The Playoffs Begin.

You knew that it would come down to a showdown with Canadiens, you simply knew that this was the way that this season would play out. Frankly, the way that the B’s played in the last 10 days of the regular season, I’m not overly optimistic regarding their chances to get out of the opening round. Teams need to be at or near peak performance come playoff time and the B’s unimpressively coasted in the final few games. It’s not like flipping a switch to turn on the high voltage; a team needs to be already there. Montréal is a faster and more skilled team than the B’s and won four out of the six meetings with Boston this year. The only way the B’s get through Montréal is by out-hitting and out-hustling them. That might work for a game or two in Boston but they’ve already shown that their style doesn’t translate well at Centre Bell.

Game 1 ECQF v. Montréal (4/14/11):

As expected, Tim Thomas faced Carey Price in goal. Canadiens scored at 2:45 as Gionta picked a turnover in the B’s end and scored. It was Kaberle’s blind pass from behind the B’s net that Gionta luckily grabbed and fired a wrist shot over Thomas’ shoulder. That was not the start the B’s were looking for. Five minutes in, the Habs were using their speed advantage as Tomas Plekanec put a tricky shot on Thomas. Hamrilk went off for interference at 7:07 giving the B’s a crack on the power play. Marchand had a backhanded attempt that Price knocked aside but that was the only chance on the power play. Kaberle went to the box at 13:52 and PK Subban fired a blast from the point that Thomas scrambled to cover but the penalty kill unit did a good job of limiting the Habs’ attack to the perimeter. Late in the period, Marchand had another great chance that Price kicked away. Krejci went off for tripping Subban at 18:49. White then wrestled down Ference near the boards with 18 seconds left. Habs had the better of things in that period.

The B’s had an abbreviated power play a minute into the second and put three shots on Price that were turned aside. Shawn Thornton then broke in alone on a feed from Campbell but Price stoned him. Spacek went off for interference at 6:35 but the power play fizzled. After the power play expired, the B’s had their best sustained pressure of the game, but Price stood tall and made several big stops. Midway through the period, Canadiens came back and put a couple of shots on Thomas from in close. Marchand then broke in alone but his shot went high left. In the final minute, the B’s crashed the net and put a series of shots on Price, but Marchand was sent off for interference. Despite the late penalty, the B’s seriously picked up their play in that period.

The B’s killed off the power play to open the third. Canadiens clamped down right off the bat and did a good job of shutting down the B’s attack. Midway through the period, the B’s crashed the net and Lucic put a tricky shot on Price. With about six minutes to go, Peverley swung out from behind the net with the puck and shot, but the puck went across the crease. Habs scored at 16:42 as Gomez picked up a turnover buy Lucic in the B’s end, passed to Gionta, who fired a bomb that deflected off of Thomas and into the net. Chara then went off for roughing at 17:18, and that killed any chance the B’s may have had of getting back in the game. Thomas was pulled with 30 seconds remaining but it was way too late and Canadiens won, 2-0.

…after the lackluster effort in Game 1, the yahoos came out of the woodwork in force in a rage against the coach and the team. The B’s may have had a considerable advantage in shots on goal, but how many real chances did they have? Two? Three? Most of their shots were easily picked by Price and the team’s fans were considerably disheartened by such a pedestrian performance.

Game 2 ECQF v. Montréal (4/16/11):

The big news prior to Game 2 was that Zdeno Chara would sit out this game as he has been dealing with dehydration issues. Big Z is a physical workout freak and for him to be out of the lineup it has to be serious. He attempted to play after being hospitalized last night, but after the pregame skate, it was a no-go. So, the B’s (already disadvantaged) now have to play without their best defender and physical presence. The tone was set early on as Horton bumped into Gill after the whistle blew. Canadiens scored at 43 seconds as Cammallieri picked the rebound of a loose puck directly out in front of the net and stuffed the puck past Thomas. The B’s then crashed the net and Marchand made a couple of hacks at the puck. Seidenberg went off for interference at 2:14 after he plastered Pouliot into the boards behind the net. Habs then scored at 2:20 as, right off the faceoff, Cammallieri fed Darche, who was wide open and buried the puck. After the second goal, the B’s woke up and were following through on their checks and generating pressure in Canadiens’ end. A rumble behind the Habs’ net ensued after Horton was knocked down after firing a shot on Price. Hamrilk went off for roughing at 10:09, and Subban was caught grabbing onto Krejci’s stick, but it was Horton who was sent off for roughing. Late in the period, Marchand had a decent chance that was blocked by Price but Canadiens continued to frustrate virtually every advance by the B’s. Gill was sent off for cross-checking at 19:27 but the power play had only one shot. Despite being down 2-0, the B’s outworked and out hustled Canadiens.

Habs killed off the power play to open the second. Five minutes in, Lucic caught Subban with a high stick, and Habs went back on the power play. Just as the power play expired, Plekanec broke in alone and had a chance, but Thomas steered the puck aside. At 7:38, the B’s finally scored as Bergeron drove to the net and took a pass from Marchand and banged it home. Thomas then made a nice pad save on Moen’s attempt from in close. Ryder then fired a high shot that Price. The B’s then pressed hard in Montréal’s end and had a couple of chances that Price stopped. Desharnais then put a tricky chance on Thomas from a sharp angle that Thomas scrambled to cover. Shane Hnidy and Wisniewski then had a go after Wisniewski checked Peverley into the boards from behind, and the B’s ended up on the power play. Horton then unloaded on Subban before putting a shot on Price from close range. Yannick Weber scored at 17:21 on a rebound of Eller’s shot from the point to put Canadiens ahead, 3-1. Thomas made the initial stop but left a long rebound hanging out there and Weber pounced on it like low-hanging fruit. Marchand then crashed the net after a shot hit the post and was sent flying. In the final minute, the B’s threw everything they could muster at Price to no avail.

The B’s came out in the third skating in a wide open style looking to score. Subban tripped Paille at 3:20 giving the power play another chance. But they only had two shots as Canadiens’ PK unit did a good job keeping the puck away from Price. Late in the game, Bergeron had a wraparound attempt that Price knocked away as the B’s put forth their best sustained pressure of the period. Thomas was pulled with 1:30 left as the B’s furiously pressed to score but, this was again the Canadiens’ night. Curiously, the third period was the B’s least effective.

Game 3 ECQF at Montréal (4/18/11):

The B’s are historically 0-26 when trailing 0-2 in a series. If they fail tonight, their goose is cooked. There have been voices raised in certain quarters regarding the captain’s “toughness” after he sat out Game 2 after having been hospitalized with dehydration and other symptoms. Those media types (who do not follow the fortunes of the team on a daily basis) are way out of line. If there’s one guy who gives it his all every time he steps on the ice, it’s Big Z. If the media wants to take pot shots at the forwards who have underperformed in the first two games, or the coach, who is seemingly unable to formulate a game plan to counter Canadiens’ speed and skill, that’s fair game. Going into this series, the B’s understood that they needed to dominate the physical game and count on Tim Thomas to provide lights out goaltending. So far, they’ve gotten neither. In reviewing all five goals by Canadiens, it appears as if the defensive positioning by the Bruins has been awful, and every rebound that Thomas allowed wound up in the back of the net. With rare exceptions, the offensive attack has remained on the perimeter and they’ve been repeatedly beaten to the puck by the more opportunistic Canadiens’ players.

Chara was out there for the opening faceoff as the very loud and intimidating Centre Bell crowd waved white towels in support of the home team. The B’s were almost immediately called for too many men on the ice, dredging up some very, very bad memories. Two minutes in, Habs had yet to score (though they had a decided edge in play). Krejci scored at 3:11 on a bang-bang pass from Bergeron directly out in front of Price. On Habs’ next advance, Thomas left another juicy rebound out there for the taking. A few minutes later, Campbell hacked at the puck in front of Price to no avail. Canadiens had another power play as Krejci went off for hooking at 7:27. Wisniewski took an inadvertent high stick in the mouth from Chara at 8:16 but no penalty was called. After the B’s killed off the penalty, Kostitsyn crashed the net but Thomas stood him up. On the B’s ensuing rush, Chris Kelly was sent sprawling into the Habs’ net and Gomez was sent off at 11:21. Bergeron was called for interference at 12:12, killing off that brief power play chance. B’s scored at 14:38 as Horton banked a shot from behind the net off Price and into the net. A video review of the goal revealed that the puck completely crossed the line. Hamrlik laid out Peverley at the blue line. With 1:30 left, Bergeron had a great chance but his shot went high. Subban then sent Lucic ass-over-tea kettle in front of the net. With three seconds left, Ference and Pouliot had a lively go after Pouliot elbowed Boychuk in the face up against the boards, with Pouliot getting an extra penalty. The B’s definitely came to play in that period.

Could the B’s sustain the effort in the second period? Just as the power play expired, Peverley scored at 2:02 as Price turned the puck over while making a pass from behind the net and Peverley pounced on the loose puck and fired it home. Canadiens were then called for too many men at 3:04 and the B’s went back on the power play. After the power play expired, Lucic broke in alone but Price made a sparkling kick save. Canadiens then scored at 7:03 as Kostitsyn knocked in a shot that trickled through Thomas’ pads. After the goal, Habs found their skating legs and the B’s were chasin’. The B’s defense continued their habit of leaving Thomas’ stick side unattended. In the first two games, that was a recipe for disaster. The B’s were able to regain the momentum and Horton nearly tipped in a pass from Lucic. Recchi was called for holding at 17:55, setting up a crucial power play for Canadiens. Other than an initial flurry in front of Thomas, Canadiens weren’t able to move the puck well.

In the opening minute of the third, Canadiens came out at full throttle and put a couple of shots on Thomas that were turned aside. They continued to use their speed to press the play in the B’s end and Plekanec scored at 4:08 when he put the puck directly through Thomas’ five-hole from the right circle. That’s two soft goals tonight. Kostitsyn then went off for slashing Ference at 4:44, but the B’s power play (next to useless in this series) floundered again. Canadiens resumed their onslaught in front of Thomas as the B’s defense appeared to be in chaos. Thomas let another long rebound loose but Ference scrambled to knock it away. The B’s then had a 3-on-1 break but Horton’s shot went wide. Canadiens went with a “go for broke” approach, leaving them susceptible defensively. Boychuk then unloaded a bomb that Price stopped. In the final three minutes the action was furious in front of Thomas, as Habs crashed the net in a desperate attempt to score the tying goal. Kostitsyn fired a shot off the faceoff that Thomas stopped, as the B’s tried to move the puck out of their end of the rink. Price was pulled with a minute left and Chris Kelly buried an empty netter with 25 seconds remaining to seal the deal for the Bruins. It wasn’t a vintage night for Thomas, but a playoff win in Montréal is always something pretty sweet.

Game 4 ECQF at Montréal (4/21/11):

The B’s elected to train in Lake Placid on the days between Games 3 and 4, which probably made a lot of sense given the intense media scrutiny in Montréal. Given Coach Martin’s comments after Game 3, the B’s needed to prepare for Canadiens to come out at a higher than normal level of intensity.

After a few minutes of tentative play, Canadiens scored at 8:13 when Brent Sopel fired a shot from the top of the right circle that squeaked through Thomas’ pads. The goal was set up by Desharnais’ hard work digging after the puck behind the net and getting the puck back to Sopel. With the goal in hand, Canadiens attacked Thomas with a vengeance and the B’s were doing everything within their power just to clear the puck out of their zone. The B’s were fortunate to have escaped that period down by only a goal.

Thomas left another fat rebound for the picking in the first 30 seconds but no Canadien was nearby. Ryder tied the score at 2:13 when he broke in alone on right wing and fired a high shot that whistled past Price. It was the best breakout of the game (on a rare Canadiens’ defensive lapse) for the B’s and Ryder capitalized. Canadiens continued that hard shot from the right circle and Thomas continued to kick the rebound to the left. The B’s could not keep up with the Habs’ speed and were not hitting nearly enough. Habs went ahead at 6:52 as Cammallieri banked a shot into an open right corner on a pass from Gomez. Kosistyn scored at 7:47 when he broke in and tipped in Plekanec’s shot, simply disgusting. Ference made it 3-2 at 9:59 on a blast from the blue line as Price was screened on the play. There was little, if any, organization in the B’s advances and defensively, they were chasing. Bergeron tied the score at 17:04 when he waited out in front of the net and tipped in Marchand’s shot from the right post. The goal came at a time when the B’s had their best sustained pressure of the game, keeping the puck in the Habs’ end for nearly a minute.

Bergeron was sent off for hooking at 32 seconds and Canadiens immediately capitalized as Subban fired a shot from the point that went high right and past Thomas. About seven minutes in, the B’s crashed the net and had several hacks at the puck but couldn’t push it across. There ensued a small scrum up against the boards with Marchand and Halpern exchanging words and shoves, though nothing materialized. Krejci followed up with a backhanded attempt that Price kicked away at the last second. Cammallieri then broke in alone with the puck but Thomas came out of his crease to knock the puck away. Chris Kelly came back to tie the score at 13:42 as he bounced in a pass from Ryder while standing in front of the net. A couple of minutes later, Kelly crashed the net again and had a chance that Price turned aside. Seidenberg was then sent off for interfering with Plekanec at 17:41, a typical Montreal call if ever there was. The PK unit did a great job of keeping the puck away from Thomas and it was on to overtime.

The B’s are historically 43-62 in playoff overtimes and were 3-11 in OT during the regular season while Canadiens were 8-8. GOAL!!! Ryder scored at 1:59 on a pass from Kelly! The play started as Peverley fired a shot into the right corner. Kelly picked the rebound in the corner and passed across to Ryder who was unattended at the left post and fired the puck past Price. The series is now tied two apiece as the teams head back to Boston for Game 5 on Saturday night.

Game 5 ECQF v. Montréal (4/23/11):

The series returned to the Garden with the B’s looking to take a 3-2 lead. Most observers thought that Canadiens would bring their ‘A’ game to bear, looking to use their speed and skill advantage. The B’s needed to counter with a physical presence and to play smarter than they have in the previous four games.

Canadiens came out on the attack right from the opening faceoff and put a couple of shots on Thomas in the opening minute. The B’s first line responded by putting three easy shots on Price. Recchi then had a point blank chance that was thwarted by Price as the offense was effectively hitting and forechecking. Bergeron then had a golden chance that Price kicked away at the last second. The B’s showed signs of intensity, then would lapse into indifferent play. Ference went off for holding at 14:16 and the PK unit did a very good job of keeping the Habs away from the offensive zone. Desharnais was then sent off for interference, giving the B’s an abbreviated power play. Lucic broke in alone and had a decent chance but fired the puck into Price’s pads. Kaberle’s one-timer from the point then tested Price, but on the play, Peverley went off for interfering with the goaltender. The B’s killed off that power play as well, but really weren’t hitting on all cylinders in that period.

The B’s came out with a greater measure of intensity to open the second period and Marchand fed Bergeron with a pass at the near post that was denied. Moen went off for holding at 1:53 but the power play (now 0/14 in this series) was abysmal. The B’s attack actually improved at even strength as they crashed the net and put a couple of shots on Price. Late in the period, Marchand had a great chance to score but was unable to tuck the puck into the near side as Price hugged the post. Marchand and Plekanec then had a tussle in front of the net and both were sent off for roughing. Other than the power play, the B’s played much better in the second and were doing all the little things well.

The teams opened the third on a 4-on-4 and the action was furious in the opning minute. Marchand, just out of the box, crashed the net again and stirred up trouble in front of Price. Marchand then scored at 4:33 as Bergeron tried to score but his stick broke and the puck went across to Marchand, who had a wide open right corner and fired it home. Cammallieri came back and fired a tricky shot, and Kostitsyn followed up with a shot on the rebound. Canadiens went into full desperation mode following the goal. Marchand then had another great chance on a feed from Bergeron but Price made a quick save. Canadiens then countered and Kostitsyn crashed the net but Thomas came up big. Habs scored at 13:56 as Halpern picked a loose puck directly out in front of Thomas and fired it home. Give Canadiens credit (grudgingly) but they never stopped attacking after being down and used their speed advantage to tie the score. The final few minutes of the period were about as intense as playoff hockey gets as both teams had opportunities to score, but for the second straight game, it was on to overtime.

Most Bruins’ fans awaited the overtime with knots in their stomachs as Canadiens definitely had the momentum as the horn sounded. For some of us old-timers, memories of Jean Béliveau’s overtime goal in the ’69 Eastern Finals comes to mind. The B’s came out tentative in the opening moments of overtime but Lucic did have an early chance that Price steered aside. Gionta followed with a rising blast and Thomas made a nice glove save. Marchand nearly scored when Price lost sight of the puck in the crease but fell over to smother it; that was close. Midway through the period, Wisniewski unloaded a bomb from the point through a crowd that Thomas picked. Plekanec then had a great chance in front of the net but Bergeron came back to block the shot. In the later stages of the period, Kelly was dumped in front of the net while waiting for a pass. Subban then came back and fired a shot from the blue line that Thomas smothered. Bergeron then had a great break from in close but he was tripped and the B’s went on the power play. It was a smart gamble by Canadiens as the power play was disorganized and couldn’t do much. It was on to the second overtime.

By this time it was nearing 11:00 and both teams had to be exhausted. Canadiens made a push in the first minute as Eller fired a shot on Thomas from the left circle. A couple of minutes later, Boychuk fired a shot from the blue line that Price smothered. Halpern then nearly tipped in Hamrlik’s shot from between the circles. Habs then broke in on a 2-on-1 as Moen fed Gionta and Thomas made a sparkling save. GOAL!!! Nathan Horton!!! The B’s cycled the puck in front of Price and Krejci fired a shot that was kicked out to the right. Horton was waiting at the near post, pounced on the rebound and banged it home! They will be talking about this game for a long time to come.

Game 6 ECQF at Montréal (4/26/11):

Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.
"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae

The series shifted back to Centre Bell for Game Six. There was no stating the obvious as everyone knew what was at stake and both teams prepared to do what was necessary to win. Tonight, Yvon Cournoyer skated with the torch around the ice. There is no organization in sport that does a pregame better than Le Club de Hockey Canadien. For the anthems, a brass orchestra from the Symphony did the honors, and they were great.

Thomas v. Price, Round VI:

The B’s came out a little slow to the attack in the opening minutes as the only real chance came from Krejci, but the puck got caught in his skates. Habs appeared to have scored at 3:27, but the ref blew the whistle before Gomez jammed the puck past Thomas. The fans littered the ice with garbage and loudly booed the call. Peverley took a savage face-first jolt off the glass by Mara and was momentarily stunned. Other than the goal that wasn’t, the B’s had the edge in play over the first nine-plus minutes. Plekanec nearly scored as his backhand at the near post was covered just in time by Thomas. The B’s were called for too many men at 8:54 (shades of ’79) and four seconds later, Seidenberg was sent off, giving Habs a golden opportunity to go ahead. And they did just that at 10:07, as Cammallieri fired a slap shot home from the right circle. The B’s killed off the other power play, but it’s hard to compete when the referees gift wrap the Canadiens a goal. The B’s continued to grind away but just couldn’t make it past the perimeter. Thomas then came back with a big stop, Kostitsyn went off for hooking at 19:39, but the power play didn’t last long as Bergeron was called for goaltender interference, as the referees needed to give the Habs every conceivable opportunity to win this game (we’ve seen this movie so many times before).

The B’s scored at 48 seconds if the second as Seidenberg hustled behind the Habs’ net and tucked the puck past Price on a wraparound. Bergeron followed up with a dead-bang shot that Price snared with a quick glove save. At 4:37, Lucic planted Spacek into the boards with a heavy check and Spacek was injured. Lucic received a five-minute major for boarding and was ejected from the game. It was a hard check and it did not appear that Lucic’s skates left the ice. Spacek was unfortunately hurt, though it did not appear deliberately. Bergeron was then sent off for inadvertently shooting the puck over the glass. So, Habs had their second two-man advantage of the game, Gionta then scored at 5:48 as Habs crashed the net and he banged in a rebound of Subban’s shot. Thomas came back with a couple of ten-bell stops as Habs poured it on with the man advantage. The B’s PK unit did a good job as they withstood an onslaught of shots by Canadiens. Hamrlik went off for interference at 10:33 giving the (0/16 powerless) power play another crack but they were only able to muster a couple of long distance shots. The offense picked up after the power play and was able to put a couple of testing shots on Price. The “gang that couldn’t shoot straight” power play got another chance and couldn’t get out of their way, they couldn’t even put one shot on goal. Spack went off for hooking at 16:26 but just as the power play began it ended as Horton was called for slashing. On the 4-on-4, Gomez and Gionta broke in alone but Thomas was able to make the stop.

The B’s came out on the attack to open the third and had a definite advantage in play over the first five minutes. Midway through the period, the B’s seemed to lose their sense of urgency as they weren’t skating with intensity. The B’s were shorthanded again at 16:50 as Kelly went off for high sticking Moen. The PK unit crashed the net and nearly scored as Peverley broke in and passed to Krejci in front of the net but his jam attempt was foiled. Thomas was pulled with less than a minute to go but it was to no avail as Habs came away with the 2-1 win and forced a Game 7 (which you already knew was going to happen).

People can say whatever they’d like about the propriety of giving Canadiens two separate two-man advantages in this game. I’ve followed the B’s for almost 50 years and can’t recall that ever happening before, let alone in a crucial playoff game. The referees simply caved under the pressure of the Montreal crowd tonight, it’s hardly anything new. But the B’s played well enough to win this game but for the power play, the ineffectiveness of which has cost this team dearly. The B’s had chances tonight but utterly squandered their chances with the man advantage.

Game 7 ECQF v. Montréal (4/27/11):

One night later the teams were back at it for all the marbles. This was only the ninth time in NHL history that Games 6 and 7 were played on consecutive nights. Much was stated on the airwaves about what will occur if the B’s fail to win this game. You’d have to think that the first body to go down with the ship would be the coach. The GM? Maybe. But if they lose, it's apparent that they’ve gone as far as they could with this current cast of characters and some established players would be moved during the off-season.

Drop the puck, let’s go!

The B’s came out to thunderous applause from the Garden Faithful. It was Thomas v. Price, Round 7. Seidenberg ripped a shot from the point in the first minute that Price snared. Bergeron then fired a shot on Price from close range as the B’s were skating to the net. At 3:31, the B’s went ahead as Marchand fed Boychuk at the point and Boychuk fired a bomb from the point that Price never saw. After the goal, the B’s kept the pressure in the Habs’ end. The B’s went up 2-0 at 5:33 as Recchi fired a wrist shot from the high slot that whistled over Price’s right shoulder. Canadiens picked up their play after Recchi’s goal and went on the power play (4/23 in this series) at 8:32 as Ryder was sent off for hooking. Subban fired a low blast from the point that Thomas smothered. Habs then scored at 9:49 as Yannick Weber, streaking down right wing, fired a wrist shot from the right circle that went high left corner. Midway through the period it was clear that the only line that was making things happen out there was Recchi-Bergeron-Marchand. They were out-hustling and out-hitting the Habs at every turn while the other lines were unable to advance beyond the perimeter. Habs went on the power play again at 16:02 as Thornton was sent off for elbowing on a highly dubious call. Subban then took a dive and was utterly shocked that no call was forthcoming. The B’s had a late power play as Kostitsyn went off for high-sticking, but to no one’s amazement could do little, if anything other than Lucic’s tip-in attempt.

Gionta fired a point blank on Thomas in the opening minute of the second as Habs came out flying. Why is the coach rolling the 4th line against the Habs’ first? The 0/21 power play had another crack when Eller went off at 4:41 for cross-checking Chara. If there was ever a time to get untracked, boys… Plekanec scored on the shorthand as he broke in alone after Seidenberg turned over the puck on a blind pass intended for Recchi at center ice. Sometimes all it takes is one stupid mistake to change the complexion of a game. Just like last year’s Game 7 loss to Philly, the B’s blew a multi-goal lead. Marchand then tried to feed Bergeron at the right post but his pass was cleared away. Canadiens then adopted a patient approach, letting the B’s flounder about. The B’s came back with a couple of shots in the later stages of the period that Price scrambled to save. Boychuk was sent off for boarding Cammallieri at 18:12, giving Habs another chance on the power play. But the B’s PK unit held up for the balance of the period.

This period is a defining moment for the B’s. They came out like gangbusters (just like last year’s Game 7), got an early lead (just like last year’s Game 7), and let it slip away (just like last year’s Game 7). Through two periods, the alleged “leaders” of this team have shown precious little heart. In the first few minutes of the third, Recchi hit the post on a shot from directly out in front. Canadiens continued their patient approach while the B’s skated frantically but (other than Recchi’s shot) unable to advance the puck beyond the perimeter. Ryder then pounced on a loose puck in the crease but Price was able to recover and make the save. Midway through the period, Ference knocked Halpern down with a check and Halpern left the ice with help from the trainer. Cammallieri was wide open in front of the net but no one was able to get him the puck. Kelly then scored on a backhanded rebound of Ference’s shot at 9:44. On the play, Peverley broke into the Habs’ zone with the puck, passed back to Ference, who let one fly. Price left a fat rebound out there and Kelly capitalized. With half of a period yet to be played, the B’s needed to play smart but aggressively as well (no stupid penalties!!!). Marchand had a break-in alone but Pricecame up big with a blocker save. Thomas came back to make two quick stops off of Cammallieri. Price then came back to make an amazing stop off of a wrist shot by Recchi from the left circle. Incredibly, Bergeron was called for an inadvertent high stick on Wisniewski (who acted as if he was struck by an axe) at 17:23, giving the Habs power play a chance to tie at the end. Subban scored at 18:03 on a slap shot from the point, and it was back to square one. In the closing seconds, Ryder ripped a shot from the point and Peverley tried to pick the rebound but Price got there in time.

You knew it was going to end this way, you always knew it. The B’s entered a Game 7 overtime for only the fifth time in history. In the opening minute, Thomas was tested with a shot from in close in the first minute, and Moen followed up shortly thereafter with a backhanded attempt. Kostitsyn then tried to bank one in but Thomas hugged the post, as it was all Habsin the early going. Halpern then fired a shot on Thomas from the right circle. GOAL!!! BRUINS WIN!!! At 5:43, Nathan Horton fired a slap shot that went through Price’s pads. The play was set up by McQuaid digging in the corner for the puck. He was able to move the puck to Lucic at the wall on right wing. Lucic then saw Horton streaking toward the middle. Lucic made a perfect pass to Horton, who one-timed it home. What more can you say?

“Had ‘em all the way.” – Bob Prince