Ep 193 - Trade Deadline and Wild Card Worries

0:00From Open Audio Studios, it's episode 193 of the Bruins Fastcast. While the NHL trade deadline was March 6th, a few big names were traded, but not much happened with the Bruins. The big push for the playoffs continues and things are getting really tight for the Atlantic wildcard. So let's see what happened this week. First up, March 5th, Bruins at the National Predators. Jonas Karpisalo was in goal for this one. First period, Nashville opened the scoring Nicholas Hagg, his third from Wiseblatt and Spetschkoff at 13.53, one nothing for the Predators after one period. In the second period, Nashville would make it two nothing. Matthew Wood, his 11th short handed goal from Perix at 124. Morgan Geeky, though, would get one back to make it two to one, his 34th on the power play from McAvoy and Eli Slinholm. That is the career high 34th goal for Geeky. So congratulations on the career high. Hope he gets some more. Nashville, though, would keep on pressing former Bruin, Eric

1:00Halla with his 10th from Skijay and Stamcoast. I think that guy's name is Shay. Why do I keep on him, Skijay? Anyway, at 1018, and then Philip Forsberg, his 28th on the power play at 1237 from Stamcoast and Ufko to make it four to one, Nashville. They would add one more for good measure in the period. Matthew Wood, his second of the game from Josie and Forsberg at 1444. Just a really bad period by the Bruins and they were down five to one after two. They would try to mount a comeback to start the third. Charlie McAvoy got his six from Arvetson and Zacca at 605. And then at 1532, Arvetson, his 17th from Middlestat and Zacca to make it six to three, or five to three, sorry. But the predators would add one into the empty net. Luke Vangelis, his ninth from Forsberg at 1733. That's it. Bruins is six to three. A game they could have should have won Nashville because of the trade deadline had some players out. And you know, it looked like Boston would have taken that

2:04one easy. Corpus Allo, 23 out of 28 saves for the loss. Just one they probably should have had and that's going to be kind of a theme of the last couple games, especially another one coming up. But before we go on to the next game, we're going to talk about the trade deadline. There was no big names leaving or coming to Boston. Trader Don was basically silent Don for this trade deadline, probably for the best. So the team is, you know, kind of on the bubble and you don't want to mess with things right now. And there could be some guys coming from the college ranks. But we'll talk about that later. There were a couple of transactions. However, the Bruins got Alexis Genra right, Winger. He was the 220th pick in the 2022 draft. And Massimo Rizzo got to love that name. He's a center, 216th pick in the 2019 draft. So basically, we got two seventh rounders. Not really going to move the needle, I don't think. From Philadelphia, and we gave up Brett Harrison, one of our prospects, the center and Jackson Edward

3:06a defenseman. And also future consideration. So who knows what that'll be, hopefully nothing huge. The Bruins also obtained Lucas Reiko from Vancouver for a six-round pick in 2026. Reiko is a left-winger for Germany. He's 23 years old. He had five points in the 2026 Olympics. He's played 188 games in the NHL, NES 59 points in that span. So I mean, basically, you know, utility NHL, I mean, he may be up in the lineup with their injuries or something like that, but kind of a good guy to have, you know, Philip did mind no lead team for sure. So that's basically what the Bruins do to this deadline. The next game, Saturday, March 7th, the Washington capitals came to Boston. Jeremy Swaman got goal-tending duty for this one. At first period, there's no scoring shots were 8 to 7 for Boston. Second period, Bruins opened the scoring, Pavel Zaka, having a great week, scoring wise, scored his 16th on the power play from McAvoy and Paschernacca 407,

4:07then Washington with Tide, Alexi Proto's 21st from Chichran and Leonard at 721, and all tied up two after two, third period. Victor Arvitsen got his 18th. He's also been on quite a streak lately from Middleset and Hampton's Lin-Home at 428. Then Eli's Lin-Home got his 12th into the empty net from Paschernacca 1936. Bruins wins this game three to one. It was a very key win and it's best to get these points, and put some space between you and the teams fighting for the Wildcage team, so that was good. They got the points there. Swaman was 22 out of 23 saves for the win. Zaka and Arvitsen heating up at the right time, so that's good. Both of those guys are kind of a theme this week. They're definitely on the scoreboard a lot. So that's what you want to see out of those guys. Next up, Sunday, March 8th, back-to-back games. Bruins and Pittsburgh penguins going at it in Pittsburgh, no sit or malking in the lineup for the penguins. In Corpus Sattles was a goal for the Boston Bruins. First period, Pavel Zaka, his 17th on the Powerplay from Geeky and McAvoy at 927,

5:12and it was one nothing Boston after one. Zaka's just on fire right now, as we'll see in this game, and Jeff definitely hopes he keeps it up. Second period, Pavel Zaka, his 18th from Arvitsen, and Aspero at 847. A multi goal game for Zaka, two nothing Boston. And then, Pastanak is 23rd, unassisted at 1223. Good to see Pavel Zaka in the scoring column, so it was 3-1, B's at this point, and then penalty trouble caught up to the Bruins. There was a 5-1-3 for Pittsburgh, and during this, Egor Chinacov got his 14th on the Powerplay. From Raquel and Carlson at 1444, it was 3-1 Boston after two. Then, things got a little nuts in the 3rd. Pittsburgh scored at 602, Connor Doer, his 14th from Shay, to make it 3-2, and then Anthony may have to tie it up the game for the penguins. His 22nd from Novak and Solo Yoyov at 635, so two goals in 33 seconds for the penguins,

6:16not good tie game. Things look good though. Bruins took the lead again. At 834, Pavel Zaka, his third of the game, from Averton to Asperot at 834. Four or three Bruins were leading at this point, but just a few minutes later, Pittsburgh would tie it up again. Anthony Mata is 23rd from Watherspoon and Eric Carlson at 1118, and we were tied at four. Bruins blew a three, nothing lead in this game, and then it up tied and heading to overtime, where at 17 seconds, Pittsburgh won it. Tommy Novak is 14th and assisted at 17 seconds. It was kind of a controversial ending as the referee, near the blue line, appeared to be calling it penalty on Pittsburgh for interference against the upper pass and act. You can kind of see it if you watch the replay in the background. The referee puts his arm up and then he takes it down for some reason. I can't believe that happened. Pass and act was definitely interfered with, and it definitely looked like there should have been a call there, but they did not make a call,

7:21and unfortunately it causes the game. Yeah, it kind of sucks. We should have had more points in that one, so that's kind of the theme I was talking about. Definitely sucks to not get the points in that game. They probably should have had something to that. Like I said, the Bruins led a three enough and at one point, Corpus Sallow, 35 out of 40 saves for the loss. Patrick for Zaka, two assists for Arvetson and two assists for Aspero. Aspero seems to be contributing quite a bit lately, too. Zaka and Arvetson just on fire, but I mean this is definitely a game. You look back on when you're, especially if you missed a playoff by a couple points and you say your day and we should have had that one, but that's where it goes. Bruins record is now. 35 wins, 22 losses, and six over time and shoot out. So 76 points and they are two points up on the wildcard. They're still in a playoff position, so it's not bad, but definitely one of the wins we should have had for sure. There was two of those this week, as I said. Points are precious at this

8:22time of the year and you just can't afford to lose any. So you really want to stay in regulation and get those regulation points and avoid, especially if you're playing an opponent who's chasing you or ahead of you in the wildcard, you don't want to give them any extra points. So hopefully they will work it out and get these, you know, start getting the points and start keeping the other teams from getting points and come back wins as well. Tonight the LA Kings visit the Boston Bruins, so it should be a good game. Hopefully the Bruins can get rid of some of those bad habits and just hold on to a lead and get the win tonight. That's it for now. Bruins fast casts as an independent production is available weekly on Spotify. I believe now on Apple Podcasts, that somehow it might be available. I tried and I think it is. And Speaker and pretty much anywhere on podcasts are available. Please rate, review and subscribe if you can. Follow me on X at Steve J. McGee and follow the podcast at Bruins Fastcasts. That's all for now. Hopefully

9:22the Bruins will pick up a big win tonight and hopefully we'll continue and make the playoffs. Thanks very much.