But the Habs held on after that save and took two huge points in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Canadiens now lead the B's by four points after this 3-2 win and have taken the season series 5-1-0 after being dominated by the Bruins last season.
This game had all the markings of an old-fashioned Habs-Bruins game, but the Bruins didn't come out with the intensity and emotion they showed in Philadelphia on Thursday. The Habs sensed that and took advantage, using their blazing speed to tire out the Bruins defense all night.
There were some good stretches and signs, such as Milan Lucic's inspired play and goal, as well as Tuukka Rask's 24 saves. But overall, something is still missing in that dressing room that they will need to find quickly. Time is running out and the Bruins are no lock to make the playoffs. This could have been a huge game for confidence, but instead the Bruins head to New Jersey and then Carolina wondering how they couldn't channel that emotion and momentum from their win in Philly Thursday.
Third Period, 3:45, Montreal 3-2: Marco Sturm just got robbed by Jaroslav Halak on a great glove save. Sturm had a point blank chance but Halak preserved the lead and the Bruins still trail late here.
Third period, 8:14, Montreal 3-2: Milan Lucic, after an amazing job of holding onto the puck broke free and caught Jaroslav Halak off guard with a laser. Great play by Lucic! Vladimir Sobotka got the helper.
Third period, 12:09, Montreal 3-1: To elaborate on my last post, I know everyone talks about the Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard, but this has been an issue all season and the Cooke hit brought it to the forefront. Unfortunately, it's still a major issue with this club. They don't stick up for one another nearly enough.
Third period, 14:50, Montreal 3-1: Andrei Markov just laid a solid hit on Marco Sturm and the B's winger was left to fend for himself in the corner as five Habs players surrounded him. Something is sorely missing on this club in terms of protecting their teammates. Both Sturm and Markov got roughing penalties.
Third period,18:19, Montreal 3-1: The Bruins failed to convert on the power play they carried over from the second, and for the third time tonight, Montreal scored just after killing the power play off. Sergei Kostitsyn got his second goal on a beautiful finesse play in front, beating a sprawled-out Tuukka Rask.
End of second period, Montreal 2-1: The Bruins showed some grit and emotion at the end and their play picked up. As a result they will start the the third period on the power play and get a chance to tie this game. There needs to be a consistent period though of inspired hockey if they are to get points from this game.
Second period, 44.7, Montreal 2-1: Josh Gorges is in the penalty box and the Bruins have a good chance here on the power play to tie the game up.
Second period, 2:30, Montreal 2-1: Milan Lucic and Andrei Kostitsyn are in the sin-bin after a high elbow by Kostitsyn on Lucic. Lucic got up and smacked Kostitsyn with a fist to the face. Finally some emotion!
Tuukka Rask made an amazing glove save Tomas Plekanec earlier and has been superb.
Second period, 3:11, Montreal 2-1: Even with many flat stretches of play tonight, the Bruins are still in this and one goal away from making this a new game. They need to really attack and forcheck more, as they have in recent games.
Second period, 7:24, Montreal 2-1: The Bruins killed off another power play and hopefully can build some momentum off the kill here. Montreal's speed though continues to be a problem as the Habs are buzzing around the Bruins and there have been too many good scoring chances because of that.
Second period, 10:28, Montreal 2-1: Mark Stuart is in the box for interference on in this scribe's opinion a decent hit and bad call. The Habs are on their third power play.
Second period, 12:30, Montreal 2-1: For those of you reading here, my apologies for the brain cramp on the score. The Habs did not get a goal taken away in the intermission!
Second period, 13:08, Montreal 2-1: The Bruins killed off that last Montreal power play but the Habs had plenty of chances and if not for the brilliant goaltending by Tuukka Rask, the Bruins would be losing by two goals again
Second period, 16:20, Montreal 2-1: Marco Sturm is in the penalty box and the Habs are on their second power play. They're 1-for-1.
Second period, 17:43, Montreal 2-1: By the way for all you Bruins fans out there, former Bruin Joe Juneau says hello to Boston! Just ran into him getting one of the famous Bell Centre hot dogs.
Second period, 18:48, Montreal 2-1: Blake Wheeler just cut the lead in half for the Bruins early in the second period and the Bruins seem to have some jump in their game again. Michael Ryder and David Krejci had the helpers.
End of first period, Montreal 2-0: Once again the Bruins failed to convert on the power play and Montreal subsequently scored a goal. This time though it was an even strength tally by Sergei Kostitsyn. Kostitsyn buried a beautiful feed from behind the net by Andrei Markov.
The Habs had another great chance just prior to the goal when Tomas Plekanec broke in alone but a sprawling Tuukka Rask stopped him.
Overall, the Bruins seem to have lost that emotion and hustle they displayed in the 5-1 win over the Flyers Thursday and they could be in for a long night if they don't find it soon!
First period, 2:57, Montreal 1-0: The Bruins are on their second power play thanks to a Jaroslav Spacek tripping call. They're 0-for-1 and could really use a goal here before the intermission.
First period, 5:28, Montreal 1-0: The Habs continue to outplay the Bruins here and are cycling the puck in the offensive zone with ease thus far. Amazingly they only have four shots but one did beat Tuukka Rask.
First period, 9:23, Montreal 1-0: A break in the action here in this big game for both clubs. Have to say that at this point, the Habs have the edge not only on the scoreboard but in intensity as the Bruins apprently didn't get the memo on the importance of this game. Where is that physical game they had in Philly?
First period, 12:07, Montreal 1-0: That was the Habs' first power play goal in two games as they went 0-for-7 Thursday in a 5-4 shootout win over Edmonton.
First period, 13:58, Montreal 1-0: The Habs killed off the Bruins power play and then went on one themselves and converted with a Andrei Markov goal.
First period, 17:13: Roman Hamrlik is in the sin-bin for elbowing and the Bruins are on their first power play.
First Period, 18:52: Underway here at the Bell Centre and the Habs almost took an early lead already as Benoit Pouliot hit the post 30 seconds in.
7:17 p.m.: Patrice Bergeron is being introduced, along with other Olympic medalists here at the Bell Centre and kudos to the Habs fans for cheering him on!
7 p.m.: Greetings from the Bell Centre where the Habs and Bruins are set to play the final chapter of the season series and quite possibly their last game of the season including the playoffs. Unless these two rivals meet in the conference finals, this will be it for the longtime rivals who have played each other 28 times since the start of the 2007-08 season.
This game though will have a playoff feel. With the two teams neck and neck in the standings and a raucous crowd celebrating St. Patrick's Day weekend it will feel like mid-April for sure.
Keep an eye on Glen Metropolit tonight. The former Bruin has killed his old team this season with four goals and an assist in five games against Boston this season.
Here's the lineups for tonight and also note that Jaroslav Halak will actually start for the Habs, not Carey Price. Tuukka Rask is between the pipes for the Bruins for the second straight game.
Bruins
Forwards
Marco Sturm–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler–David Krejci–Michael Ryder
Milan Lucic–Vladimir Sobotka—Miroslav Satan/Brad Marchand
Daniel Paille–Steve Begin–Shawn Thornton
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Dennis Seidenberg
Mark Stuart–Dennis Wideman
Matt Hunwick–Johnny Boychuk
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Canadiens
Forwards
Benoit Pouliot–Scott Gomez–Brian Gionta
Andrei Kostitsyn–Tomas Plekanec–Tom Pyatt
Travis Moen–Dominic Moore–Sergei Kostitsyn
Maxim Lapierre–Glen Metropolit–Mathieu Darche
Defensemen
Andrei Markov–Ryan O'Byrne
Jaroslav Spacek–Roman Hamrlik
Josh Gorges–Hal Gill
Goaltenders
Carey Price
Jaroslav Halak
5:27 p.m.: The stage is set for an old school battle in Montreal as the Bruins (30-24-12, 72 points) invade the Bell Centre to take on their arch-rivals, the Canadiens (34-29-6, 74 points) tonight at 7 p.m. (NESN).
The Bruins have plenty of attention on them in regards to the Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard and what will happen next week when they play the Penguins (March 18), but for now this Original Six tilt against a Canadiens team that is 4-1-0 against them this season is the priority. A win puts them into a tie with Montreal for seventh place in the Eastern Conference and with three games in hand, positions them well for the stretch run.
The Bruins hope the Marco Sturm—Patrice Bergeron—Mark Recchi line, with 13 points in the last two games, can solve Habs goalie Carey Price who is 9-2-2 lifetime and 3-0-0 this season against them and will look for another solid team-wide physical effort like they got in their 5-1 win over the Flyers Thursday.
The is the last game of the season against the Habs with pride and points on the line, so buckle up for a good one Bruins fans, and check back here as we'll have updates throughout the game on NESN.com's Live Bruins Blog.
