they are sitting on their butts. 

This goes back to sticking with your man.  Stay close and make sure that if they get the puck, make them pay for getting it.  Remember, you have five guys and the goalie.  If the players do their job right, with the way Rask is playing, I think he will do his without the unnecessary work.

Grind It Out :

Boston's grind game is the best I have seen in the playoffs.  They have the bodies that can keep the Flyers from the puck.  When they are in the corners, and when the Flyers get two or three bodies in there, the Bruins need to get two or three bodies in there. They have proven time and time again that they can win the battles along the boards.

Crowd the Goalie :

Leighton has played very well, but the Bruins only started to really crowd him at the latter half of the second period.  The bounces didn't go their way, but the chances were there. Milan Lucic's goal was testimony that crowding the goalie works.

The largest problem that I have seen was that the Bruins are trying too hard. The Flyers picked up their game, and because the Bruins didn't adjust for it, now we are facing Game Seven.  If they can play like a team and some players not try to win it all by themselves, they will most likely advance to the Conference Final to face the unexpected Montreal Canadiens.

Give me your thoughts on both what I wrote or if you feel I left something out.

This is Cory Ducey saying "Hit Hard, But Keep It Clean."