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If you were to drive into Boston today via the Tobin Bridge, you may look down into the Charles River and see a sea of black and gold paraphernalia floating with the tide. This paraphernalia may have come from passer-bys throwing their stuff into the river in disgust, but I believe it is the Bruins fan base taking the plunge, much like their team has done in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Bruins are 1-7-2 in their last 10 games and are coming off of a fresh loss to the best team in the NHL, the Alexander Ovechkins...I mean Washington Capitals. The Bruins entered the second period with a 1-0 win thanks to David Krejci's tenth goal of the season, but they couldn't fend off the highest scoring team in the NHL.
Through the final two periods, the Capitals only put up 21 shots (compared to Boston's 29 in the second and third combined) but managed to score 4 goals and extend the Bruins current losing streak to eight games.
Jose Theodore looked like it was 2004 again as he turned away 41 of 42 shots while Tim Thomas stopped 22 of 25 (1 goal was an empty net goal). Thomas wasn't the issue however as both Dennis Wideman and Matt Hunwick (an awful pairing, by the way) were the cause of two Washington goals.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good
Effort. The Bruins outplayed, outwitted and virtually dominated the best team in the NHL, but as usual couldn't finish the game. I like what I saw on the ice for most of the game, so the effort isn't coming into question. The real question here is "Where the hell is the talent?"
The Bad
Offense. Once again the offense is useless. The Bruins scored 1 goal on 42 shots...1 GOAL ON 42 SHOTS!? What the hell man? It's not like Jose Theodore is a goalie that can carry a team, this isn't 2004 anymore. Sometimes I wonder if the Bruins lack of offense is due to shot selection, but when you pepper a goalie with 42 shots, there is just a point where you give up.
The Ugly
This team. I think it's time to come to the conclusion that this team just isn't good. It pains me to say that just as much as it pains me to watch these guys play. The days of flashy, high scoring games may be over this season. I'm not sure what it is that is making our Bruins look like a shadow of themselves. Some will point to Claude, some to injuries, while others will ring the 'underperforming bell' but whatever it is, this teams just isn't that good right now.
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