Guest Post to All Habs Hockey Magazine
BOSTON, MA. — Gentlemen pick your corners! Hockey’s Hatfields and McCoys are at it again. This time coming together for an unprecedented 34th time in the postseason matchup between these two original six teams and it is poised to be a heartbreaker for one of the two cities. The only other postseason matchup that even comes close is the 23 series between Toronto and the Red Wings.
The well rested Montreal Canadians pulled off a shocking upset in Game 1 of round 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs vs The Boston Bruins. In their first game back in action after a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in round 1, the Habs took control early with strong play from goalie Carey Price and defenseman P.K. Subban.
The Boston Bruins entered the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs as such a heavy favorites to repeat as Eastern Conference champions that a Game 1 loss to Detroit was enough to cause a commotion and now lightning has struck again. Do the Bruin faithful need to be worried?
Last night, game 1 of the series brought back memories of Bobby Orr, Cam Neely, Jacques Plante, Maurice Richard, Milt Schmidt, and Guy Lafleur. It was spectacular hockey and at times it felt like they’d still be playing well into TGIF hours, but it ended in spectacular fashion in 2nd OT when P.K. Subban blasted a hum-dinger past Tuukka Rask in the fifth minute of the second overtime. EPIC!
Deep sigh of relief.
There is genuine, soul wrenching, heart breaking bone deep hatred between these two clubs. This rivalry isn’t overexposed like Red Sox-Yankees, overrated like Patriots-Jets, or on a hiatus from relevance like Celtics-Lakers. Plus, the ante has been upped because it is the first time since 1992 the teams will meet beyond the first round.
“I do [hate them], and if you ask them the same question I’m sure they’d give you the same answer about if they hate us,” Bruins heavyweight Milan Lucic explained Wednesday. “It’s just natural for me. Just being a part of this organization you just naturally learn to hate the Montreal Canadians, and the battles we have had with them over the last couple of years have definitely made you hate them.”
Even though Montreal won 24 of the previous 33-playoff series, the Bruins have won seven of the last 11 and the last two. Edge Bruins.
In 2011, on their way to the Stanley Cup championship, Boston beat Montreal in seven games in the first round after losing the first two at home. Edge Bruins.
Enter the 2014 Montreal Canadians who have won three of four meetings against Boston this season and have claimed 7 of the past 8 encounters overall including game 1.
Carey Price answered any questions plaguing him after an elongated hockey season for him, which included a trip to Sochi for Olympic Gold. Price only played in one game versus Boston this season and picked up the win, stopping 32-of-33 shots to help Montreal record a 2-1 home victory on Dec. 5. He is 17-8-3 with a 2.50 GAA and .919 save percentage in 29 career regular- season games against Boston.
Both of these teams put defense first and that could lead to some close battles in this series. In the end, the heavily favored Bruins are expected to take this series but everyone loves to see an underdog win.