Round One: Montreal @ Boston

Lots of elbows flying last night... some good hockey! Ha ha!

From Ray Slover at Sporting News today:

Stanley Cup notebook: April 16, 2009

Can we call one period of the first game of a playoff series critical?

That's what the third period became for the Boston Bruins against their old rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bruins' fast start in Game 1 was gone after 40 minutes, and the game was 2-2. But the Bruins stayed calm, reclaimed territorial advantage and took the lead with Zdeno Chara's power-play goal.

The Bruins' physical play is key to grinding down the Canadiens. And they'll keep pounding away.

By the way, nice scrum at game's end. The NHL doesn't want such "messages" delivered, but it'll have to get bigger pockets to hold all the fine money it will get from dustups like that. …

Give props to Mathieu Schneider for playing through a bum shoulder. With Andrei Markov out of action, Schneider is the key to success for the Habs' power play. Without him, the Canadiens are back to square one and unable to generate plays from the point.

Wondering out loud here, but why not dress seven defensemen? It's hard to argue with Bob Gainey, but the Habs have eight defensemen on their playoff roster. OK, so Ryan O'Byrne and Yannick Weber aren't ready for prime time. But having one of them dress would lessen concerns about Schneider.

Heard Pierre McGuire this morning, and I agree completely with him. Montreal MUST win game 2, or they are cooked. Give Boston serious momentum, and they will roll.

Yeah, if Boston goes up 2-0 and has a convincing win tomorrow night... it's all over.

shabbs wrote:Yeah, if Boston goes up 2-0 and has a convincing win tomorrow night... it's all over.

Agreed...from the looks of the game last night, Boston in five now looks likely.

Chara is amazing.

shabbs wrote:Yeah, if Boston goes up 2-0 and has a convincing win tomorrow night... it's all over.

I'm sorry, but as much as I once liked Laraque, he's just about useless now, not to mention Lapierre is proving once again why he's such a p*ick!

He's pretty useless but didn't cost his team last night. He tired hard to get at Chara, but that's nearly impossible.

Very good point Shabbs (as always), and I'm sure and aware that at one time, Laraque and the other pugilists did indeed serve a much-needed purpose; but it must truly suck to be a one-dimensional player and see that your glory days and general need has passed thee by.

it's nice to see Bob Cole's man crush on Jesus Price is gone....

my God is that old man annoying or what?

Price was excellent - and y'all know how much I hate that little Wing Dang Doodle.

He'll have to continue like that for the Habs to have a chance.

Agreed Heater. Price didn't look too bad last night. Can he keep up the hard work and stay vigilant? Time will tell, and same thing for Thomas.

I'm also wondering if Kovalev will step up or do his usual playoff shuffle?

Oh, and am I the only one who would like to see Chara shut up Laraque for a while?

I can't wait for the next game, and see if any of Lapierre's pathetic antics and all the scrums boils over... WOO HOO!!!

Lucic will have his targets next game, and maybe they will dress Bitz for the game, he's another bruiser, Montreal might be regretting starting this crap with Boston, they are equal to the challenge, and after Laracque, there is very little toughness.

Yup, Montreal might have gotten into a fight they cannot possibly win, and I hope they all get shi t kicked to the point that they give up in every other aspect too.

Ive never wanted to see a team lose more than the Sens are not playing!

Neely4Life wrote:Yup, Montreal might have gotten into a fight they cannot possibly win, and I hope they all get shi t kicked to the point that they give up in every other aspect too.

Ive never wanted to see a team lose more than the Sens are not playing!

I am with you on this one Neely, I don't even hate Toronto that much, not around my wife that is anyway

Neely4Life wrote:Yup, Montreal might have gotten into a fight they cannot possibly win, and I hope they all get shi t kicked to the point that they give up in every other aspect too.

Ive never wanted to see a team lose more than the Sens are not playing!

Ah thank god... I thought I was the only one with a borderline seething hatred for the Habs, or more specifically their pathetic fans, at least the chanting ones!

The hatred runs deep... heh heh.

could all be a Gainey-inspired ploy to get them off their game. Get their blood a boilin' a little. Montreal is a small yet quick team. If Boston goes looking for fight, Montreal might capitalize.

Seriously, what's wrong with passionate fans?

Habs Fans= Oil
Sens Fans= water.

Simple equation really.