Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins: Let the Rivalry Renew

The Montreal Canadiens just came off a convincing 5-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers and handed Goaltender Carey Price his 100th career win.  This was just their second win in nine games thus far in the season.

The Boston Bruins are struggling in a similar manner having just won three of their eight games.

The last time these two teams met was in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference playoffs in the very same building.

That game ended in a thriller, Forward Nathan Horton ending it with a rocket from the point to beat Price.  That road eventually led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup. Hard to believe that one goal was the start of a trip to destiny for the Black and Gold.

Now we hit the reset button and the thing is anew.

The Game

First Period

Pressure was on the Habs as the Bruins applied a lot of it.

All three penalties were on Montreal. The second one cost them.

Petteri Nokelainen was called for interference and the Bruins were on the power play. The faceoff was to Price's right side and Bergeron slipped but got stick on the puck. The puck beelined to Price's right skate and deflected in, giving the Bruins the opening 1-0 lead with just one second into the man advantage.

Second Period

The Habs had more jump in the second frame, grossly out shooting the Bruins 18-9. Out of all those shots, the Habs did muster a goal when Jaroslav Spacek fired a shot and Erik Cole redirected as Thomas was going from right to left. Game all knotted at one apiece.

Habs' PK Subban and Brad Marchand went toe to toe. Subban tried to go for the knock out punch but whiffed on the swing sending himself to the ice. It looked like Marchand might have gotten a poke or two more in, but PK seemed to have out muscled him being the much larger of the two.

Third Period

Tomas Plekanec put the Habs ahead with a rebound shot that beat Thomas and that was the deciding goal.  2-1 Habs final.

The Good

Bruins had a great start and they were really putting the screws to the Habs.

The Habs found their stride and made two opportunities count.

Both goalies played a great game, but Price played better.

The Bad

Bruins could not contain the Habs

Habs had a poor start and took undisciplined penalties that nearly cost them.

The Ugly

That goal by Bergeron.  Probably the most fluky goal I have seen.

The chances the Bruins had but could not capitalize on.

My Take

Both teams are struggling early in the season, there had to be a winner and a loser.  The Habs took this one because they cashed on on the opportunities and Price played a stellar game to keep his team in it for the win. You have to give credit where credit is due.

Round 1 goes to the Habs.  Round 2 will be Saturday, October 29th to complete the 'home and home' series.

This is Cory Ducey saying "Hit Hard But Keep It Clean"