I’m not necessarily a big believer in ‘character wins’ when it comes to the Boston Bruins.

In Claude Julien’s seventh year behind the bench, the character of the B’s has been established time and time again. The Bruins know who they are. Their opponents know who they are. We, after 65 games this year, should undoubtedly know who they are. And just what are they exactly? Elite, for one. They’re a team that corrects its mistakes when given the chance, one that’s able to adapt to changes in the beginning, middle or end of the game, and one that used both of those skills in a much needed victory over the third-place Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

Entering play without a win against the Habs in 2013-14 (0-2, and outscored 6-2), the Bruins’ final regular season trip to Montreal began as most fans in the Hub would expect: With a soft penalty against Boston. But with Boston able to survive the Habs’ early power play, and in a first period that saw Tuukka Rask tested early and often (the 27-year-old’s absolutely stellar save on a Max Pacioretty halfway through the first certainly stands out above the rest), the tune of this one seemed to changed when the teams returned for the start of the second period.

After weathering the Canadiens’ storm, the Bruins were ready to attack.

Just over a minute and a half into the middle frame, Carl Soderberg dug in deep in front of the Montreal net and beat Peter Budaj for his 12th goal of the season. Bada-bing. Seconds before the midway point of the period, an excellent passing sequence between Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron in tight gave No. 37 his 19th of the year, and put the Bruins up 2-0 at the Bell Centre. Bada-boom. Then, after surviving a surge in their own end, Milan Lucic absolutely blasted a puck through Budaj, striking with his 20th of the year (finally, right?), putting Boston up 3-0. Bada-Looch. The strikes were like clockwork for the Bruins.

Soderberg’s tally continued his strong post-Olympic snub play (he now has three goals and seven points in eight games since the NHL resumed play). The goal was essentially the line-defining play of the game for his line, which also features Chris Kelly and Loui Eriksson, two players that have looked unbelievably more uncomfortable on that line since the Olympics ended.

Bergeron’s goal, though just the second of the game, really seemed to beat Montreal into the ground. And how could you blame them? That was just terrible defensive zone coverage down low. But on the same note, what does it say about the connection between Marchand and Bergeron that the Bruins’ alternate captain can get the puck between the circles, throw a no-look pass back to Marchand, and then get the puck again knowing that it’ll create an even better look? When it comes to 37 and 63, it’s tougher to find two players that are on the same brainwave more than these guys. That’s, again, a huge reason why the B’s weren’t ever considering moving Marchand amid his slump. You can’t teach the kind of chemistry that these two have at even-strength or when killing a penalty.

Lucic’s goal really just seemed to be the knockout blow, all things considered. Down by two, Montreal frantically pushed the puck into the Boston zone, nearly struck, had Johnny Boychuk and Matt Bartkowski pinned in deep on a monstrous shift, and get nothing. No, they actually got less than nothing. They instead got bullied off the puck, and allowed a goal at the other end. Brutality.

Though the B’s and Habs both put 13 shots on net in the second, the Black-and-Gold, on the opposite end (especially against this club) oh so many times, really seemed to break the Habs’ spirit.

Consider the Zdeno Chara goal 23 seconds into the third just another kick in the junk.

And while the Habs struck 2:46 into the third, with David Desharnais ruining Rask’s bid for an NHL-best seventh shutout, this one seemed to be all Bruins from the 20:01 marker on. But how? In layman’s terms, the Bruins finally adjusted to the Montreal game plan that had stymied them throughout this season and for most of last year’s abbreviated 48-game run.

No longer were the Bruins trying to muck it up around the Habs’ net. While effective against some of the looser teams like Washington and Philadelphia, Montreal’s defensive style basically makes that a lose-lose situation for the Bruins. Without any real creativity in the attacking zone and everybody seemingly bunched up, you would see Montreal break out up ice with numbers (or a breakaway). Tonight, the Bruins turned up their offensive flair, looking for creative second options opposed to just throwing it on net and banking on a rebound. That got other players into the mix.

Simple, I know, but effective nevertheless.

It also helped that Rask, a player that’s been haunted by Montreal throughout his career (entering play with two wins in 14 career starts against the Habs), was just lights out tonight. Finishing the night with 35 saves on 36 shots, and stopping a perfect nine of nine thrown his way during the Habs’ three power play opportunities on the night, the 27-year-old stood tall in the Boston crease.

And though I run the risk of sounding a bit hyperbolic, this could be the game that we look back as Rask’s true “I’m the best goaltender in the league/I’m the ace/whatever” in 2013-14.

Up next

The Bruins are back in Boston on Thursday night to take on the Phoenix Coyotes. The B’s have not played the ‘Yotes since 2011. That’s kinda nuts. That game came way back on Dec. 28, 2011, when Dennis Seidenberg score the overtime winner, with Benoit Pouliot picking up the primary assist. Adam McQuaid also fought Raffi Torres that night. None of those players will be involved in Thursday night’s game. Absolutely none of them.

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