Forcing the issue

O'Connell wins matchup battle with Burns in Game 4

The funny thing about being down 3-0 -- not ha-ha funny, mind you, but interesting -- is that teams in that situation usually play looser and more relaxed because they have nothing to lose.

But the fact is, they really have everything to lose. The Bruins reacted in just the right manner, by deciding that if they were going to go down, they were going down playing their game. And that isn't easy to do against the stifling rigidity of the Devils -- and, in fact, had been impossible through three games for the Bruins.

When facing elimination via a sweep, a coach can really impact his team's mindset. In this case, Mike O'Connell refused to give in to the forced matchup preferred by Devils coach Pat Burns of having Scott Stevens on the ice every time Joe Thornton jumped over the boards.

O'Connell stubbornly stayed away from that ploy in the first period -- setting a steely resolve for his team. O'Connell was rewarded when Thornton scored on a power play to give the Bruins life and put the Devils in a position they loathe -- trailing -- forcing them out of their conservative comfort level.

In the other locker room, Burns sent the opposite message by inserting Richard Smehlik in the lineup in place of Ken Daneyko, who was out with a rib injury. Without the extenuating circumstances of an injury, the decision to sit a veteran like Daneyko would be curious, at best.

Making even a seemingly innocuous lineup change can send a message to both teams. And as subtle as this lineup change was, Burns gave the sense throughout the game that while it would be nice to sweep, it isn't crucial.

There was a different tone set with Daneyko out of the lineup, replaced by the less physical Smehlik. When things are going well you don't want to see any kind of change. Teams just want to stay in the moment and stick with old-school convention that you don't change the lineup when things are going your way.

New Jersey may prove it to be true that a sweep wasn't needed, but you can't help but wonder if the streaky, chameleon-like Bruins didn't figure a few things out in this one. Like how to beat goaltender Martin Brodeur. Like what engaging the defensemen on the rush means in creating holes in the Devils' defensive posture. Meanwhile, the Devils figured something out as well -- a lineup with a healthy, rugged Daneyko works best.

Three Stars

First Star: Defenseman Dan McGillis scored two goals in the second period by moving from defense to offense.

Second Star: Brian Rolston, as usual, was in the mix when good things were happening for the Bruins.

Third Star: Martin Lapointe scored a goal and played nasty, setting a snarly example early.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com. Eliot will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason and is also broadcasting games for NHL Radio.

 

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