No doubt the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are gearing up to revive their rivalry after a steamy end to their second-round playoff series last spring. Milan Lucic exchanged “pleasantries” with several Canadiens in the postgame handshake line, undoubtedly leaving a lasting impression on the Habs.
Max Pacioretty, for one, is looking forward to facing the Bruins.
“That’s our measuring-stick team,” Pacioretty told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “We play against them so many times a year, they’re one of the best teams and you really can tell a lot about your team by how you measure up against the Boston Bruins.
“They contend every year. We get a little bit more of the juices flowing when we play against a team like that. We definitely have a lot to prove when we play a team like that.”
The Bruins and Canadiens don’t have to wait long to see each other. They open the preseason Sept. 23 in Montreal and meet again Oct. 16 in the Habs’ regular-season home opener.
“There’s mutual respect between all players,” Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban told ESPN.com. “That series got heated. And I think it’s good for the game, it’s good for the fans to know that these guys are making millions of dollars but it’s real, guys want to win. It’s competitive.”
Photo via Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports Images
