EC Playoffs Round 2: Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens (Habs win series 4-3)

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by AcGold

to be fair there was a lot of luck for Montreal to even be in game 1 and 2. The puck hit the post and slid behind Price numerous times.

True, all I said was Boston got some cheap goals that resulted in a win but CP decided to pile on and attack a poster, per usual.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by $ven27

True, all I said was Boston got some cheap goals that resulted in a win but CP decided to pile on and attack a poster, per usual.

Not attacking, I was legitimately interested in your justification for calling the win cheap.

[EldrickOnIce]

One has to think the Have chances were slim initially.... but that has to be pretty devastating to come back from now. Realistically they wanted a split, but...
You knew the Bruins were due for a break or two, and they broke it open once it came.
However, anyone trying to claim bruins dominated the first two periods of that game had too much liquid lunch. Was a great road game for 50 minutes for Habs.... and another huge third period push from Boston.
Cheers to the next two

[CalgaryFan1988]

Puck was definitely bouncing in Boston's favour in the third. The win might not have been "cheap", but they are very lucky not to be down 2-0.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Puck was definitely bouncing in Boston's favour in the third. The win might not have been "cheap", but they are very lucky not to be down 2-0.

Same could be said for Montreal though, imo.

They were outplayed in both games, but Price could only hold the fort for so long.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Same could be said for Montreal though, imo.

They were outplayed in both games, but Price could only hold the fort for so long.

In just talking about this game, as I was, you can not say that Montreal is lucky to not be down 2-0, because they were already up 1-0.

First game no doubt Montreal was lucky to get the win.

This game Boston's PP was inept and they were losing by 2 with 10 minutes to go. They got the bounces, I don't understand why some have a hard time just admitting it.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

.

This game Boston's PP was inept and they were losing by 2 with 10 minutes to go. They got the bounces, I don't understand why some have a hard time just admitting it.

Considering the position they were in with under 10 minutes, sure, you could consider coming back to win 5-3 as lucky.

The bounces finally seemed to start going their way in the last 10 minutes, which is usually caused by good solid play.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Considering the position they were in with under 10 minutes, sure, you could consider coming back to win 5-3 as lucky.

The bounces finally seemed to start going their way in the last 10 minutes, which is usually caused by good solid play.

Exactly, that's all I was saying.

If Boston would have lost, I still wouldn't have counted them out. Montreal sure would have had them concerned though.

The East, except Boston, truly is weak though this season. IMO

[GettinIggyWithIt]

The play of Price was certainly a huge factor early in this game. But Boston had a lot of trouble with Montreal early on - getting goaded into penalties, making bad passes and just losing pucks in general. I don't think they dominated nearly as much as I thought they dominated the first game. In fact they looked a bit off/tired to me.

Full disclosure - I am cheering for Boston and Iggy (obviously) but I think Montreal played Boston a lot closer than some are willing to admit and some of Boston's key guys were making sloppy plays as a result (Marchand, and even Chara for example). Rask made a couple of huge saves as well.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I see an awkward follow through on a shot coming off the boards. His leg is already dropping, and I would spin away from the boards as well.

I'm not going to fault Subban on that play at all. Just an unfortunate incident. Subban has never really struck me as the kind of player to shy away from physicality, especially at this level and intensity. Sucks for Thornton, though. A real spark plug for the Bruins.

Subban apologized to Thornton and most of the TSN guys agreed he bailed on the hit. He did lose his footing a bit, but he definitely bailed on the hit.

[Textcritic]

This game was a bit frustrating to watch for the first two periods, but ended up being a really exciting Boston comeback win. The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are proving to be the "Come From Behind Playoffs".

I think this game goes a long way to solidify a Boston series win. Something that shouldn't be overlooked is this really weird statistic: Yesterday's win was only Tuukka Rask's first over Montreal at the Boston Garden. He had previously lost 8 games in his career on home ice to the Canadiens. Now that he has that monkey off his back, I wouldn't be surprised to see some momentum carry over from it.

[Pizza]

Found this after looking around in the Hawks/Wild thread
this guy's work is amazing...
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[Table 5]

Originally Posted by $ven27

True, all I said was Boston got some cheap goals that resulted in a win but CP decided to pile on and attack a poster, per usual.

Stop making melodramatic statements without thinking through them first, and you'll find the instances of piling-on will dramatically decrease.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Subban apologized to Thornton and most of the TSN guys agreed he bailed on the hit. He did lose his footing a bit, but he definitely bailed on the hit.

I wonder if Thornton apologized for the nine step charge from the penalty box? That definitely was intentional, it is hard to tell if Subban's was.

[Locke]

Say what you will about either team, these games have been a blast to watch.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This game was a bit frustrating to watch for the first two periods, but ended up being a really exciting Boston comeback win. The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are proving to be the "Come From Behind Playoffs".

I think this game goes a long way to solidify a Boston series win. Something that shouldn't be overlooked is this really weird statistic: Yesterday's win was only Tuukka Rask's first over Montreal at the Boston Garden. He had previously lost 8 games in his career on home ice to the Canadiens. Now that he has that monkey off his back, I wouldn't be surprised to see some momentum carry over from it.

That is utterly bizarre considering his and Boston's win percentage in general. Don't know if it's about Rask or the team but either way there's always that team that has your number I guess.

In a long playoff series, I'd expect him and the team to trend towards their normal level, which would be bad news for the Habs. Montreal's one chance is to keep Boston off their game, wasting opportunities and taking penalties.

EDIT: Have to add that I don't believe in the "monkey on the back" theory either, necessarily. Whatever makes Montreal a tough opponent for Boston doesn't change because of one win.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I wonder if Thornton apologized for the nine step charge from the penalty box? That definitely was intentional, it is hard to tell if Subban's was.

No he never apologized.

Pretty easy to tell now since he apologized to Thornton.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

...Have to add that I don't believe in the "monkey on the back" theory either, necessarily. Whatever makes Montreal a tough opponent for Boston doesn't change because of one win.

So much of Boston's trouble with Montreal from the first two games looks to be in many respects self-generated, and that is why I think there IS something to be said about overcoming these psychological and emotional hurdles. If the problem is Rask's mental game, or the team's collective psyche going into these home games with Montreal, then getting a win WILL certainly help to correct the mistakes that have occurred because of these issues.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So much of Boston's trouble with Montreal from the first two games looks to be in many respects self-generated, and that is why I think there IS something to be said about overcoming these psychological and emotional hurdles. If the problem is Rask's mental game, or the team's collective psyche going into these home games with Montreal, then getting a win WILL certainly help to correct the mistakes that have occurred because of these issues.

Boston was sloppy but I don't watch them nearly enough to judge. Just based on the statistical oddity, I'd look for other reasons first, but maybe you're right. They're not a team that I'd easily associate with psychological blocks but then I honestly don't watch the Eastern Conference very much.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

No he never apologized.

Pretty easy to tell now since he apologized to Thornton.

No not really, Subban could have just said "hey sorry that you got hurt there", or Thornton could be full of crap, it is not like gamesmanship is uncommon in the playoffs.