POST Game Five: Bruins @ Habs

The Bears were hibernating.

The Montreal Canadiens caught the Boston Bruins in a second game of a back to back and it showed.

Bad bounces were equally exchanged but the Bruins took a couple naps during the game that cost them two points to their arch rival.

"We were tired, the decision making wasn't there," admitted Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask after the game. "Our heads weren't really there but it's understandable, but it's not an excuse."

The main turning point was the conclusion of the second period when the Canadiens got Jiri Sekac's first NHL goal and PA Parenteau's first as a Montreal Canadien.

The building was rocking and there was no looking back.

Boston played a strong third period when Niklas Svedberg replaced Tuukka Rask.

Simon Gagne scored late in the third pulling Boston within one with a chance to search for the equalizer with the goalie pulled.

But then... Milan Lucic took an ill-timed penalty on Alexei Emelin, negating any realistic chance to tie the game.

Parenteau slipped the puck into the empty, giving the Canadiens a 6-4 win in the first meeting between these two teams this season.

Observations: 

- Brad Marchand's spear on PK Subban was dirty. But the embellishment call was fine by me. Sometimes your reputation follows you around for a long time. 

- Dennis Seidenberg struggled. Everyone knew the departure of Johnny Boychuk would impact the Bruins defensive core. If Seidenberg can't regain his form of old, the Bruins won't have home ice in the first round of playoff. 

- David Desharnais' play in the faceoff circle lead to goals. Even though he was just over 45%, key offensive zone faceoffs lead to goals by Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty. 

- Coach Michel Therrien coached a strong game. Never got caught in a bad match up. Balanced the ice time. And the moment of him receiving the torch was great. 

- Milan Lucic is out of control. Antics in the penalty box. The run in with Emelin. Yelling at referee Tim Peel. Dude, settle down. I'd still take him on my team though. 

- The third line controlled the play almost every time they were on the ice. Rene Bourque - Lars Eller - Jiri Sekac had a handful of shifts where they got momentum and controlled the play. That and a fearless block shot from Bourque on the powerplay shows me that at least he's still "all in."

- Also liked the Bruins third line. Loui Erickson - Carl Soderberg - Chris Kelly started the game, and looked like their best line. 

- Carey Price's struggles aren't concerning. And there was breakdowns and bad bounces on all the goals he let up. However, if he doesn't turn things around from a statistical point of view soon, the Vezina Trophy could be lost in the first month of the season. 

- Mitchy 

PRE Game Five: Boston @ Habs

It's an exciting time.

Habs fans will pile into the Bell Centre and witness a rematch with the team that provided them with the most entertaining moments last spring. The series fresh minds of both teams. The wounds, both physical and mental are still raw. BOSTON VS MONTREAL. It'll be good.

Here are some of the questions fans have heading into tomorrow's tilt:

Scooter ‏@Habs_Scooter : Will Swedish Gretzky, Dale Weise, drop Milan Lucic about his comments from last year??

LOL. Swedish Gretzky... I think that the situation was pretty well diffused by both sides. The playoff series was so emotionally charged and that was definitely a boiling point. The waters have calmed and I'd be surprised if we saw anything occur. It wouldn't be a smart decision for Weise to try to "drop" Lucic. Unless it's a sucker punch, I'd put my money on Lucic staying on his feet and landing some damaging blows. Don't expect anything to happen, Weise will stay away and if Lucic is completely distracted to settle a personal vendetta, advantage Habs. Furthermore, I don't even think they'll be on the ice at the same time on many occasions, considering the roles they play. I'd be more inclined to see a confrontation between Lucic and Alexei Emelin, with Lucic taking a retaliatory penalty.

@Cnt_Scrutinizer: Therrien protect Weise and have him as a healthy scratch?

This is the Boston Bruins, on opening night at the Bell Centre. There's no "protecting players." You have to go with the lineup that gives you the best chance to win. That lineup would include Weise and not Travis Moen. Plus, it sends the wrong message. Scratching Weise for that reason would be playing scared. He's a big boy and he can handle himself. And he's going to have to face Lucic at some point. Wouldn't a better spot be the friendly confines of the Bell Centre instead of the TD Garden in Boston?

HabsFan ‏@ChrisShannon16: Are the Bruins going to goon it up is my question. Would love to hear your opinion And how should the Habs set their lineup for tomorrow?

Thanks for the questions. The Bruins really appear to be heading away from that identity of "gooning" it up. Of course they have a ton of guys that play tough, physical and can hold their own in a fight. But I don't think they'll go about looking for fights. Having started the season slow by their standards, with expectations high... they're better off just playing hockey. If the score is titled in either direction, then all bets are off.

As far as the lineup is concerned. I don't think much changes. The Canadiens won 3/4 on the road to start the season. The only question mark I have is the final defensive spot. With Emelin potentially coming back from injury, that leaves Jared Tinordi or Nathan Beaulieu at risk of coming out. My preference would be to see Beaulieu stay in the lineup, however with the size and physicality of Boston, perhaps Therrien plays things differently.

FROM MYSELF: What is the pre game ceremony going to look like?

We all remember what the pre game ceremony was like at last year's opener... Daniel Briere lightning the torch. It turned out to be a bust. As did the Briere experiment in general. This year, I'm hoping they get it right. This team is Carey Price. The team knows it, the media knows it and the fans know it. Many have speculated that despite having four alternate captains, Carey Price is the true leader on this team. There wouldn't be a better way of showing that than having Price light the torch. It won't be a bust like a year ago.

- Mitchy

Game Two: Habs @ Washington

You don't know what it's like.

After taking on their rivals in Toronto on opening night in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens had to travel to Washington for the Capitals'
home opener tonight.

It should have been a tone setter for the Capitals. New coach, new system. Barry Trotz is the man to put the reigns on Alex Ovechkin.

When the first period was in the books, it looked like Washington was a transformed team (kind of like Toronto did last night.)

Montreal on the other hand was tired, emotionally drained and frustrated.

But old habits die hard and Capitals reassumed their selfish identity, while the Canadiens remained selfless.

Terrible penalties taking by both Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom

Same Capitals.

Eventually the game was tied in the third period and the Canadiens went on to pull out the 2-1 shootout victory because...

The best players on the ice were Tomas Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuck and Dustin Tokarski.

Give the kid credit in net. Made huge saves when they needed him. When the rest of the team was sleeping he looked rested (because he was). Tokarski made 29 saves, plus several key stops in the shootout, including Ovechkin.

Maybe it's the assumed added responsibility of being named an alternate captain. Perhaps it's the new offensively gifted linemates (although the right side has fluctuated in the first two games.) Or maybe he's always this damn good. Plekanec has gotten this season off on the right foot. And even though I don't like putting numbers on the lines, if Plekanec continues at this rate, he is a "true number one."

Galchenyuck has been flying. This is the most comfortable he's ever looked in the NHL. This is the biggest role and most ice time he's received. Galchenyuck has arrived and I sense for the fans, that the excitement and anticipation is building for what this kid will eventually become.

Have to say, also impressive in his own way was Lars Eller. Not that it showed up on the scorecard but he was feisty. Playing in that third line spot, he needs to mix it up and he did. John Carlson was running around and taking liberties after this whistle. A glove to the face and visor is great to see from Eller as long as he ensures that the opposing player is going off with a penalty as well.

Unfortunately Travis Moen is now in a winless situation. To stay in the lineup everyone expects him to "do something." But with that mindset for this player, it's an ineffective approach.

Got to give the Habs praise. Playing on back to back nights in two different buildings isn't easy. In fact, the Flyers and Bruins both lost tonight dealing with back to back (Calgary is currently in action with Edmonton)

With the 0-2 start, the Flyers will be a handful for the Habs Saturday night in Philadelphia.

- Mitchy

Game One: Habs vs Leafs

Some things change, but some things never change.

Opening day between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs featured some new faces on both sides but the result and outcome was predictable.

The Leafs in their own zone, still terrible.

They were soft on David Desharnais leading to the PK Subban 3-2 go-ahead goal. It was comical in terms of how many assignments they missed on that play and how discombobulated they looked at times in their defensive zone.

The score shouldn't even have been as close as it was. Nazem Kadri's first period goal was offside and the Leafs third period equalizer was a fluke (although the hockey gods balanced things out with a garbage game winner off Stuart Percy's skate)

But we discovered what we already knew. The Habs are in the top tier of the Eastern Conference in a battle for home ice advantage, while the Leafs are stuck in the middle, fighting for a Wild Card with the Islanders, Devils, Capitals, Flyers and Blue Jackets.

The new faces on the Canadiens were a mixed bag in their debuts.

PA Parenteau was strong. Great chemistry with Desharnais and Max Pacioretty and was noticeable almost every time he was on the ice.

Tom Gilbert struggled, especially when in his own zone. Maybe it was opening day jitters but he looked tentative and genuinely fearful to be hit. Typically not something coach Michel Therrien likes to see, which is why it's baffling to see his ice time at over 22 minutes.

Jiri Sekac wasn't good or bad. He was just there. Which probably isn't a bad thing considering it was just his first NHL game.

The Habs best line, clearly Tomas Plekanec, Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuck. Plekanec looks pretty good with some youthful creative offensive player.

And PK Subban's celebration... lol

Aren't you glad hockey is back?!

- Mitchy