2011 NHL Playoffs: Big, Bad Boston Bruins Square off Against Montreal Canadiens

The Boston Bruins have "been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise. They are also an Original Six team, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.

Boston currently has the second highest total of Stanley Cup championships won by an American team at five, with the Detroit Red Wings winning 11. Their home arena is the TD Garden, where they have played since 1995 after leaving the Boston Garden (which had been their home since 1928)." - Wikipedia.com

It has been many years since the last Stanley Cup victory by the Bruins. They have not won a Cup since the 1971-1972 season. That makes almost 40 years since they have gotten to kiss the Stanley Cup. Boston fans have remained loyal to their team throughout this slump and have seen some exciting hockey played in the past 40 years. The Bruins have been no stranger to the playoffs, but they can just never seem to make it over the hump and win it all.

In recent years, the Bruins and their Captain Zdeno Chara have been accused of being too soft. Their focus on playing defense at times seems to distract them from playing hard, aggressive, offensive hockey. However, all that chatter came to an end one cold night in Boston, Massachusetts.

On February 9, 2011 there were a slew of brawls that broke out between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. There were approximately 13 fights in total. Even the goaltenders Tim Thomas and Carey Price threw down for a brief wrestling bout. Players from both sides combined to receive 192 penalty minutes.

When Claude Julien was asked what was going on he said, "I guess it's the intensity of the rivalry has taken over right now." In recent weeks leading up to this game, Bruins players had been seen arguing in practice and showing their frustrations as they had been playing inconsistent hockey. These annoyances, coupled with the fire of this long standing rivalry, pushed the B's past their boiling point on this night and it showed.

Must Read: Boston Bruins: Cam Neely Helps B's Find Consistency

With this 8-6 victory and mauling of the Canadiens, Bruins fans have begun making comparisons between this year's team and the Big Bad Bruins of the 1970s that featured Terry O'Reilly, Stan Jonathan and John Wensink beating the living piss out of anyone and everyone! After watching footage from this game, how could you not draw comparisons?

Not only did a rival fall in defeat on that chaotic day, but they were humiliated in the process. The Canadiens squared off with the Bruins again for round two on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. This game, like the first meeting also had some "fireworks". That Tuesday night Bruins-Habs game took a scary turn late in the second period when Max Pacioretty was carried off on a stretcher after taking a hit from Zdeno Chara. Looking at the replay it does not seem as though Chara's hit was completed with intent on hurting Pacioretty.

After being checked by Chara, Pac's momentum lead his head to slam into the turn buckle that caused his concussion and caused him to be taken off on a stretcher. The Habs did get the win this time around defeating the Bruins by a score of 4 - 1.

No team can win all the games but now that the B's are up to their old tricks and seem committed to leaving it all on the ice, it is an exciting time to be a Bruin fan. That single game back in February gave every Bruin fan hope...hope that when they go to a Bruins game moving forward, they will never feel like they are watching a soft squad or a team that doesn't apply itself. Now fans can look forward to watching a team that fights to the finish and gives 110 percent the entire game.

The Bruins square off against the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the NHL playoffs starting Thursday, April 14th. This series promises to be an exciting one. Now people have faith that this team, this year, could win it all and restore the Bruins to their glory days. This year is different. This year, all that was Boston, is no longer. It is all thanks to the 2011 Boston Bruins and their Big, Bad Bruin attitude!