Final, Canadiens 3-1: And another disappointing night at the Garden comes to a close with the Canadiens winning both games in Boston to take a 2-0 series lead back to Montreal.
The Bruins again fell behind early, came on strong in the second, but fell short of ever pulling even with the Canadiens, who played a near-perfect road game to finish off their second straight win in Boston.
The Bruins now face the daunting challenge of trying to get back in the series as it shifts north to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday.
Third Period, 18:08, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins have pulled Thomas for the extra attacker, leaving the net open as they need two goals to tie.
Third Period, 16:40, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins are still struggling to get shots through to Price as the Habs defense continues to clog the shooting lanes and sacrifice their bodies to block shots.
Third Period, 13:20, Canadiens 3-1: With seven minutes to play and down two goals, the Bruins send out the fourth line, which proceeds to get hemmed in its own zone for most of a 45-second shift.
Third Period, 10:33, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins have 31 shots on Price again with just under a half a period remaining. They got one by him this time, but they need at least three more to pull out this victory, and that's going to be a very tall order with how Price has played so far.
Third Period, 8:02, Canadiens 3-1: Big shift from Johnny Boychuk, who sends in a blast from the right point that forces Price to check behind him, but the Montreal goalie had made the save. Boychuk then lines up Travis Moen for a thunderous hit at the Boston blue line.
Third Period, 5:20, Canadiens 3-1: Strong sustained pressure by the Bruins throughout the power play, but they can't come up with the goal they so desperately need.
Third Period, 3:20, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins get a power-play chance as Subban is called for tripping up Paille. Huge opportunity for the Bruins to get back in the game here.
Third Period, 1:29, Canadiens 3-1: It's another stanchion hit, but this one causes no harm. Johnny Boychuk delivers the check on Ryan White in front of the benches, drawing a roar from the crowd.
Third Period, 0:00, Canadiens 3-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, and the Bruins are in need of a huge rally to even this series before heading up to Montreal.
Brick Breaks Down the Game: Just spent a few minutes talking with NESN analyst Andy Brickley about what we've seen so far and what the Bruins need to do in the third to get back in this series.
Here's Brick's breakdown:
"That's a killer," Brickley said of Montreal's third goal. "It doesn't defeat you, but it makes the challenge in the third period immense. The Bruins had the game where they wanted it. They got their first goal. They got the crowd into it. They had great pressure right after [the goal]. Then to give up that goal on a turnover in center ice and a bad rebound and you're right back to square one.
"They've got to dig deep in the third. They've got to understand what this period means to the series. You saw what Phoenix did in the third against Detroit today. A little effort, a little good fortune, a little believability. It can be done.
"But the Bruins have to be the better team in the neutral zone. If they do that, good things will happen in both ends and they'll get offensive opportunities. Center ice is the critical area, because Montreal will try to do what they did in the third period in Game 1 and just chip it out, chip it out. If the Bruins can be the better team in center ice, they have a chance."
End Second Period, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins finally scored, but they got no closer as Montreal answered late in the period to take a two-goal lead into the third.
Second Period, 18:19, Canadiens 3-1: The Bruins nearly answer with a chance in front, but the puck stays out and a mad scramble ensues with the scrum taking the net off its moorings as Gill shoves Marchand into it.
Second Period, 17:21, Canadiens 3-1: The Habs with the crushing goal to extend the lead back to two goals with Yannick Weber scoring on a rebound in front.
The Bruins had tried for a long outlet pass to spring Horton, but the Habs intercepted it and quickly transitioned to the attack. Lars Eller had the initial shot from the right circle. Thomas made the save, but Weber banged home the rebound at the left post.
Second Period, 14:23, Canadiens 2-1: The Bruins can't convert on the power play, just missing on a couple of chances including a tip in front that just slipped wide in the closing seconds. While they didn't score, that power play wasn't a complete failure, as the Bruins maintained the momentum with some solid pressure.
Second Period, 12:23, Canadiens 2-1: The gloves come off for the first time in the series, as Shane Hnidy drops them with James Wisniewski after Wisniewski drills Peverley into the boards with a dangerous hit.
Wisniewski appeared to land more punches than the rusty Sheriff, but full marks to Hnidy for stepping up for his teammate. The Bruins get the power play as Wisniewski gets two for charging on the hit in addition to the matching fighting majors.
Second Period, 11:59, Canadiens 2-1: Thomas is fighting the puck a bit, bobbling a couple of bouncing shots in on him. The Bruins can't afford to let a fluke goal slip in here to kill their momentum.
Second Period, 10:07, Canadiens 2-1: The Bruins have definitely come alive since taht goal, as they are swarming the net like they should have been since the start of the series. Krejci, Ryder, Recchi and Bergeron have all had chances in close since the goal.
Price has come up big, but the Bruins are doing a much better job of getting quality chances on him and need to continue this pressure.
Second Period, 7:38, Canadiens 2-1: The Bruins finally break through, and the Garden has come alive.
Patrice Bergeron gets Boston's first goal of the series, completing a nice play from linemates Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi. Recchi began it with pass from the right wing over to Marchand on the left boards, and Marchand sent it to Bergeron for an easy tap-in at the top of the crease.
Second Period, 6:34, Canadiens 2-0: The Bruins survive that Montreal power play, and a Tomas Plekanec breakaway chance just after it ended, but they still have a long way to go to get back in this one.
Second Period, 4:34, Canadiens 2-0: The Bruins will now be shorthanded with Milan Lucic going off for high-sticking P.K. Subban. Huge kill for the Bruins, as the Habs could put this game away with another goal here.
Second Period, 1:28, Canadiens 2-0: The Bruins don't do much with that power-play chance, and Gill is back on the ice as the sides return to even strength.
Second Period, 0:00, Canadiens 2-0: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins still on the power play for 1:28 and in desperate need of a goal.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins accomplished their goal of being more physical in the opening period. That's the only goal they have.
Boston is still searching for its first actual goal of the series after four frustrating periods against Montreal. Boston needed a fast start and a quick lead to force the Canadiens out of their stifling defensive style. Instead, the Habs scored 43 seconds into play, added another six seconds after a questionable interference call on Dennis Seidenberg and it's been more of what we saw in Game 1 since. The Bruins are getting shots again, this time a 15-8 edge, but haven't seriously threatened Carey Price.
The one bright spot is the physical play. Boston has a 16-9 edge in hits and has delivered some big shots. They need to continue that to wear down the smaller Habs, but they also need to finally break through with some scoring. They'll start the second with 1:28 left on Hal Gill's cross-checking penalty. Converting that power play will go a long way toward getting Boston back in this game, and this series.
End First Period, Canadiens 2-0: And a nightmare period for the Bruins comes to a close. Boston has a 15-8 edge in shots, but the Habs scored the only two goals.
First Period, 19:27, Canadiens 2-0: The Bruins will get another chance on the power play late in the period as Hal Gill is sent off for cross-checking with 32.1 seconds left in the first.
First Period, 14:37, Canadiens 2-0: Horton with a display of emotion as he smashes his stick at the bench going off at the end of a frustrating shift.
First Period, 12:42, Canadiens 2-0: The Bruins might not be winning anything else, but they're winning the physical battles. Another hit by Seidenberg was followed by Boychuk running over Cammalleri.
First Period, 10:24, Canadiens 2-0: That power play doesn't last long, as Horton gets a roughing call to even it up after knocking Hal Gill into Price behind the net. That came after Krejci stole the puck from Price. Krejci and P.K. Subban then got into it after the whistle, but no further penalties were called.
First Period, 10:09, Canadiens 2-0: Excellent shift from the top line, with Horton, Lucic and Krejci creating multiple chances and throwing their weight around, but it still doesn't lead to a goal.
Things get nasty at the end of the shift, with Roman Hamrlik taking a shot at Horton. Horton was incensed, but was held back and only Hamrlik goes to the box. He gets two minutes for roughing and the Bruins will have their first power play of the night.
First Period, 8:04, Canadiens 2-0: A juicy rebound in front for Brad Marchand after a rare shot by Tomas Kaberle, but he can't put it home. The Bruins have picked up the physical play with some big hits, but they've been way too sloppy with turnovers in the own zone.
First Period, 6:28, Canadiens 2-0: The Habs nearly strike again, as Tom Pyatt sends a rebound just wide in front. The Bruins actually have a 7-5 edge in shots, not that it's done them much good.
First Period, 2:20, Canadiens 2-0: The Habs need just six seconds to convert on the power play, as Mathieu Darche doubles the lead with a goal in front.
He scored at the left post off a feed from Cammalleri.
First Period, 2:14, Canadiens 1-0: The Bruins will now be shorthanded as Dennis Seidenberg is called for interference after leveling Benoit Pouliot behind the Bruins net.
First Period, 0:43, Canadiens 1-0: Game 2 opens a lot like Game 1, as the Canadiens grab an early lead.
This time it took two shots, with James Wisniewski sending in a shot from the right circle. Tim Thomas stopped that one, but the rebound went right to Michael Cammalleri, who banged it into the open net from the left slot.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: Game 2 is under way here at the Garden, where it is deafening once again as the Bruins look to even this series with Montreal.
7 p.m.: The Chara-less Bruins will open with Tomas Kaberle and Adam McQuaid paired on defense. Expect all the pairs to be shuffled throughout the game as Shane Hnidy is worked into the rotation with the captain sidelined.
David Krejci's line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton on the wings gets the call to start up front, with Tim Thomas in goal.
The Canadiens counter with Mathieu Darche, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta up front, Roman Hamrlik and James Wisniewski on the blue line and Carey Price in net.
The Habs are also without a key player, as Andrei Kostitsyn with miss this game after blocking a Chara shot in Game 1. Jeff Halpern, Paul Mara and Alexandre Picard are also out. Yannick Weber will dress, as Montreal goes with seven defensemen. Weber may see time up front.
6:55 p.m.: Despite taking the warm-ups and skating in the line drills, Zdeno Chara is apparently not feeling well enough to play and has been scratched.
Shane Hnidy is in the lineup. Tyler Seguin remains the scratch up front.
6:40 p.m.: No changes in the Bruins lines during warm-ups. Tyler Seguin and Shane Hnidy were on the ice as they were before Game 1, but did not skate in the line drills and appear to be the scratches again as anticipated.
Here are the lines from warm-ups:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi
Kelly-Peverley-Ryder
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Boychuk
Kaberle-Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
6:30 p.m.: Zdeno Chara is on the ice for the warm-ups. Looks like he will be able to play as expected.
Tim Thomas and Carey Price led the teams out. That will be the goaltending matchup, also as expected.
6 p.m.: It's been an eventful day at the Garden, with the bulk of the drama surrounding the status of Zdeno Chara.
The Bruins captain was hospitalized for dehydration on Friday night, but will likely still play in Game 2 on Saturday. The final decision will be made by the team's medical staff, and no official announcement has been yet.
Assuming Chara plays, there shouldn't be any lineup changes for the Bruins. The Canadiens will have game-time decisions for forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Jeff Halpern. Halpern has been out with a lower-body injury but did skate Saturday monring. Kostitsyn was hurt by a Chara shot in Game 1 and did not skate with the club Saturday morning.
8 a.m.: The Bruins didn't open the postseason the way they had hoped.
Montreal scored on the very first shot of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal against Boston just 2:44 and the Bruins never scored, falling 2-0 in Game 1 at the Garden on Thursday.
The rivals meet again on Garden ice for Game 2 on Saturday, and the Bruins can't afford to fall behind by two games before the series shifts to Montreal next week. They also can't afford to fall behind early like did on Thursday, which allowed the Canadiens to play their stifling defensive style and frustrate the Bruins' efforts to answer.
"They obviously make it difficult for us to generate some offense," Bruins forward Daniel Paille said. "They got that goal early and just sat back, were patient and succeeded."
The Bruins will have to do a better job of forcing the issue in Game 2. That means ramping up the intensity and physical play, using their superior size and toughness to their advantage the way they did in the final two regular-season clashes at the Garden, which Boston won 8-6 and 7-0.
Even with a bigger and tougher lineup, it isn't easy to impose a physical style of game on a team like Montreal, especially when the Canadiens have the lead and are basically playing a little rope-a-dope.
"We talk about our team being physical," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I think we want to be physical, but it also can be a challenge when you feel you've played most of the night with the puck. We had the puck all night [on Thursday]. They didn't spend much time in our end, so our D's couldn't really get involved that physically. When we had the puck in their end you're not hitting when you're controlling it, so it's a bit of a challenge. We still got a fair number of hits, but I think that kind of deflated the physical aspect of our game."
Even when the hits are delivered, the Habs aren't likely to be intimidated with a chance to take a commanding lead in the series.
"I think we played pretty physical," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. "I think we did a pretty good job, but it's different in regular season than it is in playoffs. In regular season sometimes guys just don't show up and just don't care to go through that battle every night. But in playoffs they're not going to sit back. They're not going to cower from us. They're going to come out battling and hit us right back. I thought we did a good job of playing physical. Maybe we can be a little more aggressive, win a couple more battles, but we did a pretty good job."
The Bruins will have to do a better job in this one to get their first win this postseason and even the series before heading up to Montreal.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
