Killer B's Look For Revenge Against The Habs

It seems as though every time the Boston Bruins meet the Montreal Canadiens, it is surrounded by a playoff atmosphere. Perhaps it is the age old rivalry itself that ignites these players to go that extra mile and makes every clash between these Original Six teams one to remember.

Whatever the reason, whenever these two teams meet in the playoffs, the battles get grittier, the saves get bigger, the goals get better, and the term "blood, sweat and tears" becomes more literal than metaphorical.

This year, unlike the 2007, the Bruins decisively took the season series 5-0-1. Each game was hard fought and kept close with the exception of a a 6-1 blowout, which occurred at the beginning of a November which saw the Bruins drop only two games.

The Bruins were able to edge out the Habs the same way they were able to win most of their games this year, through solid goaltending, discipline and unbeatable hard work and determination.

The Bruins have made a name for themselves as the hardest working team in all of hockey, and if they are to advance past this first round for the first time in over a decade, they will have to be sure to keep that title.

The strong goaltending of Tim Thomas has to continue to be the backbone of this team, all year the Bruins have been able to keep scoring chances down by keeping shots from the outside.

And when they haven't been able to keep their opponents outside the perimeter, Thomas has been there to bail them out with his acrobatic style of play.

Though labeled "unorthodox," Thomas will have to better the one-time rookie sensation Carey Price, who has upped his game of late.

The B's will also have to keep it a five-on-five game where they have the best goals for to goals against ratio in the league. The Habs have a strong power play that could certainly steal a game if given the opportunity.

Not much can be said about the regular season advantages the Bruins have had over the Habs because, as was proven last year, the regular season becomes moot in the playoffs.

This series will come down to who wants it more, as it often does in playoff hockey. The Bruins big players will have to continue to come up big, and that will be the key to their success.

They are a much deeper team than the Habs, and that needs to be displayed in this first round.

One thing can be certain, this series will see two teams that don't like each other leave everything on the ice. The battle between the Bruins and the Habs is not to be missed.