Matt Kalman Talks Bruins-Penguins On Felger & Mazz
BOSTON (CBS) - CBS Boston's Bruins blogger Matt Kalman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz on Wednesday ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, breaking down what the Bruins have done right thus far -- or more so what the Penguins have done wrong.
After a quick "airing of grievances" of the Felger & Mazz show, Kalman talked about Boston's defense. Does he agree with Matt Bartkowski finding his way to the bench in favor of veteran Andrew Ference.
"I'm a Ference guy -- he's too valuable," said Kalman. "If there was a seventh spot you put Bartkowski back in, but Ference gives you too much. He's a great penalty killer and you have his veteran experience."
Read: Kalman On CBS Boston
Bartkowski played well against the Rangers, so if not for Ference, should he be in for Adam McQuaid?
"With his size and physicality, (McQuaid) is too valuable on that third pairing -- again, another penalty killer," said Kalman. "You need to have a big, strong penalty kill against this Penguins team. That power play is not going to be held down forever. There's going to be a game when you have to kill four or five penalties, and you need to have McQuaid in that lineup."
"He's a solid puck mover too when he has the chance," he continued about McQuaid. "(Torey) Krug has actually made him a better player; it's allowed him to be more aggressive offensively because he knows Krug will get back for him, and he's just a solid all-around player. He doesn't do the things you guys love, but you can't have six guys that do that. Adam McQuaid is a presence out there."
Listen: Eddie Olczyk On Felger & Mazz
Are there any moves the Bruins have made that Kalman disagrees with?
"(Jaromir) Jagr on the second line, I've had a problem with -- at least that they keep preaching about his chances. I hate hearing about chances, I want to see goals," he said. "Same with Tyler (Seguin), I want to see goals. Would switching them have sparked one of them? Right now it's OK the way it is; you have to admit Jagr played a power forward-type game in Game 2."
Who is to blame for the Penguins finding themselves in an 0-2 hole?
"They're all at fault. Ignila has been invisible, Neal has cooled off. These guys have so much talent, and Bylsma has tried things, but you see the third pairing of Krug-McQuaid out there with Crosby, and they're not scoring," he said. "It kind of looks like the Rangers, who were losing shifts to the third line. It's hard to explain why a team that is so great can fall off so much."
Matt Kalman 6/5/13
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