Preview: Bruins vs Canadiens 2009

Records

Boston (1): 53-19-10 (116 pts) Home: 29-6-6 Away: 23-13-4
Montreal (8): 41-30-11 (93 pts) Home: 24-10-7 Away: 17-20-4

Head-to-Head

Oct 15, 2008 - BOS 3 MTL 4 (SO)
Nov 13, 2008 - BOS 6 MTL 1
Nov 22, 2008 - BOS 3 MTL 2 (SO)
Jan 13, 2009 - BOS 3 MTL 1
Feb 1, 2009 - BOS 3 MTL 1
Apr 9, 2009 - BOS 5 MTL 4 (OT)
Boston won season series 5-1.

Fights

Oct 15, 2008 - Shawn Thornton vs Georges Laraque
Nov 13, 2008 - Milan Lucic vs Michael Komisarek
Jan 13 - Mark Stuart vs Kyle Chipchura
Feb 1, 2009 - Shawn Thornton vs Alex Henry
Apr 9, 2009 - Shane Hnidy vs Josh Gorges
Apr 9, 2009 - Milan Lucic vs Maxim Lapierre

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Boston
Scoring: EDGE Boston
Defense: EDGE Boston
Coaching: EDGE Boston
Grit: EDGE Boston

Schedule

Thursday, April 16, 7:00 p.m. (CBC)
Saturday, April 18, 8:00 p.m. (VERSUS, CBC)
Monday, April 20, 7:00 p.m. (CBC)
Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m. (CBC)
*Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. (CBC)
*Monday, April 27, TBD (CBC)
*Wednesday, April 29, TBD (CBC)

Prediction

Well aren't we lucky. In a repeat of the 1 vs 8 match-up from last year, the top ranked Bruins should be able to put an end to the 100th year of Les Habitants. Montreal has unraveled down the stretch and won't be able to keep up with Boston. The B's will win this in a short series, but there's no doubt this will be a tough one.

John's Pick

It's good to see one of the most heated regular season rivalries spill over into the playoffs and I expect the series to be played as such. It's a tale of two different teams in this one. The Bruins glided along without many bumps in the road throughout the season while the Habs faltered midway through. A surprisingly strong start from Montreal should quickly be thwarted by Boston in this one. Tim Thomas will look outstanding as usual. Bruins in 6.

David's Pick

It's a classic rivalry, a repeat playoff series from last season, and while I think it'll be nasty, I think it might sputter out fast. The Bruins have more of everything up and down that lineup and Montreal won't be able to compete, or even do anything about not competing. This is my biggest hope-I'm-wrong series, as a hard-fought even-played 7-gamer would make this the must-watch series - I just doubt we'll see anything like that. Bruins in 5.