It wasn't pretty--and you wouldn't expect it to be in this series--but the Habs got it done in game one, and it's hard not to imagine them playing better than that.
Michel Therrien acknowledged that the team certainly looked as though the long layover between the end of their series with Tampa and the beginning of their series with the Bruins may have hindered their rhythm. Perhaps you can give the Bruins the same leeway for how game one got started.
It didn't appear as though the rust had settled around Tuukka Rask, but he gave himself less than a passing grade through four plus periods of hockey. Rask was downright indecent in his self-assessment after the game, though he was rather complimentary of his counterpart Carey Price.
Anyone who saw this game would've been complimentary of Price, as he was the main reason the Canadiens persevered, continuing his perfect post-season, notching his fifth win in grandiose style. The saves he made on Brad Marchand and David Krejci in overtime were of another world.
P.K. Subban's performance was highlighted by two simple powerplay goals, the first to open the scoring on Montreal's first man-advantage of the series, and the second to win the game in dramatic fashion.
Rene Bourque completed a nice counter-rush with some help from Lars Eller to put the Canadiens up by two before the Bruins pushed back with stunning goals from Reilly Smith and Torey Krug, respectively. Bourque, Eller and Gionta represented Montreal's most potent trio, with Gionta setting up Francis Bouillon for the go-ahead goal in the third before Johnny Boychuk completed a dominant frame for Boston with the equalizer, with less than two minutes remaining.
Remarkably, despite this being the 34th playoff series between these bitter rivals, this was only the sixth time they'd made it to double overtime against each other. The Canadiens took the fourth of those six contests, and cancelled practice today ahead their 12:30pm matinee with Boston on Saturday.
According to ESPN, the Canadiens are the 15th team in Stanley Cup Playoff history to win a multi-overtime, series opener on the road. Twelve of the previous 14 went on to win the series.
Historical relevance aside, it was pretty clear to the Canadiens and their fans that these Bruins represent the cream of the NHL crop. It was a dominant Boston performance from blue-line to goal-line, and were it not for Price's heroics, the outcome might have been an embarrassing loss for the Habs.
To think that Boston could be better--and if Rask plays as well as he knows he can, they will be--is harrowing for the Canadiens. But, they have their own heights to reach, and they were nowhere near them last night.
The Bruins are 16-4 this year in afternoon games, including the post-season. The Canadiens are 0-4, having not played any matinees in the first round of these playoffs.
Game two promises electricity and the type of nastiness these rivals are accustomed to when they play each other. Having already played more than a standard three-period game against each other, those elements should be well within reach right after puck-drop.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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