Claude Julien didn't want to downplay a very important win for his team, but in the process of explaining what got Boston even in this series, he did exactly that.
"We can play better," Julien reminded after the game. Perhaps it's that glimmer of dissatisfaction that pushes the Bruins to heights only champions reach.
For what it's worth, the Bruins book-ended the first four games of the series with their best efforts, swallowing a tough pill in game one, rewarded in game four; hockey karma at its finest.
Julien and GM Peter Chiarelli opted to call on Matt Fraser (the forgotten piece of the deal that sent Tyler Seguin to Dallas for Loui Eriksson and Reilly Smith), who suited up for his first NHL playoff game next to Eriksson and Carl Soderberg. The trio was Boston's most threatening for portions of the game, inevitable setting the table for Fraser's first NHL playoff goal; an overtime winner that seemed destined to fall on his stick considering the odd turn of events in front of Montreal's net.
Carey Price--with a little help from his posts--was spectacular once again, but he got crossed up with Mike Weaver on Fraser's goal. Price said someone said "up", and as he looked over his left shoulder, the puck squirted loose on his right side, trickling to Fraser for the easy tap in.
Michel Therrien referred to the game as a battle of attrition; one in which both goalies asserted themselves to force it into a one-shot outcome after three periods of scoreless hockey. If there was any semblance that the war might be lost, it didn't come from Therrien, who was largely impressed with his team's effort and generally positive about the task in front of them.
The Bruins successfully wrestled back home-ice advantage, as one would have expected before this series shifted back to Montreal at 1-1. Their second opportunity to capitilize on what they've earned is Saturday night. ***************************
1) Confidence is a funny thing. The pressure of the playoffs tends to render it much more elusive and much more attainable depending on how things are going.
Thomas Vanek found it quickly in game two, managing a couple of tips on the powerplay. It carried over to game three, with his picture perfect pass to Plekanec for the game's opening goal. In game four, he failed to compete for a puck at the defensive blue line, and he put P.K. Subban on his heels, as Subban took a holding penalty on Brad Marchand behind Montreal's net. The penalty didn't end up costing the Canadiens. In fact, they took a fair deal of wind out of Boston's sails and got the crowd into the game.
Shortly after that, Plekanec tossed a pass over to Vanek on a 2-on-1 to give the big Austrian his best scoring occasion of the night, only for Vanek to boot it back into the slot with no one around to receive his pass. It was the furthest thing from a confident play.
2) So what's wrong with Max Pacioretty?
Why is confidence so elusive for him right now?
Is he putting too much pressure on himself?
Is he frustrated?
Is he doubting himself too much?
All of the above?
There's no diminishing the difficulty of playing against Zdeno Chara in a matchup. In the first two games of the series, Pacioretty saw roughly 80% of his shifts against Chara, and that number was cut in half for the two games in Montreal.
Somehow, Pacioretty didn't get his first shot on net until the third period. If that's not a sign of fractured confidence, I don't know what is.
He seems frustrated that he's not getting the chance to get the puck in the neutral zone. He seems frustrated that when he does get it, he's not able to carry it without having a wall of three Bruins close him off. And he's forcing a square peg into a round hole trying to overcome that with his power and his speed, instead of chipping the puck in for himself or a linemmate and getting himself into a shooting position thereafter. He's abandoning the straight lines and routes that made him so successful this season.
It's unlike him, but he hasn't been available to speak to the media after a single game in this series. His presence was requested in Montreal's room, but his appearance was never made.
It'll be the greatest challenge of Pacioretty's career to date (and that's saying a lot, considering what he's managed in his short time in the NHL) to break through in Boston, in game 5, where he'll be back to 80% of his shifts against Chara.
Confidence is as elusive as it is attainable at this time of year. Can he catch the break he so desperately needs? Not if he doesn't put himself in position to do so.
It's soul-searching time for this uber-talented player.
3) Michael Bournival isn't a second liner. He's on a line with Plekanec and Vanek to create space for them, not to finish off their plays. That's not to say he can't finish them off, but the nerves sure got to him when he was in position to actually do so.
Bournival's pop-gun was no threat to Tuukka Rask, and it might force Therrien into some more tinkering for game five.
4) Not without blemish, Douglas Murray was playing a very solid game until overtime. I'm not sure you can truly fault him for it, but before the play developed into a loose scramble for the puck, the Bruins bobbled over the Canadiens blue line unchallenged. The puck was loose on Soderberg's stick coming over, and Murray had the opportunity to stand up and poke it free. He made an attempt at a poke, but it was as he was backing off the line.
It's a 0-0 game, and with his foot-speed (lack thereof) would you really blame him for playing it safe? The whole game was played safe.
There wasn't much blame to assign on the goal itself. An odd bounce in front, and a bit of a coverage breakdown as a result. Too quick for the Canadiens to recover. Game over.
5) If the Canadiens were going to win game four, it would've been on the sticks belonging to Lars Eller, Rene Bourque and Brian Gionta; Montreal's most effective trio by a country mile.