BOSTON — A pesky, gritty New Jersey squad was finally in the rear-view mirror after the Bruins battled to a 4-1 win last night.
While the Bruins were still relishing their victory in their home dressing room at TD Garden, they didn’t ignore the inquiries about the next match on their docket — a visit from the hated Montreal Canadiens Thursday.
More than any other regular-season Bruins-Habs game at least since the lockout, this weeks’ showdown obviously has much more acrimony because of the Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty and the ensuing outrage from the Montreal organization and fan base over both Pacioretty’s injury and the league’s decision not to discipline the Bruins defenseman for his actions on the night of March 8.
It should be noted that Pacioretty is reportedly well on his way to recovery, with the team recently predicting he could even return to play this season. So that should soften the Habs’ desire for revenge, even if they’re still going to take the ice with a “win one for Max” mantra going through their minds.
When it comes to Bruins-Habs, it’s impossible to predict what wild and weird twists and turns the next installment in the all-time series will take. But as of last night, the Bruins weren’t necessarily expecting much more than a hard-fought hockey game.
“I don’t know what to expect. I mean … they’re a small team. They don’t want to play a kind of game [with] fighting or hitting,” center David Krejci told TheBruinsBlog.net. “I think they’re just going to come here and try to get two points because they’re battling for playoffs too. So that’s what’s going to happen. And if they’re going to try to do something stupid, we have enough tough guys to handle it. So we’ll see what happens.”
Krejci has engaged in two fights — the first two of his NHL career — with Canadiens players this season, so he knows that sometimes the Habs do veer away from their beat-them-with-speed game plan. Another player that has been front-and-center in this year’s chapters of the rivalry is winger Brad Marchand. The rookie was on the receiving end of a mac-truck-like open-ice hit from P.K. Subban, which landed Marchand on the shelf for a bit. And before that infamous March 8 game — a 4-1 Montreal win — Marchand reflected on his team’s wild, fight-filled 8-6 win of Feb. 9 by sharing some choice opinions about the Habs. He called them divers and guys that like to “shoot their mouths off.”
Maybe a combination of the March 8 ugly result at the Bell Centre and Marchand’s recent two-game suspension for an elbow to the head in Columbus have cause him to tone down his rhetoric. Or maybe he’s waiting to unfurl more inflammatory remarks closer to game time.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s always fun to play Montreal,” said Marchand, after he returned from the ban against the Devils. “You know the battle we have with each other, especially with all the stuff that’s happened this year, it always makes for an interesting game. But the biggest thing is we have to get two points and we have to make sure we’re ready for that. They’re going to come out hard. We have to make sure we’re ready to battle them all night long.”
Defenseman Johnny Boychuk also says he doesn’t expect any dirty tricks once the puck drops Thursday.
“They’ll just try to play their game,” said Boychuk, “If they try do get physical, we’re a physical team too, so …”
So we’ll see what Montreal decides it wants to do most to avenge Pacioretty — win a game or inflict physical harm on the Bruins, or both. The Bruins sound like they’re prepared for anything, but know that the majority of their focus has to be on hockey.
Pouliot did fight whit Redden also…e would not fight Zdeno or Lucic but he did fight Krejci that starte and insist to fight.It was a clean fight and Even Moen would only fight if its really necessary and have a lot of class
Subban never do dirty hit ,hes the best Deff on the ice tonight ,he should play a good game and BE SURE TO BE CLOSED TO GILL OR REEF IF LUCIC -HORTON RUNNING AFTER HIM ;P
Good Luck and good game
I liek boston its a really good team and one that have so much physical player!But i dont like how Julien-Marchand talk and other player when they get frustrate or fight whitout class beside this i think u are a step higher then Philly Pitt and more
I hope the Bruins play a good HOCKEY game with good solid hitting, good fore and back checking, and keep their legs moving for the full 60 to get the 2 points in regulation. Basically, a repeat of last night’s game with a little more hitting. Let the Habs know that the B’s can beat them playing hockey. Which they have yet to do this year.
Do you think its a possibility the B’s would throw Hnidy in the mix Thursday? He’s been out practicing with the team.
I think we all know there is maybe one guy who is considered “tough” on MTL, and thats Moen. White is another possibility. Neither stack up with the heavyweights on the Bs. Lucic and Thornton would pound both of those two losers
I am not looking forward to the guaranteed dive fest and the PK Subban skate away after he slashes someone from behind
Hey John, you’re friend sounds like a real d-bag.
I hope thAt Chara will get an ovation
I would love to see Boychuk give it back to White
Was telling my friend that his team is soft *its the Habs* they run away from fights or hitting unless there’s a ref around to step in between the two combatants. He tried to argue the point with Benoit Pouliot and I point blank said “He’s a coward who’ll act tough if its a goalie or someone under six feet tall.” Pouliot has been in two fights one with Krejci and the other Horcoff. His answer to my bad mouthing the players on his team and there style of play.
“24 cups, we’re the yankees of hockey”
For the sake of the Habs fans that come on Thursday, I hope that they don’t bring their negativity… and even if they’re pestered by Bruins fans, I hope they choose to take the high road. I don’t think they understand how much their yahoo-istic hyperbole over the past few weeks has made them even more hated.
That being said, I hope the B’s come out hard, and take this to the Habs. Because I might throw myself off the balcony if I have to hear one more “ole” chant in Boston this season.
I’d like to see someone go Chara. That said, I really want to see the Bruins win because all the Habs fans I know are shooting off their mouths about the Bruins. Lets go boys, playoff mode now!
Habs don’t usually goon it up. Mara, Moen, White and Pouliot are the only guys that really drop the gloves. The Bruins have 7-8 guys at that level and 3 guys (Thornton, Chara and Lucic) whom the habs cannot matchup in a fight. Expect a fast game, some good open ice hits and hopefully really good goaltending. If there are shenanigans, I’d be surprised.