Canadiens Lose 5-4 to Bruins
Montreal Clinches Playoff Spot with OT Loss in Boston
In what could be a first round match-up, the Canadiens and Bruins accumulated seventy-six minutes in penalties Thursday evening at the TD Banknorth Gardens. In their sixth meeting of the season, Boston improved to 5-0-1 against the Habs and while undisciplined at times, the Bruins appeared ready for the second season to begin. Montreal took advantage of the power play opportunities given to them, scoring three of their goals with the extra man.
Carey Price Starts in Nets
Head coach Bob Gainey went with Carey Price instead of Jaroslav Halak in nets as Price played his second game in a row after missing three games with the flu. Both net minders have lacked confidence at times this season but Price has improved his play since the coaching change on March 9th and will certainly be the starter come playoff time. He made a stellar save on Boston’s Mark Savard to end the first period to keep the Bruins from taking a 2-0 lead into intermission. In total, he stopped 28 of 33 shots in the losing effort.
Schneider Back After Missing Two Games
After French language broadcaster, RDS reported earlier in the week that Mathieu Schneider would miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury; many were surprised to see him in the line-up against the Bruins. The power play specialist acquired from Atlanta before the trade deadline was on the ice for over twenty-one minutes and scored a goal at 10:28 of the second period to even the score at 3-3.
He made these comments to TSN and the assembled media after the game, “It was never that bad. I felt great out there tonight and I’m just going to continue to play. There’s absolutely nothing that concerns me.”
Mark Recchi Has Four-Point Night
The difference maker in last night’s game was veteran forward and former Hab Mark Recchi. His 4-point night, including the overtime winner, illustrated exactly why Boston traded for him at the deadline. He has nine goals and fourteen points since arriving from Tampa Bay and the forty-one year old would love the opportunity to win his third Stanley Cup.
Canadiens Season Started Strong, Faded Fast
Montreal started their 100th anniversary season with a 10-4-2 record and appeared ready to be a top contender in the Eastern Conference until a mid-season meltdown saw coach Guy Carbonneau fired and GM Bob Gainey take over behind the bench. Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s game against the surging Pittsburgh Penguins and the Rangers/Flyers game on Sunday, Montreal will finish the season in either seventh or eighth place.
A seventh place finish will see them start the first round against former teammate Jose Theodore, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. The first-place Bruins are eager to avenge a first round loss to Montreal last season in the playoffs if the Canadiens finish in eighth place.
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