Are you ready yet? Ready for what you may ask? Ready to believe. The Bruins were tied for first place going into tonight's game against the Habs but people were still wondering whether or not the Bruins could skate with the Habs. The answer, a resounding yes!
This one shifted toward the Bruins early as Shawn Thornton capitalized on a Montreal defensive mistake under three minutes into the game. Thornton popped home his first of the season through the five-hole of Carey Price and the hurt was on.
The Canadiens had a few chances to get back into the game before the mid point of the period but Manny Fernandez held his ground and kept the puck in front of the goal line.
With about three minutes remaining in the opening frame the fourth line struck again, with Thornton making the key play. Thornton took the puck away from Saku Koivu in the neutral zone, resulting in a Bruins rush the other way. With the puck laying around the crease Stephane Yelle emerged, finding the back of the net for his second goal on the season.
The Bruins ended the period on the power play and with under seven seconds to play in the stanza Marc Savard was able to find a streaking Marco Sturm in the slot for another Bruins tally.
As the teams moved to the second period the Canadiens continued to shoot themselves in the foot as Price handled the puck in the restricted area behind the net and was called for a delay of game penalty. Just 13 seconds later Marco Sturm banged home a rebound off of a deflected Patrice Bergeron wrister for his second of the game and the "Caaa-rey" chants were on.
With the score 4-0 it looked as though the Bruins for a moment got a little complacent and Montreal was able to get on the board. Fernandez was able to make an initial stop on Koivu but couldn't control the rebound and Koivu stuck a backhander into the Bruins' net.
The Habs controlled the rest of the period and spent the final two minutes on the power play. The Bruins were able to kill the penalty to Savard and the Bruins took the three goal advantage into the locker room.
After Savard missed a bunny from a few feet away the Bruins were able to make good as Milan Lucic chopped in his fifth of the year. Off of a Phil Kessel face off win Lucic was in the right place at the right time and snapped one past a dazed Carey Price.
After some more of the same old song and dance between Lucic and Mike Komisarek with their usual jawing things finally turned physical. You could tell Lucic wanted Komisarek badly as he tuned up Komisarek like a fiddle.
After the fight Lucic was jumping and waving towards the crowd, completely stoked after putting a muzzle on Komisarek. Even when Looch went to the penalty box he was still revving up the crowd.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in the game Yelle put an exclamation point on this one netting his second of the game on a wrist shot from the right wing.
The Bruins finally got their victory over the Habs for the first time in the last 12 regular season games, and man does it feel good.
One final dap to the fourth line of Shawn Thornton, Stephane Yelle and Chuck Kobasew. These guys yet again set the tone early and put the Bruins out in front comfortably in the first period.
Let's also give some love to Manny Fernandez who picks up his second straight win pushing his record to 4-1-1 and dare I say it, is looking like the best back up plan in the league? Now it may be early, but like I've been saying since the day he got here, he's good. Now he is clearly the back up but he is a good one to have. If he keeps looking good as the season progresses he is also a great trading chip come the deadline.
Finally, the defense. I know we like to look at the low scoring that has been taking place for Bruins opponents and point at the goaltenders right away. However, let's give some love to the D who have really stepped it up over the past few weeks. It also helps when you're killing off penalty's at better than a 75% clip.
Tired? Suffering from a two games in two nights hangover? Not this team.
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