The Montreal Canadiens – Boston Bruins rivalry is one of the most bitter in all of professional sports.  That has sometimes led to fireworks on and off the ice.  Bruins forward Milan Lucic has even gone on the record with his hatred for the Habs.

While being no less passionate about the Canadiens, we at All Habs have maintained professional relationships with bloggers covering the Bruins.  One of our favourites, CJ Shepard has written articles which have appeared on these pages before.

To celebrate the rivalry in a positive way, we are encouraging All Habs readers to participate in a challenge from Bruins fans, wagering on the outcome of the Canadiens-Bruins quarterfinal playoff series.  Shepard and Michael Kuyaz of the All Habs crew are the first two entrants.  When the Canadiens win the series, Bruins fans will be donating their pledges to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation.

Read CJ’s piece which details the plan.  Then show how confident you are in a Canadiens victory by using the comment section below to make your pledge.  It can be for any amount.  Please tell your friends!

by CJ Shepard, Special to AllHabs.net

So here it is…hockey fans…in the glory days of the Original 6 this would have been a Stanley Cup match-up for the ages.  In fact Bruins vs. Canadiens have played more playoff games against each other than any other NHL rivalry. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt, and given the fact the Bruins and Canadiens have turned up the heat in their regular season clashes as well, the 2011 playoffs are certain to start with a bang!

Before the last regular season game I tweeted a quiet wager to All Habs’ Michael Kuyaz and since I was at the game, and it was pretty hectic, we didn’t catch-up until after the game had begun, so we tabled things until the playoffs. My idea was a chance for fans on both sides of the rivalry to “put their money where their mouth is” and since there is plenty of talking on both sides, it has the potential to be a great way to raise funds for charity. He and the crew at All Habs jumped at the idea, and our team’s obliged, giving us the match-up of the NHL’s greatest playoff rivals! Full marks to the crew at All Habs, not only did they accept my challenge, but are guaranteed to make it fun, and full of good ole fashioned trash talk too!

So this is how it’s going to go…Bruins fans wager on their team, Habs fans wager on their team, small, large…doesn’t matter. The team which fails to advance will have their fans’ wagers donated to the winner’s charitable foundation.

If (when, haha) the Bruins win, Habs fans will make their donation to the Boston Bruins Foundation, http://bruins.nhl.com/club/microhome.htm?location=/foundation which distributes grants and makes significant contributions to numerous charities throughout The Commonwealth.  Should the world come to an end and the Habs advance (heaven help my sanity), Bruins fans will be making their donation to the Montreal Canadiens Children Foundation  http://foundation.canadiens.com/en/ which supports children in need across the province of Quebec.

Both incredibly worthy organizations, reflective of the passion and deep love the fans of both the Bruins and Habs possess for their beloved teams.

Habs fans can make their wagers at AllHabs.net and Bruins fans can make their wagers at viewFromMySeats.com and talk to your friends, engage your foes, but do it in a way that shows the hockey community there are fans who can support their team proudly, while enjoying the good natured ribbing which is essential to all heated rivalries.  We are fortunate, and should never forget we are all fans of the greatest game on earth!

This is a  perfect opportunity to work together, to wear our colors proudly, and help those in need.  I believe hockey fans are the most generous sport fans in all the world. If every Bruins and Habs fan wagered a dollar, imagine the great work which could be done in our communities. Step up and be a part of a historic and symbolic effort that reflects the love of our teams, their impact on our lives, and their positive contribution to our communities.

I bleed Black and Gold, and I’m putting my money where my heart is, so I am making $100 on behalf of my Bruins!! Who’s with me?? The Bruins swept the Habs in the first round of the 2009 playoffs, and from my seats in the balcony I got to serenade Carey Price with Caaaaaaaarrrrreeeeyyyy, Caaaaarreeeeeeyyyyy…..what does this year’s series have in store??

One thing is for certain, thanks to loyal and generous fans, History Will Be Made!

To read more about what led to this challenge: Fans Unite to Drive Hate out of Rivalries