Matt Poitras Is Here to STAY with Bruins w/ Ty Anderson | Poke the Bear
Conor Ryan of Boston.com and Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sport's Hub discuss the Bruins' unsurprising decision to keep Matt Poitras with the team and the impact he has on the players around him, and the gutsy come-from-behind win the B's pulled out against the Florida Panthers.
TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
2:35 Matt Poitras Is Here to STAY with Bruins
16:19 Bruins comeback vs Panthers
This episode of Poke the Bear is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook:
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Welcome to the #CLNS Media Network’s YouTube channel for Boston #Bruins hockey. CLNS Media is the leading online provider of audio/video coverage for the Boston sports. Get complete inside access to the Bruins at TD Garden, the game day skates at Warrior, and everywhere on the road. CLNS #NHLBruins' credentialed insiders Mike "Trags" Petraglia, Evan Marinofski, Conor Ryan, and Joe "Haggs" Haggerty. Providing instantaneous news and analysis all in real time, as well as full access to complete videos from the players, coaches, ownership and everyone else on Causeway Street.
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
2:35 Matt Poitras Is Here to STAY with Bruins
16:19 Bruins comeback vs Panthers
This episode of Poke the Bear is brought to you by Fanduel Sportsbook:
FanDuel Sportsbook, the exclusive wagering parter of the CLNS Media NetworkRight now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! So, visit https://FanDuel.com/BOSTON and kick off the NFL season. FanDuel, Official Partner of the NFL. 21+ and present in MA. Hope is here. First online real money wager only. $5 pregame moneyline wager required. First onlinereal money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. GamblingHelpLineMa.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Play it smart from the start! GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234.
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Welcome to the #CLNS Media Network’s YouTube channel for Boston #Bruins hockey. CLNS Media is the leading online provider of audio/video coverage for the Boston sports. Get complete inside access to the Bruins at TD Garden, the game day skates at Warrior, and everywhere on the road. CLNS #NHLBruins' credentialed insiders Mike "Trags" Petraglia, Evan Marinofski, Conor Ryan, and Joe "Haggs" Haggerty. Providing instantaneous news and analysis all in real time, as well as full access to complete videos from the players, coaches, ownership and everyone else on Causeway Street.
For the CLNS award winning Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, College hoops, NBA History, go here to featured channels- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiP7KyKodc3OHuN_XhEyPPw?sub_confirmation=1
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Poke the Bear is brought to you by FanDuel, the exclusive wagering partner of the CLNS Media Network.
00:04 And welcome into Poke the Bear, episode 173, presented by CLNS Media and sponsored by our good friends over at FanDuel.
00:16 My name is Connor Ryan, and we are joined once again by our good friend, 98.5 The Sports Hubs, Ty Anderson.
00:23 Ty, how you doing?
00:25 What's going on? How are we doing today?
00:28 I'm doing splendid. Obviously, the Bruins season's over.
00:32 That's why we're here to talk about just a crushing result for a team that had so much promise, so much optimism after a 6-0-0 start.
00:42 Smail it in. What's the point?
00:45 Like, as I've seen from scouring social media, Ty, frankly, what's the point of watching the rest of these games if they're going to give up a late lead to a team like Anaheim?
00:54 It's not a result you want.
00:55 Yeah, breakup day's tomorrow at 10 a.m.
00:58 Bring your recorder, make sure it's charged, make sure the batteries are all the way up.
01:01 Make sure the fire alarm doesn't go off like it did last year, breakup day.
01:05 You know, I think it's interesting, right, because when you lose this kind of game, all of a sudden, everyone who told you that going 6-0 doesn't matter.
01:16 Now the sky is falling after one loss, which I find interesting.
01:20 That's sort of how you can flip that switch like that, where now it now the results for the first six games don't matter.
01:25 But on the seventh game, they really do matter.
01:28 And I get it.
01:29 The loss was ugly, but I don't know.
01:31 Doesn't this happen every year?
01:33 Doesn't this like don't they go out on the West Coast, have a good road trip?
01:38 And that first game back, you didn't have a practice.
01:41 Your body's still kind of out of whack and you lay an egg or you just you fall apart.
01:46 Like, I feel like we've gone through this before.
01:49 Maybe that's why I just kind of laugh when we panic like we've never seen them go through this before.
01:55 Wasn't it the Seattle game last year?
01:58 Wasn't that right after a West Coast trip?
01:59 They came home, laid an egg and it was like it was just horrible.
02:02 And it's different forms of laying eggs.
02:04 I know late game collapses are always worse than no shows, but this kind of stuff happens over the course of a two game season.
02:11 So getting too high, getting too low, seven games in.
02:15 I think it's a little silly, honestly.
02:18 Yeah, and it's something to people forget.
02:20 What was it like two or three years ago where Bruins again were a really, really strong competitive team?
02:25 The Detroit Red Wings, who were dogshit, like were really, really bad.
02:31 Even I think like the New Jersey Devils back when they were really bad.
02:34 Those are the teams that gave you like the most trouble.
02:37 You had like multiple losses against a really bad Detroit team, really bad Jersey team.
02:41 Like Igor Sharangovich was like a heart trophy candidate whenever he played.
02:45 Mackenzie Blackwood was like a Bezno contender whenever he played the Bruins.
02:49 Like this is not an outlier.
02:51 Like again, it's stark to lose to a team like this in the manner of the way that game went.
02:55 Again, shit happens in hockey.
02:58 Like again, it's not an outlier or anything like that.
03:01 But this is not the first time a very good, you know, competitive Bruins team has lost to a game that I think Bruins fans probably look at and check off the calendar.
03:10 Like, oh, there's two points right there.
03:11 Shit happens.
03:13 Yeah, yeah.
03:14 And the other part of that too is that like you look at it from the point of view of, OK, well, you want them to go through some adversity.
03:22 This is kind of what you want them to go through, right?
03:24 Like if you were one of these people who says, well, they had an easy year last year.
03:28 They didn't go through any, you know, they didn't go through the mud at any point.
03:30 Blowing a two goal lead with a minute and fifty five seconds left, that's going through the mud.
03:34 And now it's about seeing how they respond.
03:36 You know, like they have a tough test up ahead.
03:39 But honestly, like I'm one of these people who would think, you know, they weren't going to go 82 and 0.
03:43 They weren't going to go 60 and 20 for that matter.
03:46 So you've banked 13 of a possible 14 points.
03:49 That is infinitely more important to me than the way you lost last night, because I do think the points you've banked away so far, that is going to make your life easier in March and April, because I think we agree this team is going to like we think this team is going to be good.
04:03 But what if they're closer to being a wildcard team?
04:06 You got 13 of a possible 14 points and you should have gotten most of those points.
04:11 You know what I'm saying?
04:11 Like the L.A. game is one that I look at and say, yeah, maybe you should have lost that game.
04:15 The Anaheim game in Anaheim, second leg of a back to back third and four.
04:19 Like you maybe could have lost that game.
04:21 Like sort of bank away 13 points out of 14.
04:23 While you're going to be mad right now about not getting the 14th, it's going to be valuable in March and April when you're not chasing, you know, the standings and you need every single win to get in.
04:33 Yeah. So I think we both agree.
04:36 Shitty result for sure.
04:38 Not hitting the panic button yet.
04:39 Long season.
04:40 You've got to take those lumps now.
04:42 But looking at that game in particular, people look at the manner in which they lost.
04:47 Frustrating end, could not get a clear to save their life, obviously, in a critical moment there.
04:52 Leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
04:54 But beyond like the failed clears and what have you, was there any other kind of trend from that game that again in the window or through the lens of just one game?
05:03 Was there a trend or something you noticed from the team that you're like, all right, got to fix that, you know, to make sure it's not a trend that continues beyond a result like Thursday night?
05:13 Yeah, you know, it's interesting.
05:14 I think that this team really needs to find their puck possession game.
05:20 Like outside of their head to heads against Chicago, it's been a white knuckle ride.
05:25 It feels like in terms of possessing the puck, in terms of being able to put games away, you know, like and I think that was something that was really a calling card of this team a year ago.
05:34 I say they possess the puck so much that it was easier to find that that put away goal, you know, like teams weren't on the ropes as much and hanging around like because the Bruins got the puck, the side of the game was over.
05:50 And that was that this year.
05:51 It's a little bit different.
05:52 It's been a little bit different in terms of like, you know, how they're winning these games.
05:58 It really has been the back of their goal tending.
06:00 So and this team is going to be a bit more scoring challenge versus last year's team, obviously.
06:05 But I think that when you when you when you are, you know, find yourself in these kind of positions, you've got to put these games way early if you're not going to be a dominant puck possession team.
06:14 So that's the one area that I'm looking at and saying they got to find a way to put teams to bed a little bit quicker.
06:20 But again, that that's something that, you know, Jim Montgomery sort of alluded to it, that they're a work in progress scoring wise.
06:25 It's like, you know, Poshnok is going to score.
06:26 But beyond that, I mean, what would you say your best sort of line is, you know, outside of that?
06:33 Is it is it JVR, Coyle and Frederick?
06:36 And they broke those guys up last night for a good chunk of the game.
06:38 So I think there's a mix of that.
06:41 And the lack of continuity, I think it's like it's starting to kind of rear its head, I think, in a way.
06:45 Yeah, no, I agree.
06:47 I think it has to come down to ultimately is extending leads, finishing more chances.
06:51 I mean, it's something where you look at the way that they're they're kind of the same.
06:55 They have the same approach as last year, where I mean, I think they're sixth in the league and high danger chances like at five and five play like they're being more selective and generating better looks.
07:04 Again, you look at like the Zaka two on one with Poshnok that last game.
07:09 You're like, all right, that would have been a good way to to bump up that number just a little bit more.
07:14 So I think they're adhering to what Montgomery wants them to do, and they're following those best practices towards generating chances, but a little bit more in terms of finishing, just making life easier for themselves.
07:24 I mean, you look at the matchups they have coming up, how much a two or three goal lead would would be huge against some of those earlier matches.
07:30 But I also agree with you, Ty.
07:32 It's like, all right, you need to get more cohesion, you need to get more chemistry.
07:37 Doesn't really help when you're five, 10 minutes into a game and all of a sudden the lines are getting jumbled up like you look at the way these guys are set up like other than maybe coil Frederick and JV, which I think we've seen probably the most of.
07:51 And it's not like they've got an extended sample size.
07:53 There's not any line that I think you'd be like, all right, we've seen enough to see that they can be good together.
07:59 Like we see guys that have flashes together, like, you know, Potter and Kiki look good, but it's not like any other like set groupings right now that have played enough where we're like, all right, this is an extended sample size.
08:10 They we know what they can do here and let's let them let them marinate a little bit.
08:14 You haven't really seen that at all.
08:15 Yeah, and there's also, you know, that's kind of twofold as a problem, because, you know, as you alluded to with Montgomery, like he's not a shot volume guy.
08:24 He's a take the best look available guy.
08:26 So when you take the best look available and you're not scoring, it kind of comes back to haunt you.
08:33 You know, if you're unable to find that, that go ahead goal.
08:35 And I think it's, I think what's frustrating for people is that you look at the goaltending, even last night, Lena Solmark did enough to win that game.
08:42 And my opinion did enough to win that game.
08:45 He comes through with the initial save on Troy Terry.
08:48 I don't know how he made that save, but he can't corral the rebound because he's down and out sprawled out butterfly and Leo Carlson.
08:55 Who's going to be a phenomenal player?
08:57 My goodness, that guy's going to be good.
08:58 Uh, right there on the doorstep for the put away goal.
09:01 And then you look in the overtime, uh, Zegers comes down crazy move.
09:05 Oh, Mark denies him, but the Bruins never get the puck.
09:08 They never get the puck to do anything with it.
09:10 Next thing you know, two, two Oh five, two Oh six, whatever it was, uh, Mason, Mason McTavish off a great pass and zone entry from Leroy Carlson.
09:17 Again, uh, scores games over, you know, like, so like their goaltending last night did enough to win the game.
09:24 In my opinion, but you didn't put the game away.
09:28 The Johnny Beecher three on two shorthanded that that goes wide.
09:31 Pablo Zaka on a breakaway, passing it behind him.
09:34 What are you doing?
09:35 Shoot it.
09:36 Never pass behind you on a breakaway.
09:38 They just don't do that.
09:40 A posture.
09:41 Knock had a one timer that bounced off.
09:43 It looked like it was a Gibson's wrist, his elbow.
09:46 I don't know where it was, but it didn't go in.
09:47 Like these things loom when you are not as deep as you typically are.
09:52 And when you don't have the puck as much as you are.
09:53 So as much as you should.
09:55 So that's when, you know, the cohesion that we're talking about and finding that other combo, whoever it may be, it becomes of great importance to you because, because without it, you're going to be more of these kinds of situations where you're saying you got enough, but.
10:11 You know, your, your mess ups here and there ultimately cost you.
10:15 Yeah.
10:16 So sky's not falling yet.
10:18 Again, this is not, the result is not what you want, but, um, this is more
10:23 or less what we expect from this team.
10:25 Great defensively, great elite in net, but you're going to have some of these uglier games where you're going to be wishing for that extra goal or what have you to put the, put the game away.
10:34 Not going to get it to be more of a grind out season, which I think is what we've all mapped out before.
10:38 So this will probably not be the first time we see a game like this.
10:41 Hopefully not, uh, you know, giving up two goals in a minute 40 in that regard, but a lot more games, like you said, white knuckle of, uh, protecting one goal leads late.
10:50 Empty net those situations.
10:52 Probably more of those on the horizon.
10:54 Um, but before we, we turn the page, looking ahead, let's take a brief break and hear from our sponsors over at fan.
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12:01 All right, Ty.
12:02 What happened?
12:03 Why?
12:04 Why no Evan?
12:04 Why no Evan?
12:05 Is he, is he Hollywood now?
12:07 Yeah, he's, it's part of like, you know, the, uh, the sag strike.
12:10 So he's just taking a break here.
12:12 So we want to get, we're on Delta.
12:14 We got Tanger on it.
12:15 He's just as good.
12:16 So.
12:16 Yes, exactly.
12:17 So yeah, Evan, Evan's doing a holdout right now.
12:20 We'll we'll discuss that off air.
12:22 We'll, we'll, we'll try to get him back on and we'll work on those things.
12:25 So he's getting suspended for 41 games.
12:27 Oh no.
12:27 Yeah, exactly.
12:30 Uh, so as, as we look ahead time and I think, uh, one of the reasons why for a very, maybe vocal group of Bruins fans, the sky is suddenly falling after a dreadful six Oh and one start is the fact that it's going to get a lot tougher.
12:45 I mean, you look at this next stretch here, Red Wings, Panthers, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, again, Dallas stars.
12:51 Um, after again, a pretty soft, uh, entry to the new season, things are going to really ramp up here with a couple of teams that we expect the Bruins will most likely see at some point in the playoffs, if they want to put together a long run here.
13:05 So maybe not looking at the specific matchup for the teams, but what are you hoping to see from this Bruins team against, you know, this elevated competition and what these other teams might throw at them?
13:16 Yeah, I think you definitely want to see, you know, what we've alluded to here.
13:21 It's just more scoring punch.
13:22 You know, Detroit is going to come to Boston with a league high 35 goals through eight games that Dylan Larkin, Alex Brinkett one, two has been really effective for Detroit.
13:32 Um, they still have some question marks.
13:34 Goaltending wise, you know, they lost five, four to the Kraken, uh, the other night in overtime, so you can score on them.
13:39 So it's a matter, I think of really your other combos, you know, or your other wingers besides David Poster knock and even Brad Marchand, you know, getting on the board, getting some chemistry, go in some comfort, some feel, you know, your seven games in now you should have a rough idea of, of how you can utilize certain guys and where they're best slotted for your team.
13:59 So that's what I want to see.
14:00 You know, Toronto is also a top 10 offense.
14:02 You want to see them be able to hang with them, um, as well, you know, maybe the Bruins luck out and draw Ilya Samson off with their goalie rotation.
14:10 I doubt that though, based on how Toronto treats Bruins matchups, but Joseph Wall has been incredible for them out of the gate.
14:16 So, uh, I think that's the biggest thing, you know, I'm not worried about their goaltending.
14:20 I'm not that worried about their defense.
14:22 I think their defense has been underrated.
14:24 You know, they've given up some chances.
14:25 Sure.
14:26 But on the whole, I think that for the most part, they've been playing the way that you want them to play.
14:31 It's really about their scoring and, and finding another, another winger or two that you can lean on, you know, beyond Pasternak, beyond, uh, uh, Marcian.
14:40 I think DeBrusque, you know, he's been, he's been slow out of the gate, obviously, but I thought last night was the first night where I didn't really notice him until the third period.
14:50 He had, he had a centering pass in the third period.
14:52 And I was like, you know, beyond that, I really haven't noticed him for the reasons I want to, you know?
14:56 And so he's got to get going and we know how he is.
14:59 We know that he's a guy that gets one bounce and it's off to the races.
15:03 Like you just need that one bounce down to result in something tangible.
15:06 Uh, because I think that, you know, he's the third best winger, you know, and he's an important part of this, this program.
15:13 And so you got to get him going.
15:15 So that's what I'd want to see personally.
15:17 I, cause I think everything else is fine.
15:19 It's, it's winnable so to speak, but the offense with these kinds of games, you got to get some more results from some of these guys that are kind of quiet right now.
15:26 Yeah, no, I agree.
15:27 And it's something where I think you look at these matchups again, the defense and goaltending should hold against some high scoring teams.
15:33 As you said, Detroit, Florida has a lot of fire power.
15:36 As we, as we all know, Toronto, um, you need to see the scoring of the run.
15:40 It's tough.
15:41 Cause like the one thing I really wanted to see, and it's something we've talked about before, I think where the identity of this team shifting to a more grind out physical team.
15:49 Like it really sucks that Luchich and Lauco are probably not going to be available for some of the stretch, because I think you look at the way Florida plays,
15:57 you know, you know what they're going to bring, you look at what Toronto did this off season.
16:01 It's not to say that like, you need to, I'm pissed because I'm not going to see a Luchich Ryan Reeves fight.
16:06 Right.
16:06 But you know, like there's going to be more of that back and forth that post whistle, uh, you know, uh, altercations, I guess you want to say what have you like, you know, there's going to be more of that, that snarl and teams trying to knock the Bruins off their game.
16:19 And the Bruins seem better equipped for that.
16:21 If not, that is, that wants to be their identity, right?
16:24 Like where you're not going to have, you know, as much offensive firepower, like this would have been the perfect opportunity to see how this team can kind of adapt and use that new mindset, especially kind of upfront of how they want to play.
16:36 Um, so I don't know how much you're going to really see that with like a guy like Luchich out, we'll see like what happens in some of these games, but, um, as the Bruins, I think kind of try to shift that identity beyond just the fact that they're rooted in defensive goaltending, like having a little bit more of a.
16:52 A prickly disposition, uh, be interesting to see how they match up with a team like Florida or a team like the Maple East.
16:58 Cause I think those could be really good games in terms of getting that character out of them.
17:02 So, um, for me, that's kind of what I look at as well from just how they match up in that regard beyond the wins and losses and what have you.
17:11 Yeah.
17:12 And they kind of luck out here because I was, you know, I was really wondering, you know, if this is a harder schedule, of course, but we know the firepower of these teams.
17:21 But between Florida and Dallas, those are two of the, the seven worst power plays in the league out of the gate, the Bruins taking a lot of penalties right now.
17:28 So if it becomes a physical game, you should take a little bit of comfort in realizing that, okay, well, these power plays aren't really clicking right now.
17:35 So you might get bailed out by that, but yeah, I don't like Jim Montgomery's talked about this all training camp and all, all, you know, seven games of the year, they want to be more physical.
17:44 Right.
17:44 And so they like, this is going to be a good test in terms of, you know, the way that Florida scores their goals.
17:49 Right.
17:49 And especially with the way that Florida is missing some key defensemen right now.
17:53 Yeah.
17:53 So you should be able to get inside ice on, you know, a defense core that has Ekman, Larson and Mike Riley, and, you know, like you should be able to get in there and make some noise between the circles, you know, and get some high danger looks.
18:05 You got to convert them though.
18:05 And that's kind of where they are, you know, Dallas, different story.
18:09 I love their defense.
18:10 I think their defense is, is a real nightmare, real bitch to go against.
18:13 So and Toronto, we'll see, you know, I think Toronto can score, can, can score their way out of a lot of their problems.
18:19 But you look at the way they're still allowing chances, like high danger looks.
18:23 It's why Joseph Wallace had to be so good out of the gate.
18:26 So, um, I think that that's something, you know, worth watching, like the emotional, this is going to be a good test of their emotional aptitude, so to speak, you know, like again, Detroit's flying high.
18:37 Florida playoff matchup Toronto's Toronto.
18:40 Like this should be a good test for how this team gets up emotionally, physically, and how they engage because, you know, through seven games, it's easy to be sleeping.
18:49 Yeah.
18:49 Western coast, California teams.
18:51 You don't see these teams very often.
18:52 You don't really care, you know, but like you're going to see these teams, as you said earlier, like, so I want to know how, how into it they are and how their coach gets them to kind of come out flying because they've also had to play from behind a lot in these games.
19:04 I think if you get charged up physically, you're not playing from behind as much.
19:08 Yeah.
19:08 And it's also very funny watching that Anaheim team and seeing a good friend, Radko Goudas once again, makes it even more frustrating.
19:15 They lost to a team that had a guy like him playing over 20 minutes a night.
19:19 They had four defensemen.
19:22 That's what blows my mind going back on that series.
19:24 It was the deepest Bruins team my entire life.
19:27 And I know they had injuries, but nevertheless, they lose to a team that was rolling out for defensemen, two of which are Radko Goudas and Mark Stahl.
19:35 It's like, Oh my God, how did this happen?
19:38 But it's proof that it doesn't really matter so long as you get in.
19:42 So, you know, what you got to do in the meantime, you got to bank points away so that you get in.
19:46 And that's, that's the thing that I've been trying to tell everybody.
19:48 Just get in.
19:49 2023 broke my brain.
19:51 I no longer care about seeding.
19:53 I no longer care about how you look.
19:55 Just get in and see what happens.
19:57 Absolutely.
19:58 All right, Ty.
19:59 Well, before we wrap this up, we'll do a quick little segment here where, uh, looking ahead at this season, what is one Bruins player that you want to see a little bit more out of?
20:08 So far this season, it's got to need to give a little bit more.
20:11 Yeah, you got to give, you got to give, uh, well, we talked about, we talked about Dubrovnik.
20:16 I think he's going to, he's going to end up turning it around.
20:18 So I'm not going to go with him.
20:19 I'm actually gonna go with Hampus Lindholm here.
20:21 And I say that not, I think he's done a pretty decent job defensively out of the gate.
20:26 He's had some games where he's been really good.
20:28 Uh, he's also had some bad luck.
20:30 I think he's had three goals go off him and into his own net.
20:33 Um, but this is a guy who put up 50 points last year.
20:37 You know, this was a guy who really thrived in terms of getting the puck.
20:42 You know, he started shifting his own zone, but next thing you know, he's there creating
20:45 offense, the other end, you know, there was a sequence last night, uh, in Thursday night's
20:49 game rather, where the Bruins pinned Anaheim in their own zone for about, I want to say
20:55 45 seconds to a minute.
20:56 And it really was a result of Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Carlo using their size and their
21:02 reach to keep plays alive and keep the ducks pinned in.
21:05 And what happened is the Bruins were actually able to change and they were able to get the
21:08 coil line off and bring out the Potra line.
21:11 And you saw it, you saw it wear down Anaheim, but that is when Lindholm is at his
21:16 absolute best in terms of, in terms of knowing, using his offensive instincts to keep plays
21:21 alive, to carry the puck, to, you know, to, to take a little ride with it, you know, and
21:25 see where it goes.
21:26 Like you got to see more of that.
21:28 And so while I think he's been good defensively, I think offensively, you got to see a
21:32 little bit more of that, that take charge mentality, not only to create offense, but
21:37 to wear teams down because he's like, when he gets going, he's a load man, he's six
21:41 foot four and like two 25, like it's a hard guy to slow down when he gets going.
21:45 So you want to see that more in the offensive zone, I think.
21:47 Absolutely.
21:49 And I think for me, I'll keep mine brief, but I think you look at Pavel Zaga.
21:53 I think he's been really actually solid at five on five play, especially defensively
21:57 made a lot of impactful plays there.
22:00 Notwithstanding, you look at, you know, the field clears, you know, the game tough look
22:03 there, but I'm looking more at him on the power play unit.
22:07 Again, I don't think it all kind of falls on him, but I think there's been some growing
22:10 pains there with him in that bumper spot, whether it's just pucks or not getting
22:13 through the seams guys, or just, you know, a split second, you know, I'll take just
22:18 kind of a millisecond of hesitation to have the PK reset to pressure a guy.
22:22 You're just not seeing kind of that same cohesion yet, which I think is to be
22:25 expected when you have a guy who's been a fixture in that spot before him for
22:30 over a decade, right?
22:31 There's going to be some learning curves there, but whether it's shifting him around
22:34 a little bit, maybe putting someone like coil in at the bumper or like hell, like.
22:38 Matt Potter looks pretty good in that spot when he's on the second power play unit.
22:41 I don't know if they give it to them right out of the gate, but I think that's something
22:45 worth keeping tabs on in terms of Zaka in that spot, because you need the power play
22:49 to get going.
22:49 I don't know if you're going to have the expectation of them being a, you know, a
22:54 top five grouping this year, or they've been in years past, but you need to be more
22:59 than I think they're 16th right now, or they got a 16% conversion rate on the power
23:03 play so far.
23:04 You need to bump that up a little bit, especially when you're, it might be a
23:07 little bit more of a slog this season in terms of scoring at five on five play.
23:11 So they need a little bit more out of Zaka in that regard.
23:13 Yeah.
23:14 19th ranked power play entering the weekend.
23:16 A 16%, as you mentioned.
23:18 Yeah.
23:19 Quicker.
23:19 He's got to be quicker on the power play.
23:21 You know, I think that's something that defenses keep getting bigger.
23:24 Teams keep getting smarter.
23:26 So you have to really know what you're doing before the puck is on your stick.
23:31 And so there's no time presentation.
23:32 You know, I think that was something that, that played through Zaka's strengths last
23:37 year was that he had so much time and space because playing with Krejci and
23:40 Pasternak, well, now teams are keen in on you, right?
23:43 So how do you adapt?
23:43 And so I think, I think quicker, you know, as you kind of noted, like you need to be
23:47 quicker with the puck on your stick, especially on the power play.
23:49 Absolutely.
23:51 All right.
23:51 Well, as the Bruins get ready for this key stretch here, still in the
23:56 early stages of the season, Ty, where can we find all of your content on the interwebs?
24:01 Too many places.
24:03 No.
24:03 So I will be, I still with 985 Sports Sub.
24:06 So you can check that out there.
24:08 Twitter, X, Facebook, whatever.
24:11 I'm also on there.
24:12 Also doing some stuff.
24:14 My good friends over at Hockey Buzz, they needed some Bruins stuff.
24:19 And I said, Hey, I used to do that for you guys.
24:20 So, but that's, you know, so that you'll see that on occasion as well.
24:24 So, um, everywhere, everywhere, all at once, it's not, it's, it's, it's not a,
24:30 uh, not an ideal path, but you know, we do it for the people who love the people.
24:33 Uh, great.
24:35 We, I don't know about you, uh, but great October numbers wise.
24:39 So one thing you can say is as disappointing as last year was, uh, the fans care.
24:44 And that's, and that's the greatest thing about, you know, covering the
24:47 Bruins and covering Boston sports is that, uh, there's, you know, no matter
24:51 your frustration, people care and they want to know, so we poke fun.
24:54 At the, at the hysterics.
24:55 Uh, but we do always appreciate how much you care.
24:57 Absolutely.
24:59 All right.
25:00 And if you guys want to follow any of my stuff, obviously boston.com
25:03 and follow me on Twitter, you can do that at Conor Ryan underscore 93.
25:07 Probably just be me doing a lot of those Vince McMahon tweets.
25:10 I don't know if you've seen them today, but they've been great of like crying
25:13 Vince McMahon of like looking back at old things had a few of those already out today.
25:17 So you can expect probably another 28 of those, uh, over the next week.
25:22 So it might depend on how the Bruins win loss record is for, uh, the
25:26 rest of this week as well, but that'll do it for a episode.
25:29 One 73 of poke the bear.
25:31 It's again.
25:32 I'm Conor Ryan.
25:33 That is Ty Anderson.