Sportsnet (Pierre LeBrun):
No. 1 Montreal vs. No. 8 Boston — The Bruins are already hearing how they have no chance after Montreal won all eight season-series meetings. They’re used to hearing that.
“Hey, most people picked us to be last in the conference before the season,” Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told me over the weekend.
If the Bruins are going to succeed, they must somehow capitalize on Montreal’s playoff inexperience and steal Game 1 to see how the Habs respond. Especially rookie goalie Carey Price.
But short of a mental letdown, all the numbers indicate a Habs series win. The scariest matchup is Montreal’s NHL-leading power play stacked up against Boston’s 28th-ranked penalty killing. If the Bruins don’t stay out of the box, this could be a short one.Prediction — Habs in five.
