For everyone that was waiting for the Bruins to win a playoff series before hopping on the bandwagon, welcome. Please take your seat in the back, your admission is double. I was one of these “they need to win a playoff series” people till about a third of the way through the season when I realized that this team was the real deal. Not only were they kicking the snot out of teams, they were contending for a President’s Trophy. I have to give huge props to Stew who got me back with the Bruins. She told me that this Lucic guy was making it very exciting to watch win or lose, but mostly wins.
As I’m sitting at my brother’s house watching the game I thought to myself how great it is when my column writes itself. Once again the classless Montreal fans were booing the US National Anthem even if it wasn’t as loud as Monday. Then they dropped the puck and the Bruins came out and seemed to bend a little at the start of the game. I say bend because they did go down 1-0 pretty quick but apparently that wasn’t meant to last.
Former Canadien Michael Ryder tied the game on a sweet shot that beat Carey Price top shelf. Then, just like in game three with time running out in the period the Bruins scored the go ahead goal on a beautiful assist from Ryder that got Price way out of position feeding David Krejci who had a wide open net. Krejci really fought to get the puck to Ryder, it was like a video game with Krejci hitting the triangle button in the corner for a sweet spin move putting him in perfect position for the go ahead.
That really set the tone as the Bruins came out with an air of confidence as the second period started. About halfway though Kessel and Ryder added two more goals and that sealed the deal 4-1 Bruins. You have to love the Canadien fans booing and taunting their own goalie starting midway through the third period.
Now the history lesson. This was the 32nd meeting of these teams in the playoffs. Only the 8th time the Bruins won. This is the first time they’ve swept the Canadiens since 1992. This is the Bruins first trip to the second round in 10 years. Montreal has now lost 8 straight playoff games and four of the last five series that they’ve played.
Now the Bruins wait for the other games to finish in the first round before the reseeding in the second round. I don’t think we, the fans, should fear anyone but watching coverage people are saying Carolina could be a tough test for the Bruins. We’ll see.
