SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 15: Head coach Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins reacts to a call during first period action against the Florida Panthers on March 15, 2012 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Bruins 6-2. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
This is an extreme and I don't want to see Claude Julien fired, but something has got to happen to wake the players up. You remember back in 2007, Julien was fired from the first place New Jersey Devils. Lou Lamoriello said about the firing, "I don't think we're at a point of being ready both mentally and (physically) to play the way that is necessary going into the playoffs. I am not saying that is going to change. But I think there has to be better focus going forward." Source
The Bruins are lacking focus right now and maybe Julien has lost the players? Are the players tuning him out? Who knows, only the players can answer that. Even though the Bruins are in second place, they're really in danger of falling out of a playoff spot. Will Peter Chiarelli take action or ride this out and see what happens? Again, I don't want Julien to get fired but something has to happen to get the players to change what is going on.
Quick game summary
In the first period, Mikael Samuelsson scored a power-play goal, making it 1-0. Shawn Thornton got a penalty for a guy losing his balance and crashing into the boards.
In the second period, Marcel Goc scored 38 seconds into the period, making it 2-0. Four minutes later, Joe Corvo scored his 4th goal of the season, making it 2-1. Less than two minutes later, Stephen Weiss scored for the Panthers making it 3-1. Later in the period, John Madden scored to make it 4-1 Panthers.
In the third period, Brian Rolston scored his 5th goal of the season, a power-play goal, which came off a big slap shot from the point, making it 4-2. Panthers would score two more goals to put away the Bruins in the third period, and it ended 6-2.
After the game quotes from Bruins players
Tim Thomas, on if fatigue is a factor with the Bruins: "It has a lot to do with it... yes. You can see it in people's faces."
"We've done a good job of staying positive and supporting each other, but I don't know what to do. We've got to figure out something. I don't know if I've ever been in quite a part of a run like this. Generally you just put it behind you and move on to the next one, but we've done that for a few games in a row. We're stuck in the same place. I don't have any answers."
Zdeno Chara: "It's tough to describe. It's tough to find the words for the way we're playing. It's everything: offensively and defensively. We're not finding a way to be more creative and effective. The only way we can get out of it is to find [the answers] in this room and move on to the next one. We have the tools. We have the talent. We are capable of doing great things. We've proven it and done it before. Right now we just can't find a way to be effective."
Claude Julien: "Our team is tired and they're not playing well, but you’ve got to fix it somehow. There's a lot of thinking to be done. That's what we do for a living. We have to step up and find a solution as a coaching staff. That's what we have to do. When you give up 12 goals in two games you need everybody [on board]."
Source of quotes: CSNNE.com
Game notes
Tim Thomas played in net and didn't look all that comfortable in net. A few times they showed Thomas after a Panthers goal and he looked frustrated with the defense in front of him (in my opinion). Thomas made 23 saves on 29 shots and is now 29-18-0 with a 2.48 GAA and a .918 save percentage this season.
Adam McQuaid returned to the Bruins lineup. Greg Zanon and Mike Mottau were scratched.
The Bruins led the game in hits 36-31. The Panthers led the game in shots 29-26, faceoff wins 34-31 and blocked shots 12-10.
The Bruins went 1-for-2 on the power-play while the Panthers went 1-for-3.
Joe Corvo led the Bruins with 4 shots.
Gregory Campbell and Zdeno Chara led the Bruins with 5 hits.
Onto the next one
The Bruins are now 40-27-3 with 83 points. Ottawa has 82 points (and they played one more game than the Bruins). The next game for the Bruins is on Saturday as they host the hot Philadelphia Flyers (8-2-0 in last 10 games) at 1pm ET in Boston.
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