Goucher: Ottawa Posing Bigger Threat Than Florida To Catch Bruins
BOSTON (CBS) - Fred Toucher and Dan Roche (filling in for Rich) were joined by Boston Bruins play-by-play man Dave Goucher Thursday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub to discuss a handful of hometown hockey team topics, starting with the trade deadline.
Goucher had a feeling the team wouldn't make a big splash, but he's a little concerned no defenseman found their way to Boston through a trade.
"I was hoping they would add a forward or two and a defenseman. Obviously they added Brett Connolly for two days (more on that later) and Max Tablot, who I think will be a good addition both in the locker room and on the ice. But the lack of adding a defenseman, we saw last year what the Bruins were like without Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid in the playoffs -- that caught up to them," Goucher told the morning crew.
"If they are able to make it this year that is an area that concerns me, that they didn't add some depth to the blue line."
This season the Bruins just can't seem to buy a break, but that's exactly what they bought earlier this week when they traded a pair of second round picks for Lightning right wing Brett Connolly.
Connolly, in just his second practice with the team, was hit by a puck during Wednesday's session. The Bruins announced shortly after practice that Connolly will be out for six weeks with a displaced fracture of his right index finger.
It's a huge disappointment for the Bruins.
"It's a significant loss. It's somebody I think needed and wanted a fresh start coming out of Tampa Bay; drafted real high in that 2010 draft. There was a lot of talk that draft was going to be [Taylor] Hall, [Tyler] Seguin and Connolly, and then he kind of fell to the sixth pick because he was injured his final year in juniors," said Goucher. "He never really lived up to the billing in Tampa Bay, and I think the Bruins were at least willing to give him a good look here in the final 20 games of the year."
The injury to Connolly seems to be yet another indication that it's just not the Bruins' year.
"You can't make this stuff up. It's just the way the whole season has gone for them. They trade for a guy at the deadline, and in his second practice he breaks his finger and is out six weeks."
The Florida Panthers have been in hot pursuit of the Bruins for over a month, but just can't seem to close the gap. Now they're dealing with injuries to both of their goalies, coupled with a defense that's not very good in the first place.
Boston (71 points) is clinging to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, with Florida (69) and Ottawa (67) not far behind.
The Senators have been hot as of late, and are posing more of a threat to catch Boston in the standings than Florida.
"The Bruins have two games in hand over Florida heading into tonight, and Ottawa I don't think anybody has been paying attention to them. They just beat the three California teams, they win again last night and I think they're 6-0-1 in their last seven games and all of a sudden they are four points back. The Bruins go up there [to Ottawa] twice in the final month of the season, so I think that's a team back in the mix."
Every game is important from here on out for the Bruins, who return to action Thursday night when they host the Calgary Flames at TD Garden.
Listen below for the full interview with Dave Goucher, including his thoughts on the first line, Ryan Spooner and much more:
Hear every game of the 2014-15 Boston Bruins season on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage with Dave Goucher and Bob Beers begins 30 minutes prior to every game!
