The sheer fact that the Boston Bruins have seen two of their opposition’s players handed one-game suspensions already in this Stanley Cup Final series all but guarantees it.
There’s no love lost between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues as we head into Game 7. Add in that a suspension now just means losing games from the start of the new regular season and it’s safe to say we should expect ramped-up physicality.
We’ve already seen Ivan Barbashev and Oskar Sundqvist miss a game in this Stanley Cup Final. Expect to see them back at it with their last or ‘mistimed’ checks; expect to see David Perron continue his nonsense antics on Tuukka Rask and expect more of the same when it comes to the theatrics we’ve seen from Jordan Binnington, among others.
Don’t get me wrong, the Boston Bruins saw Charlie McAvoy suspended due to his hit on Josh Anderson in the series with the Columbus Blue Jackets; they’ve not been immune to dishing out checks and hits that are worthy of punishment beyond the (it it’s called!!) in-game penalty call.
Berube said he wants to see more physicality, saying some players might have held back because of the possibility of suspension. He credited Bruins for boxing out well but said the Blues have to find a way to get inside more. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) June 10, 2019
Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (subscription required) has reported that St. Louis Blues head coach, Craig Berube wants more physicality from his team.
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This seems almost crazy when his team has been as physical as it has thus far this series. Look at the injury to Matt Grzelcyk if you want an example of what happens when the physicality gets this out-of-control.
The sheer fact the Boston Bruins are facing up to a team, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, that are being told to ignore any potential suspension and get physical, is absurd. This shouldn’t be the era of head-hunting, of retribution and of over-stated physicality. It also shouldn’t be the era of no physicality in the game, but there’s a very fine line that people need to tread. The notion of a head coach openly calling out to his players to now make decisions that may have led to Cup Final suspensions previously is crazy!
Now, if the Boston Bruins had seen reasonable officiating to this point, we might have reason to be less concerned, but you only need look at the missed calls. Tyler Bozak blatantly tripping Noel Acciari last game comes to mind. What about David Perron’s insistence in trying to cheap-shot Tuukka Rask? That’s just two examples.
Question now is; should the Boston Bruins attempt to fight fire with fire?
The Atlantic Division doesn’t look to be shaping up any easier next season and should the Department of Player Safety crack down hard on physicality in Game 7, it could have repercussions into next season. In an already tough division, early losses could add up.
Or do you go the route of risking that late hit or extra cross-check in the moment?
Risk the two-minute penalty on the play and potential suspension because it’s the Stanley Cup Final and this is your chance to etch your name on that trophy?
It’s going to be incredibly interesting to see whether Craig Berube’s call for extra physicality actually plays out and if it does, whether the officiating will weed out any cheap hits.
It’s either that or the Boston Bruins could well find themselves in a very controversial Game 7. If the call that leads to a game-winning goal is missed, the NHL will have a Stanley Cup losing organisation to answer to. That’s not going to be a happy organisation.