It’s hard to know how to begin. I’m still in a big of a daze after seeing how the latest Habs and Bruins affair transpired. It’s all quite unbelievable, and because I’ve now turned the dial to the blues channel, I can’t hear the many excuses Bruins coach Claude Julien will come up with as to why his team blew a game to a resilient and crazy bunch of boys from the north country.
Habs 6, Bruins 5 in a shootout, a gunfight at the O.K. Corral, with the Canadiens coming from behind in dramatic fashion and finally, after the sixth round of the shootout, giving themselves two big points and leaving the Bruins muttering and cursing and eating ticks or whatever they do. Not a picture-perfect win, but one of the most satisfying of the season.
Montreal had jumped out to a two-goal lead thanks to Michael Ryder and P.K. Subban, but the Bruins began to dominate the second period and scored four times. I was ready to begin a dismal and depressing obituary. Throw in the towel. Talk about how Bob’s your uncle. But then the puck was dropped for the third period.
It began with Carey Price on the bench and Peter Budaj in goal, and early on, Ryder, with his second of the game, made it 4-3. But Boston once again stuck daggers in by scoring to bring it to 5-3. It seemed over. The Bruins were playing well and getting big chances, but wouldn’t you know it, Peter Budaj came up big time after time, and suddenly, Brendan Gallagher bulged the twine, it was a 5-4 game, and there was hope.
There sure was. Andrei Markov tied the game with nine seconds remaining and a Bruin in the penalty box, and the boys ended up doing what many surely hadn’t expected. They had rebounded in surprising fashion, had tied the game, taken it to overtime, and won it in the shootout when Brendan Gallagher came through again.
In a warm and fuzzy way, it reminds me of the Don Cherry/too many men penalty when the Canadiens came back from almost sure-defeat to beat the Beantowners. They hate us down there and tonight gives them yet another reason to do so. It’s just such a feel-good moment.
We can only imagine the crying from Bruins fans near and far. I wish I had a big stogie I could light up to celebrate their anguish.
What a night. And to think I’d almost given up on these wild and wacky Montreal Canadiens.
Random Notes:
Boston outshot Montreal 41-28.
Peter Budaj was sensational after coming in from the bullpen for the third period and beyond. He stopped 14 of 15 shots, and looked cool as can be in the shootout. There’s not a better example of a backup goalie earning his money as what we saw from Budaj tonight.
P.K. Subban, especially in the first half, was in full control and showed why he’s one of the best, if not THE best. It was nice that he was booed whenever he touched the puck, so I’d like to give a big shout out to Bruins fans for doing this. And I found it funny when TSN announcer Ray Ferraro said Subban COULD be an all-star. What, he’s not there yet?
The Canadiens were solid in Pittsburgh, although they lost 1-0, and grabbed two points the next night in Boston. It’s all just good for the soul.
Rangers in town on Saturday.
The message is sent loud and clear to other teams and the media. The Canadiens need to be mentioned in the same breath as any other serious contender.
Following the shootout, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask had a bit of a meltdown which is really funny. We love Bruins meltdowns.
Here it is, via Danno. Poor Rask!