Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 NHL Playoffs: Montreal Canadiens-Boston Bruins Analysis After Game 7

You can't say the Montreal Canadiens didn't try.

After going down 2-0 early in the first period on goals scored by Johnny Boychuk and Mark Recchi, the Habs battled back.  Yannick Weber scored his second goal of the series on the power play in the first stanza, while Tomas Plekanec exploited the Bruins' horrendous man-advantage and scored on a short-handed breakaway in the second.

The Bruins, however, were hungry for a game and series victory.

Chris Kelly scored midway through the third, and it looked like the Habs' fate was sealed.

That is, of course, until Patrice Bergeron took an undisciplined high-sticking penalty with less than three minutes to play.

As if trying to make amends for blown opportunities earlier in the series, the Canadiens took advantage of this one.

P.K. Subban scored the most important goal of the Canadiens' season on the power play.

The stage was set for overtime in Game 7.

I have to be hones, though: I thought the Habs were going to pull it out.

I was wrong. Nathan Horton came up huge.

In seven games, the two teams went to overtime three times, one of which ended in double OT. The Bs took every game.

They came into the series as heavy favorites, and came back from a 0-2 series deficit for the first time in 27 tries.  They deserve to be lauded for their perseverance.

But so do the Montreal Canadiens.

Without two of their top defensemen and one of their better forwards, the Habs were not given much of a shot to win the series.  But they shocked the hockey world by taking the first two games in Boston.  Then, after losing the next three games (the second and third in heartbreaking fashion), they managed to win at home—Carey Price's first victory at the Bell Centre since the 2008 postseason.

The Habs pushed the series as far as it could go, but ultimately, it wasn't enough.

Tim Thomas looked like he was saving his best for last.  He made 33 saves on the night.

And Carey Price?

Well, he was mortal.

Canadiens fans certainly realize that he was the only reason the Habs were even in the playoffs.  He stole two games for the team, four may have been too much to ask.

I think that Habs followers should all be proud of their effort and look forward to the team improving in the upcoming season.

Ali Campoverdi Giuliana DePandi Pamela Anderson Amber Arbucci Christina Aguilera

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