For those of you lucky enough to own the Center Ice package and you're not sure which of the TWELVE games to watch tonight, The Bruins / Canadiens rivalry might be worth watching, or tiling while you watch your favorite team. Not only is this a rivalry dating back to the stone age, but the stakes are notably high in this one.
Tonight would be a great night for the Montreal Canadians to blast the song "Lay It On The Line" by Triumph in the locker room. As if this rivalry needed any more fuel to get these two teams to hate eachother, Boston and Montreal are neck and neck in the standings - 7th and 8th place. Boston has 3 games in hand right now so the pressure is on the Habs to make this game count.
We're coming down the stretch and this old Original 6 rivalry is just the game that the Bruins wanted to try to get them off the break and back into the NHL spirit.
Bruins coach Claude Julien dusted off the microphone from the Olympic break and bright eyed said, "This is a good opponent for us coming down the stretch. We realize the importance of having a good finish if we're going to make the playoffs."
Montreal will have Pouliot and Kastitsyn back from injuries and should give the Habs a bit more flexability to their chemistry. This could also get the Habs starting on a much needed "right foot" with all of their puzzle pieces back together again. Although The Habs will be facing a team that has been struggling offensively they have to tighten the blue line. Boston has yet to figure out its firing power but when they do, they're deadly. Habs defencemen Bergeron and Mara have the two worst plus / minus stats on the team - unacceptable for guys that have to stop the rush. Montreal has to play deseperation hockey but stay out of the penalty box and be wary of the impressive break-out game the Bruins can demonstrate on a cheesecloth defense.
If Boston Goaltender Tuukka Rask can hold the rush of the Habs first two lines and a quick Bruin transition to forecheck and fold tight I will give this game to Bruins.
Players to watch:
MONTREAL: 27 year old center Tomas Plekanec for the Habs. He has 17 goals and 43 assists but hasn't tallied a single point in 2 games. He'll be looking to change that tonight.
BOSTON: 24 year old center Patrice Bergeron. He and also center Marc Savard play a very open style game with crafty stickhandling.
Tonight would be a great night for the Montreal Canadians to blast the song "Lay It On The Line" by Triumph in the locker room. As if this rivalry needed any more fuel to get these two teams to hate eachother, Boston and Montreal are neck and neck in the standings - 7th and 8th place. Boston has 3 games in hand right now so the pressure is on the Habs to make this game count.
We're coming down the stretch and this old Original 6 rivalry is just the game that the Bruins wanted to try to get them off the break and back into the NHL spirit.
Bruins coach Claude Julien dusted off the microphone from the Olympic break and bright eyed said, "This is a good opponent for us coming down the stretch. We realize the importance of having a good finish if we're going to make the playoffs."
Montreal will have Pouliot and Kastitsyn back from injuries and should give the Habs a bit more flexability to their chemistry. This could also get the Habs starting on a much needed "right foot" with all of their puzzle pieces back together again. Although The Habs will be facing a team that has been struggling offensively they have to tighten the blue line. Boston has yet to figure out its firing power but when they do, they're deadly. Habs defencemen Bergeron and Mara have the two worst plus / minus stats on the team - unacceptable for guys that have to stop the rush. Montreal has to play deseperation hockey but stay out of the penalty box and be wary of the impressive break-out game the Bruins can demonstrate on a cheesecloth defense.
If Boston Goaltender Tuukka Rask can hold the rush of the Habs first two lines and a quick Bruin transition to forecheck and fold tight I will give this game to Bruins.
Players to watch:
MONTREAL: 27 year old center Tomas Plekanec for the Habs. He has 17 goals and 43 assists but hasn't tallied a single point in 2 games. He'll be looking to change that tonight.
BOSTON: 24 year old center Patrice Bergeron. He and also center Marc Savard play a very open style game with crafty stickhandling.
