On this episode of Poke the Bear, Conor Ryan and Evan Marinofsky sit down to discuss the injury to Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm, and what that means for the team going forward. Plus, does the Bruins' come-from-behind win mean the tides are turning? All that, and much more!
Topics:
- How much stock we putting into Tuesday’s win
- Leaders pave the way in St. Louis
- Bruins need to build momentum
- Hampus Lindholm’s injury is awful timing
- How can Bruins fix the power play?
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Topics:
- How much stock we putting into Tuesday’s win
- Leaders pave the way in St. Louis
- Bruins need to build momentum
- Hampus Lindholm’s injury is awful timing
- How can Bruins fix the power play?
*****************************************************
💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS
Download the app today and use Code CLNS when you sign up & Get $50 instantly when you play $5!
🎫 Gametime - https://gametime.co
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SportsTranscript
00:00PokeTheBear is brought to you by PrizePix and the GameTime app.
00:07And welcome into PokeTheBear episode 277 presented by PrizePix.
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00:16That's $50 back when you play just $5 and are presented by GameTime.
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00:27I am Evan Baranofsky, that's Connor Ryan.
00:30Connor, what's up?
00:32Evan, I'm doing well.
00:34How are you doing?
00:35Doing great.
00:36Doing great.
00:37Weather's starting to get cold.
00:39Very cold.
00:40Going from like 70 last week to 40 and 30 degrees and we still have more to go, which
00:45is always great.
00:47Again, again, what happened to the like good 50 degree, 60 degree, like sweatshirt, shorts,
00:55like a little chill?
00:56Did we miss that?
00:57I don't think we did.
00:58I think the, I think the climate's collapsing, Evan, unfortunately.
01:03Collapsing from the inside.
01:04It's either, either like negative 15 or 115, there's no in between.
01:10That's sort of like the Bruins this year, either, well, I'm not gonna say great, but
01:13either, you know, winning or they're playing hot or cold, right?
01:17Hot or not.
01:18Hot or not.
01:19The OG.
01:20Bruins win on Tuesday, we're recording this Thursday afternoon, so obviously Bruins stars
01:26is happening tonight, so don't know this or it already happened.
01:29Yes, it has already happened.
01:31As you are listening to this, Bruins win on Tuesday against St. Louis three to come back
01:38in the third.
01:39Andrew Raycroft sniped that God, like I don't know.
01:42He's like Dr. Strange.
01:43It was just like just very optimistic, very excited going on that third, which again,
01:49I think he might have been the only person watching that game excited.
01:55But you know, it's funny.
01:57I tweeted out, you know, this should be a season changing win.
02:00You know, you're, you're really on the ropes.
02:04I think we were all thinking the same thing.
02:06Like if they lose this game and then play bad in Dallas, like Montgomery's probably
02:10toast.
02:11And you come off that Ottawa game on Saturday that was a mess.
02:16And I tweeted out, you know, winning this game, this should be a season changing win.
02:20This should, you know, kind of reroute the season.
02:22And I saw some people being like, Oh, the blues aren't even good.
02:25And it's like, no, but like, I get that.
02:28But coming back in the third on the road, up against the ropes, there's something to
02:32say for that.
02:33Now it's up to them to actually make this, make this count and make this matter.
02:39How much stock are you putting into Tuesday's win?
02:42I mean, listen, I think a win's a win, right?
02:44And when you look at this team and just how much, you know, how tough the sledding has
02:49been to start the year, you'll take it.
02:51That was, you know, a team that showed resolve that I think showed, especially like when
02:56you look at all that's floating around, which in Montgomery, it showed that this is a group
03:00that is playing hard for their coach.
03:02Right?
03:03Like, again, as you said, going to that third period, I was like, do I have to write a potential
03:08like Montgomery thing for Wednesday?
03:10If that was right, right.
03:11For those who don't know, there's a lot of pre-writing here in journalism.
03:15It's, you know, the head of stuff.
03:17Yes.
03:18But yeah, you look at like the writing on the wall, they're playing again, a team that's
03:22not that great in the same blue as blues, but still like the same mistakes, a lot of
03:27penalties.
03:28Power play was dreadful.
03:30Just feels like they had no energy at all for most of that game.
03:33So I mean, yeah, good on them for stepping up and coming back for a win.
03:39Like is it season saving?
03:41It's funny you mentioned season saving because I wrote something similar on on Tuesday night
03:47and you had both people that are like, no, they still suck.
03:49You have that.
03:50You also have like, well, the four one and one in November.
03:54I saw that you're in the playoffs.
03:55I'm like, you watch the friggin games.
03:58Like tell me for one to one.
03:59Does it feel like for one to one?
04:01No, no, no.
04:03Like I jokingly on Bruins beat on Monday was like, yeah, they're in the playoffs.
04:07Like it doesn't feel that way.
04:08I know that they're for what I want, but I didn't feel it.
04:12But I mean, listen, it's a step in the right direction, right?
04:14Which I think you need at this point of the year in terms of guys, you know, building
04:18their games.
04:19You had a lot of guys in the leadership group step up and really kind of tilted the ice
04:24in their favor throughout that third period.
04:27It's great.
04:28It's encouraging.
04:29Other guys step up.
04:30You're more geeky.
04:31Get back in the lineup.
04:32He scores a goal.
04:33It's all encouraging.
04:34Now it's how you build off of it, because what have we seen countless times this year,
04:38Evan, where the Bruins have had some of these games where like, all right, started off slow,
04:45you have that overtime win over Toronto, you have, you know, the back-to-back wins against
04:50the Flyers and the Kraken, where you're like, all right, they're building some here.
04:54You're feeling good.
04:55And then what happens?
04:56You have the stretch where they get shut out by the Flyers and then they get eviscerated
05:00by the Hurricanes.
05:01That was right after one of those sequences.
05:04And then you have, you know, the Toronto series and you follow that up with games like the
05:10game against Ottawa, right?
05:11Like there's way too much stop and start.
05:13There's way too much of this team really struggling to get into a rhythm here that,
05:18you know, Tuesday's a great result.
05:21Like it reminds you of kind of, remember, I think early on in the season, two years
05:26ago, and granted that team started off great, but they had that game in Pittsburgh, I think
05:30at the end of October, where they were short a few guys, came back in the third period
05:34and won.
05:36And at that point, again, that team was like 5-0 or something to start the year, but that
05:41kind of validated, that validated that, well, they've got something here.
05:44They can deal with that adversity.
05:46Didn't work out that way when we get to the playoffs, but that was a stepping stone, right?
05:51It did not.
05:52But you're right.
05:53At the time, that was a validating kind of stepping stone of like, wow, this team really
05:57does feel like there's things working in their favor.
05:59They can bounce back from these kinds of setbacks with injuries and third period deficits.
06:04And it feels like you had something growing there.
06:08And then what do they do?
06:09They pulled off and went 14-1-0 or whatever it was.
06:11They were like, they wouldn't have begged Jets to start that year.
06:14So I think for the Bruins, yes, it's a step in the right direction.
06:17You like to see the response.
06:18You like to see so many key guys step up in that game against St. Louis.
06:24But you know, when this episode drops, is it going to be the Bruins going on the road
06:29against a Dallas team that many people expect to be making some noise in the spring?
06:34The Bruins going to, you know, have a gutsy 3-2 win on the road.
06:38Then you feel like, all right, maybe there is something here, or is it going to be you're
06:42losing 5-1 and it feels like we're right back where we started, right?
06:45So it needs to be, you'll take the win, obviously, considering all that's at stake in the response
06:52there.
06:53But all that matters is how they build off of this moving forward.
06:55And the jury's still out until we see what they do the next couple of games.
07:00You hit it there with, you know, if they go out and lose 5-1 to Dallas or you just, you
07:04know, have a really crappy game, it's sort of just a continuation.
07:07It's all right.
07:08We're just going to take a step forward and two steps back consistently.
07:14And that's, that's what's happened for, you know, up until this point and it's made them
07:18so infuriating.
07:19I also found it interesting, Ty Anderson tweeted out at the end of the second in that game
07:24against the Blues on Tuesday, was they're unwatchable and he's right.
07:29And that's what hurts, right?
07:31Like nothing's worse.
07:33And I think Boston sports fans can attest to this because the Patriots have been unwatchable
07:38over the last couple of years.
07:39And it wasn't until recently with Drake May where it's like, Oh, there's a reason to watch.
07:43This is fun.
07:44You know, even if we're, even if we're losing by 20 points, at least like 42 to 22 and there's
07:49excitement.
07:51So far, this Bernstein has been unwatchable and really boring.
07:54I've mentioned that a couple of times this year, just a boring product.
07:57And I think that's also why they just feel so bad because there's not a lot.
08:03There's no five on five, you know, that for a long time, there's no five on five scoring
08:06power play has been dreadful.
08:10You know, you're losing game, you're getting shut out, you're losing games four to one
08:13and it's just not entertaining in the slightest.
08:17But again, Tuesday's third period was entertaining.
08:19You had geeky score.
08:21You had McAvoy on a bomb from the point score.
08:23You had Pasternak with a one timer score.
08:27And so like that was exciting for fans.
08:30Like that's a, that's a, that's a good product to watch.
08:33It just sucks when you have to watch those first two periods.
08:36Even though they did out shoot the blues, it just, it never felt like they had control.
08:41They were still committing too many offensive zone penalties, which continues to be an issue.
08:46So that's why I, you know, I wonder if it's a season correcting win in that, you know,
08:50obviously I don't think every problem is fixed starting Thursday night where no more ozone
08:54penalties and this and that, like we're, you know, power plays humming.
08:59I don't think it's that, but I do wonder if they can sort of build off that and string
09:03some wins together and good wins together.
09:05I think that's the other thing where I think the reason that four one and one doesn't feel
09:09that way is it's choppy.
09:11You know, it's like you got a bad performance in there and then you have, you know, an okay
09:14one and a good one and a bad one.
09:15And that's sort of been the case this year.
09:17So again, encouraging stuff, but I'm not buying it.
09:23This is like this, I don't want to compare, I don't want to fully make this comparison
09:27because it's hard to harsh and the Bruins don't deserve this, but it's sort of like
09:32the Red Sox when they're in on these big name guys, it's like, they're going to be
09:36in on them.
09:37They're going to be, you know, and then it's just, they're, they're many millions short
09:41and they were never actually close, sort of like the Juan Soto thing right now.
09:44Now the Bruins for years have been very consistent and good in the regular season.
09:48So I don't want, you know, they're not near that level, but so far this year, that's sort
09:52of what it's been like.
09:53It's like, Oh, they had a good win.
09:55What do they do next game?
09:56What are they doing next game?
09:58I think it's so big.
10:00And I think fans are just, you know, that's why I think Thursday night's game, obviously
10:04you guys have already watched and heard the results, but that's why it's big.
10:07And then you have, you have St. Louis again on Saturday.
10:12Worst thing that happened Tuesday night, a big injury happened, a big injury, but first
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11:56So ironically enough, on, I think it was Tuesday, maybe it was Monday.
12:01I don't remember what day it was, but Fluto Shinzawa from The Athletic wrote a story about
12:05how Hampus Lindholm has been their best defenseman by far, been one of their better players.
12:11You tweeted on Thursday, cause some goober said, I was, I was fully expecting also grammatically
12:18incorrect, but I was fully expecting usually when I get those tweets, it's usually a, uh,
12:24a guy who looks like Alex Jones in sunglasses and his beat up RAV4 or it's, uh, like a dog.
12:30Usually it's the worst takes or the meanest takes are usually, it's a photo of like a,
12:35uh, like a lab, like a Labrador retriever staring at me.
12:39And labs are adorable too.
12:40That's what's so tough is like, apparently not, not when you guys, come on, not, not
12:44when they've, uh, not when you give a phone in their paws cause they fire off some awful
12:49takes.
12:50But yeah, that guy was, that guy said to write, what do you say?
12:54Like Hampus Lindholm has been terrible and it's like, yeah, no, he's actually been like
12:57their best player, uh, through a month.
13:00Um, but Lindholm went down with an injury, uh, in, uh, against the blues, uh, went down
13:06the tunnel and then announced that he's out for weeks.
13:10Not good.
13:11Usually here week to week, if it's only going to be a couple of weeks, weeks is much longer.
13:15Uh, and it's lower body.
13:17I saw, I think rich Keith, um, said that it's, or he, he was hearing that it was a
13:22broken kneecap, I think, or fractured kneecap again, that's not confirmed yet.
13:27Um, but if that's the case, that sucks, um, really tough.
13:32I mean, obviously for the Bruins, because you know, he's been so good, but also for
13:37Hampus Lindholm who, you know, had kind of a tough year last year after a really strong
13:42regular season, um, in that record setting 22, 23 season, and he was kind of getting
13:46back to that form this year.
13:47I think he had a goal called off at one point.
13:49Um, he's been really active.
13:51He's been legitimately good.
13:53Um, and it just sucks for him.
13:55I think also like, you know, this sort of halts his momentum.
13:58Uh, and then obviously the Bruins could use Hampus Lindholm right now.
14:02Yeah, no, it's, it's a huge loss, um, both for the Bruins and for Lindholm.
14:07As you said, last year was a tough year for him.
14:10I think the Bruins were also giving him a whole lot of D zone minutes and I feel like
14:14he's better suited as being more of that two way kind of defenseman as opposed to like
14:19a lockdown shutdown player.
14:20Like I think he can do the job and he's a six, four, you know, steady defenseman, but
14:26you're not maximizing his value, but not also giving him some time to, to get reps in the
14:31ozone.
14:32I think you've seen it this year where I think he's been so shot ready, so assertive with
14:36the puck, so willing to jump up into the play.
14:38And I think that's where it kind of hurts you right now.
14:41I mean, just the fact that he eats up all these minutes is key and why he's such a valuable
14:45piece.
14:46But when you look at how tough the sledding has been for this team offensively, be it
14:50the power play, but even at five on five, like Lindholm has been such a breath of fresh
14:55air in that regard, in terms of being a guy that can jump into the play, um, can get shots
15:00through, integrate AIs, leads to rebounds or second chances or anything like that.
15:05Um, he's been their most consistent player in doing that and losing that extra layer
15:10of attack.
15:11It's, uh, it's a significant loss for however long it is.
15:14Right.
15:15And as you said, if it's weeks, not great, it does feel weird every time where it feels
15:19like the Bruins are without McAvoy or Lindholm.
15:24It feels like the other player does step it up and then go sicko mode for a while.
15:27So maybe this means McAvoy goes, goes off.
15:30Um, it'd be ideal if both guys did it at the same time, but how many times have you seen
15:36it over the last couple of years where it has been, um, a situation where you lose McAvoy
15:41for a while and Lindholm has a great game, or we saw in 2022, 23, a game where that Penguins
15:47game where Lindholm had that, uh, overtime goal, he was a monster to start the year.
15:52And so I think especially, and I think we'll talk about it a little bit later on, like
15:56his loss, even on the power play, where he was viewed as this guy that finally they make
16:00a change.
16:01They can put Lindholm up there.
16:02Now you're kind of back at the back of the drawing board with what, what to fix in terms
16:06of what has been one of your biggest flaws in terms of generating offense this year,
16:11by the way, rip the Penguins.
16:13Oh my God.
16:14Like, yeah, the team is bad.
16:17Ooh.
16:18And I, you know, again, Kyle Dubas stepped into a rough situation anyways, and yeah,
16:22heck sort of shredded that group.
16:24Oh yeah.
16:25And I also, I also think it's interesting with that team not to turn into Penguins beat,
16:30but you know, I think when Dubas took over, he sort of had one option, which was, you
16:34know, Hey, let's get younger.
16:36Let's kind of rebuild.
16:37And then the other was, Hey, let's just keep going in that direction of let's, you know,
16:40just bolster this roster as much as we can.
16:43And they tried the second option and it just ain't working.
16:47I mean, that roster is not good and it's not performing just like, you know, like the 2013
16:53like to 16 Red Wings and they haven't, you know, they're definitely not paying the price
16:56for that.
16:57Right.
16:58Yeah.
16:59Like, you know, like you have to figure out a time when to cut bait and the, the Bruins
17:05are, I think probably going to, I know people are, you know, you look at the way they've
17:08been playing this and people are like, Oh, just blow it up.
17:10It's tougher when you've got like a Red Wings team where like your younger players are like
17:14fibula or like a middle six player.
17:17Right.
17:18Like, and you've got, that's a blast from the past.
17:22But like you had, but you had, you know, Zetterberg and Dotsuke and all these guys
17:28that are like, so it's such a key piece of your group that are all around that same age
17:33bracket.
17:34It's several of your, the Bruins where it's like, all right.
17:36You know, or looking at the penguins, right.
17:38With Latang and Crosby and Malkin and all those players, Carlson, the Bruins have like,
17:43you know, Marchand and a few of these players, but then it's all guys that are like 27, 28
17:49Bruins are I think in a little bit of a different spot in terms of where they are as opposed
17:53to some of those teams that, um, you know, are so ingrained or established because of
17:59all their core being that same age, but like, look at the capitals, which I have no idea
18:03what the hell to make of that capitals team.
18:05I don't know what the fuck is going on.
18:06I thought they were, but good on them for like two years ago when they had guys like
18:11Orlov selling them for returns and kind of reshuffling things.
18:16If you start that process and do a little bit of that, like it generally leads to better
18:20returns, at least on a quicker timeline.
18:22Again, I don't know how sustainable this capitals team is, but we know you kind of
18:26sell out pieces when the opportunity is there, things aren't working and they seem to be
18:31in a better spot for it.
18:32So, and they got Leonard coming.
18:34I mean, like, I also think like, I forgot about that too.
18:36Yeah.
18:38I think it kind of hits back at like, you know, I, I do see a lot of Bruins fans be
18:41like, blow it up.
18:42You know, this, this core isn't good enough.
18:44And Jay Fresh had interesting tweet, uh, over the weekend about the ducks, about how
18:49they have, they're one of these rebuilding teams that bottomed the hell out and they
18:54have nothing to show for it.
18:55And they're regressing like they, because it's just their rosters, all just young
18:59prospects and, and no one's taken steps.
19:02And like, I think the key is what sort of what the Bruins did, uh, from that, you know,
19:072014 through 2017, where it was just kind of a retool, like, and it's sort of what you
19:12mentioned about the caps where it's like, okay, your team's kind of hovering around
19:16500, your core is getting older.
19:18Let's not just go one and done in the playoffs this year.
19:21We'll punt just punt.
19:23And I think that's sort of one of the things that teams are so hesitant to do is
19:27like, we gotta be in the mix.
19:28We have a chance every year and that's great.
19:31But I also think there's a case there that retooling and sort of, you know, doing, as
19:36you said, a reshuffling of the deck is so much better than just bottoming the hell
19:40out. Um, and again, if the Bruins continue on this pace where they're 500, you know,
19:45or around that for the next two months, you're going to have some hard questions with
19:49guys on this roster who are on expiring deals, but we will save those for another day.
19:53I don't want to get too into that now.
19:55Um, on the topic of Lindholm being out, I think two people, uh, really need to step
20:00up as well.
20:01Obviously McAvoy, uh, number one D, but I also look at like a guy like low ride, uh,
20:05who will get to in a bit on the power play and Nikita Zadoroff.
20:08Um, Zadoroff has had a rough start to his time here.
20:12Um, again, Montgomery's kind of mentioned, you know, coachability at times has been
20:16difficult with him.
20:18Not good.
20:19Like you don't want to hear that.
20:20They can't have that.
20:21He can't grasp systems.
20:23Not what you really want to hear, but no, it isn't.
20:26And penalty wise, he has been bad.
20:29Um, a lot of missed coverages, which like, again, you're a moose back there.
20:35That is your job.
20:37You need to be doing that.
20:38Um, yeah, occasionally a guy's going to blow by and you got to hook them.
20:42Like I get that, but it's been disappointing so far.
20:46And I think that contract does not look very good at the moment.
20:48Now, again, we're a month in, we are a month in.
20:51So like, I, I, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but he's a guy that in
20:54these next, in the, in these weeks that Lindholm is out, you're going to need him.
20:59I mean, he's not gonna be on the power play, but you're going to need him killing
21:02more, uh, you know, being out there for more PKs, being out there for more D zone
21:06draws, potentially chipping in on the offense as well.
21:09Like this is sort of his time, uh, to take that.
21:12And I just, again, like it's his time because he just hasn't shown
21:16anything through a month so far.
21:19Yeah.
21:19I think for him, it all just comes down to simplifying his game.
21:22Right.
21:23And not trying to, you know, do too much.
21:25Like, I don't know if like, listen, the, the system issues and like the lapses
21:30in the coverage are very concerning, at least to start the year.
21:33But, um, you also wonder like how much of this is him trying to figure
21:37out what exactly his role is.
21:38Cause I, I remember like there was like three or four times during camp
21:41where people would ask him, like, and I talked about this with Ty Anderson
21:44of people have been like, you like hitting guys, huh?
21:46And you're like, you like being, being a big tough guy.
21:48He's like, I guess like I I'm six, six or I hit guys.
21:51They tend to go flying.
21:52But like, I'm just trying to like stick to my game, keep it simple.
21:55And they're like, but you like hitting guys.
21:57Right.
21:57Like the Bruins fans are really like it.
21:58If you hit guys and it's like, I wonder if he's listening to reporters
22:02over Montgomery, he's like, no, but Monty that Steve Conroy really
22:07wants me to just lay guys out.
22:09I'm doing that.
22:10Right.
22:10So I do wonder if like this came trying to figure out his
22:13role and find his footing.
22:15I do know that I think when he was first with Calgary and I think even
22:19with Vancouver for a little bit, it took him some time to like settle into a group.
22:23So maybe that is also the case.
22:25Not saying that it's going to be like, you get to the playoffs and he's
22:27going to be what he was in Vancouver.
22:29He's going to end to end scoring goals or anything like that.
22:32The Bruins would take that.
22:33But yeah, I think for him, it's all about just simplifying, like not
22:38taking the bad penalties, making simple, smart plays with the puck.
22:42He's shown a willingness to like, I don't think he wanted to be carrying
22:46the puck through the neutral zone or anything like that, but he has shown
22:49a willingness early on to get pucks on net.
22:51So I think just simplifying and keeping things like that as what he's
22:55going to need to do just to find his footing and just get some
22:57more traction into his game.
22:59Um, I think not going to the penalty box every single game is also pretty
23:03important, but recommend that.
23:04But I think when you look at this team, like the, the margin for error
23:09for this team is already super slim in terms of like their school, their
23:12struggles with scoring the penalty differential, the power play, not
23:16being able to build them out.
23:17So I think it's all about, especially at five and five, just being risk averse.
23:20That might mean a little bit more boring hockey for right now, as you wait
23:23for things to sort themselves out.
23:25But I think if you're the Bruins and you're looking at Zdorov and what
23:29he's provided so far, you'll take the boring low event hockey as opposed
23:33to high sticks, interference calls and stuff like that are going to
23:36put you behind the eight ball.
23:37Especially when you look at where the PK is right now.
23:41A hundred percent.
23:41Yeah.
23:42I think that's, um, completely the move.
23:44Uh, things that are also the move going to our friends over at game
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25:01What time is it?
25:02It's game time now back to the show.
25:05So the power play Connor, not great so far.
25:10Not great.
25:11Uh, they did make a change prior to Tuesday, putting Lindholm, uh, instead
25:15of McAvoy on that top unit, they moved McAvoy with Lowry on the second unit.
25:20Didn't last very long.
25:21Cause Lindholm obviously now is out for quite a bit of time.
25:24So, um, what would you do with this power play?
25:30I mean, I feel like at this point I would rather just be more, uh, you know,
25:37opt for a little bit more risk with a guy like Lowry up there.
25:39I understand that he's not had the strongest year and I'm sure the
25:43Bruins probably aren't, or Montgomery isn't receptive of putting a young
25:47player like that, that sometimes has issues with passing and, um, you know,
25:52holding onto the puck, at least for right now, like this year has been a
25:55little bit more of a struggle for him as opposed to maybe where they
25:57were last year in the playoffs.
25:59But I think you look at just how dynamic he is with the puck as a left shot.
26:03Um, his ability to find lanes, to move the puck down to the half wall,
26:08add a little bit more, I think unpredictability to that unit.
26:11Um, I'd go for it right now.
26:13I don't think that's what they're going to do.
26:15I imagine they're going to go back to McAvoy, but I just think you look
26:18at what Lindholm provided up there.
26:21And it's not just like, you're hoping things play out that way in terms
26:24of Lindholm shot, uh, first mentality, being a left shot, being able to get
26:29the puck over to Pasternak, you know, a half second quicker, um, and limiting
26:33kind of that hesitancy that you see at times with McAvoy, um, I think
26:37you've just really missed all that.
26:38And so I would go with Lowry for right now, but I have to imagine things have
26:44to probably continue to bottom out more of not getting results with McAvoy up
26:47there before they turn to that again, it feels like it's already bottomed out,
26:50but I imagine they go back to McAvoy at least to start a Thursday's game.
26:55Yeah.
26:55I think they take a conservative approach and go with McAvoy at the point
26:59just to kind of, you know, it's stability.
27:03I think that's sort of what it's going to be, but where it's sort of a negative.
27:08I want Lowry.
27:09Give me that.
27:10Give me that.
27:10This is the time.
27:11I mean, I know that, I know that, uh, they are on thin ice.
27:14I know Montgomery is sort of on thin ice.
27:17Um, give him the shot.
27:20Like, I, I, I think this is, this is, you know, maybe it's not exactly when you do
27:25it, but I want to see it and I think he provides you more mobility at the point
27:30to like, I think that also helps.
27:32I think he's a little more active, um, more willing to shoot at times.
27:37I know McAvoy struggled with that in his career a little bit.
27:39Um, and I also think with Lindholm gone, McAvoy is going to
27:44have a lot more responsibility.
27:47Do I want to also add PP one to that?
27:50Even though he was the power play one quarterback, you know, start the year.
27:54I'd rather give that to Lowry for right now.
27:56And again, if it stinks and it's awful and Lowry is making turnovers and they're,
28:01you know, unable to break out their own zone or get to the neutral zone or
28:04whatever, like, then that's a different case.
28:07Give it a shot.
28:09Give it a shot.
28:09I want, I want to, you know, again, I've liked Lowry and small samples.
28:13Now to start this year, you're right.
28:15He started out producing in his first couple of games.
28:17I remember first couple episodes of the year.
28:19We're like, wow, the defense, you're getting offense from the defense.
28:22Uh, and I don't think he's put up really anything since then.
28:26Um, but the potential is there and his mobility and all that stuff.
28:30So I say, why not?
28:32I mean, again, like give it a shot for a little bit, but I think it goes back to
28:36like, they're going to put McAvoy back up there.
28:38I think they're going to end up doing given where they are.
28:40And I think like for Laura, I like, again, I can't see them where he's been.
28:45So I think up and down at least to start the year.
28:47And he's been scratched a couple of times that I can't see them being like, all
28:51right, it's been, you know, we need to get back to, you know, being more consistent.
28:55Here's power play one.
28:56Like, I can't see that being.
28:58I just can't see it from.
28:59They will.
28:59That's why they won't do it.
29:01They will, which, you know, you could also spend in terms of, well,
29:03if you're looking for him to playing to his strengths and maybe get more
29:06confidence, like maybe that's a way to do it is giving him the power play.
29:10And all of a sudden he's feeds pasta for one time.
29:13Yeah, he's feeling good about his game and confident.
29:15I think that's a big part for these younger players is feeling good
29:18about their games, getting rewarded with production.
29:21And that could be a strategy.
29:22And like, I could see that working out when you just see his skill
29:26on on the power play and kind of his his profile as a defenseman.
29:30I just can't see it being the case right now.
29:33If the Bruins go, oh, and four do the first, you know,
29:3740, 40 plus minutes of Thursday's game, maybe then they give them a look.
29:41But and also, again, if the power play is not producing,
29:44then he's going to be out there for the second power play unit.
29:46Maybe they get better looks.
29:47So it could be pretty fluid how they approach things.
29:50But I still think to start it off, it's going to be McAvoy back in that spot.
29:54Yeah, it's and again, like, that's fine.
29:57He's you know, that's fine.
29:59But yeah, I'd be curious to see.
30:01Mason Lowry back there.
30:03Conor, what can people look forward to from you over the globe and Boston dot com?
30:07Yeah, we have you covered every step of the way over at Boston dot com
30:10and the Boston Globe throughout this season with recaps, features, columns,
30:14breakdowns, all that good stuff.
30:16So you can read all of it over at Boston dot com and the Boston Globe.
30:19And if you want to follow me on Twitter or X, whatever it's called,
30:22you can at Conor Ryan underscore ninety three.
30:26Go do all that.
30:28That's Conor Ryan.
30:28I'm Evan Marinovsky.
30:29The very listeners of a great rest of your week.