The moment we've all been waiting for ladies and gentlemen. The biggest rivalry in hockey, the B's and Habs. The two teams will face off for the 33rd time in the playoffs. More than any two teams in any of the professional sports. The Habs have been on the victorious side 24 times. Think about that, in 24 seasons, the Canadiens have celebrated in the face of the Bruins as the B's buried their heads in their hands. This is a new year though.
Montreal has taken four out of six games from the rival Bruins this season.
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the B's swept the Canadiens in 2009. Don't expect this series to be as easy as the last.
Playoff hockey is unlike anything else. Every face-off matters, every save, every shift. It all means more.
The Bruins need to dominate the physical game. They are bigger and stronger. They need to assert themselves along the boards and in the forecheck. On the other hand, the Canadiens want to skate. They want to get out in transition and use their speed and offensive talent, which they have a lot of.
Much is being made about the "criminal charges" being brought on by Montreal Police on Bruins' Captain Zdeno Chara. Honestly, don't pay attention to this. This will not interfere with Chara bullying the smaller forwards of Montreal. He will play his game and put people on their wallets.
With new faces in the locker room, the Bruins are poised to make a deep playoff run this year. Mainstays such as Chara, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Mark Recchi, are ready to carry this team. Milan Lucic bounced back from and injury filled season in a thunderous way. Rookie Brad Marchand became our little spark-plug. He gets under the skin of every single person on the opposing team. Nathan Horton found his scoring touch again which is a tremendous sign for B's fans. Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton have provided a solid fourth unit, one of the best if not the best in the league. New-comers Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly provide solid forward depth that the B's desperately needed. I haven't even mentioned likely Vezena Trophy winner, Tim Thomas. Timmy has been a rock all season for the B's, having an even better season than he did in '09 when he won the Vezena Trophy.
With all that being said, it is still going to be a good series. It's never easy for either team when these two meet. I expect the black and gold to prevail and advance.
Bruins in 6.
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