David vs. Goliath - Round 32.

Nothing new here. Except that this time around, as opposed to last year, the roles have been reversed. The Bruins, who finished 1st in the East, will now have to face their long time antagonist, the Montreal Canadiens, who; like Chara trying to put on Savard's equipment; just barely squeezed into the 8th and final spot by getting a hard fought point in their second to last game against, coincidentally enough, these same Bruins. So, for the 32nd time the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens are slated to battle it out once more in the NHL playoffs. Consequently, this begs the obvious question : Is there a better rivalry in the NHL than the one between these two Original Six hockey teams? 

The answer is simple; no. 

Over the past decades, The Gold & Black and the Blue, Blanc, Rouge have provided some of the best hockey to be seen, anywhere. Even if you're not a fan of either club, as a hockey enthusiast you just can't resist but watch and enjoy these foes as they relentlessly combat for supreme dominance over one another. Statistically, the Canadiens have been the ones to do most of the domination over the years. In the 32 playoff dances with the Bruins the Habs have won 24 and only dropped 7 to Boston. Nevertheless, the way that Boston is playing and has played this year, most anticipate for the Big Bad Bears from Bean Town to add to their win tally this time around. I don't blame them for their predictions either. It's a safe and comforting pick. You've got the number 1 team from the Eastern Conference going against, what most consider to be, a back up, lucky, dysfunctional, underachieving, disorganized, young, and sub-par hockey team. Furthermore, the Bruins have had the advantage over the Habs this entire season by easily snatching 11 of the 12 possible points available to them during these bouts. Also, they've got the blazing hot, best save percentage having (.933), league-best goals against average flaunting (2.10), and Vezina Trophy favorite Timmy Toms between their pipes. What's not to like and feel confident about if your a Boston fan? Nothing. 

Yet, let us not forget what the past has taught us for history, more often than not, is sure to repeat itself.

In 2002, the Bruins finished 1st in the East and met the 8th seeded Habs in the 1st round. Result : McLaren goes head hunting on Zednik. Habs win in 6.

In 2004, the Bruins pick up 104 points and secure the second seed in the East. Once again, they meet the seventh seeded Habs in the 1st round. Result : Say it ain't so Joe. Habs come back from 3-1 Boston series lead to take it all in 7.

Finally, 2008. Montreal shocks the Eastern Conference by finishing 1st overall. They meet Boston in the first round. After winning all their games against their disputants in the regular season, most predict the Habs to sweep the Bruins. Result : Close one. Habs in 7.

2009 ; you read it here first = HABS IN 7. We've done it before and can do it again. 

Nonetheless, there are a 10 key factors that need to occur for 1st round success. 

1) The Kovalev-Koivu-Tanguay line must play as they did towards the end of the season. 

2) Price must steal at least 2 or 3 games. 

3) Dress Laraque. Don't dress O'Byrne. 

4) Markov must return at some point. 

5) Schneider must stay healthy. 

6) Plekanec and Big K-Titty must start producing.

7) Komisarek & Higgins must step up. Big. 

8) Lapierre & Latendresse must continue to do their thing. 

9) Lapierre must not chirp Bergeron. Remember OT on Thursday? 

10) Hope and unconditional fan support.

Like it or not, there's my prediction and I am sticking to it. 

Regardless, here's a sure fire call - this is going to be one hell of a series.

GO HABS GO !

HERE WE COME! (Hopefully without another single shift played by Ryan O'Burnt Out)

MONTREAL 4 - 5 BOSTON (OVERTIME)

We did it! We made it in. Barely. Still, we made it in to the post-season with only one game left to play. One point is all we needed and one point is what we got against the best Eastern Conference team. A miracle? Perhaps.

Hier soir, was a hard fought tilt against those bothersome Boston Bullies and quite possibly a palpable preview of what is to come, once again, in the first round of the ever-so-close 2009 NHL playoffs. It felt as if I was watching a sloppy Heavyweight Title Fight rather than a regular season game of hockey. After every whistle a scrum erupted and in most cases you could easily find either Komisarek or Lapierre with 2 or 3 bears surrounding ready to put their filthy claws all over them in the hopes of quite literally shredding any and all of their fading hopes for a playoff appearance. Yet, they and we survived. Strangely enough, our undersized troop managed to hold their own against the likes of Monster Lucic and Thundering Thornton. Well, most did.

The obvious exception; however, being mister 'I'll take as many useless penalties to put my team in jeopardizing situations all the while backing away from fights even though I instigated them'. In case you're wondering, I am referring to the most incompetent player that I have seen attired in Habs equipment in a long while; none other than : Ryan O'Byrne. Why, Gainey? Why dress this Hamilton belonging healthy scratch when you know that every time you do, he will most likely do something costly to your struggling team's chance of winning? Why? In the past 2 times that this frail ogre dressed, he's taken 2 incredibly stupid penalties that resulted in goals for the opposition. Subsequently, he's gone on to only play a total of 10 or so minutes, combined. So, why dress this ineffective giant if you know that in all likeliness you'll have him sitting on the bench rather than have him contribute some 'quality' minutes on the ice? Last night, first timer to the time etched Boston-Montreal rivalry, Weber, played a much more composed and mature game than O'Byrne has posted in all his appearances this season. This stand-in bogeyman does not deserve to adorn a Canadiens jersey unless if he's sitting in the nose-bleeds of the Bell Centre cheering us along during our soon to be difficult playoff run. I have tried, and cannot for the life of me come up with a good and solid shift for this guy. His best playing is when he's away from the puck. That way, we are sure to know that his unsure hands will not put in another goal in our net. In the second period of last night's fisticuffs, O'Byrne actually had the audacity to idiotically intervene in something that he was not involved in when he came off the bench and bumped Thornton for toying with Lapierre. As some of you may recall, this resulted in an embarrassing confrontation that had Thornton ready to maul this man while O'Byrne turtled to the ice to avoid any blows coming his much deserved way. What a joke! I know that we're one short on defense now with Markov's knee injury. Nevertheless, anything would have been better than dressing this rejected circus clown last night. 

Here's an idea Bob : put Handy Dandy on defense and throw in our 3 year signed but clearly underused and under played acquisition, Mr. 'Tasse toi Tabarnac' Laraque. Last night's game was basically designed for a player like Big George. What with all the fights and physical play that was going on, Laraque would have successfully thrived in that environment. His presence on the ice as well as on bench would have undeniably calmed down the blockhead Bruins. When you know that Laraque has got the back of the team you're playing, you're less likely to savagely jump a guy like Komisarek from behind for getting in, what seemed to me to be, a clean hit on Lucic in the second period. Rather, tough guy Lucic, like the previous games against Montreal this season, would have not been as aggressive or even a real factor if he knew that Big George was only a couple strides away from pummeling his face in. That's the type of difference that a guy like Laraque brings to a clearly undersized Habs team. Laraque, even with his hands taunting you to throw the first punch all the while bearing a child like grin, exudes intimidation. Guys don't want to go with George. Like us, they've seen the numerous youtube compilations of Laraque's demolition work, and do not necessarily wish to become another project for Laraque to throw his sledgehammers at. On Boston's roster, except Chara and Thornton, there really isn't any other players that pose the slightest threat to George. And who doesn't want to see another classic Chara Laraque dance? 

Aside from all the after whistle action that occurred last night, there was an actual important game that was being played. And for the most part we played it well. It's no easy feat, especially in the Garden, to come back from a 3-1 deficit and take a 4-3 lead. If anything, this proved to me that even if we have to face the Big Beast from the East in the first round, we can compete with them. Guys like 'where have you been?' D'Agostini ( 2 goals) and 'I thought that you were out for the rest of the season' Schneinder (1 goal) were able to put in some important and effective outings. The fourth line, Higgins-Metropolit-Dandeneault, were also able to put in some hard fought minutes that had them spend most of their ice time in the Boston zone. Kovalev (1 goal) was also able to contribute to last night's bout. Now, if we could only guys like Plekanec and Big K-Titty going again, we might actually have a chance in what will likely be a very challenging post-season. 

Nevertheless, if I have to choose between the Caps and the Bruins as a 1st round opponent pour nos boys, I'll go with Boston. Why? The answer is easy; we've done it before against them and if we really try - how sweet would it be to do it once more! 

In Kovalev fashion, let's get them beards going! Playoffs are right around the corner.

GO HABS GO !!!