Bruins Have Super Sunday Against Bitter Rivals

Super Sunday is a day where you normally get siked for the Super Bowl. However, with the Patriots out of the playoffs this season and the hated Steelers in the Super Bowl, it just doesn't have the same luster. However, the schedule makers helped us hockey fans out today by matching up the bitter rival Bruins and Canadiens for a Sunday matinee.
It didn't take long for the two clubs to come to blows as just a minute in, Alex Henry (who by my calculations hadn't played in the NHL for 3 years) called out Bruins bad boy, Shawn Thornton for an early tussle. Advantage Thornton as while Avery threw many rights, few connected as Thornton landed some face smashing blows.

The Bruins were establishing much of the early pressure, taking the play to Montreal early on. However, in the second half of the period the Habs started to wake up and create trouble in front of Tim Thomas.

With just over two minutes to play in the first period, Montreal was on the power play thanks to an Aaron Ward trip and just 26 seconds later Robert Lang gave Montreal the lead. Lang crept down the left side and fired a nice wrist shot top shelf, over Thomas' right shoulder.

The Bruins did not go quietly into the locker room as Dennis Wideman was able to intercept a Mike Komisarek clearing attempt and blister a wrist shot past Carey Price. The goal was a four-on-four tally that came with just .6 seconds remaining in period one.

Coming out in the second period the Bruins found themselves on two early power plays as Alex Kovalev headed to the sin bin twice. However, the Bruins were not able to score on either chance and were giving the Habs some spunk with two straight penalty kills.

The spunk was short lived however as the Bruins fourth line put the Bruins on top for good when Byron Bitz found Shawn Thornton in front for a 2-1 lead. Bitz was stationed behind the goal and fed the puck to Thornton who slapped it through Carey Price.

The period played out with the physicality picking up on both sides, but especially with the Bruins. Both teams hit the post in the final few minutes and entertainment value was high as the teams got into a couple of skirmishes in front of Thomas.

As the third period started the Canadiens came out on fire. The Habs clearly wanted to try and even the score quickly as the Bruins were already 16 points ahead of the Bruins at face off. However, Thomas was up to the challenge, turning away all of Montreal's attempts.

The period continued and while Boston had a couple of scoring chances it remained mainly a Montreal attack. Thomas was sharp when called on and with just 1:19 to go and the Habs still down a goal the Canadiens were forced to pull Price.

The Bruins were able to get the puck back in the Montreal end on a nice play from PJ Axelsson. As the Canadiens tried to come back out, Marc Savard intercepted a pass attempt and fired the puck into the empty Canadien goal from the neutral zone with 56.5 seconds remaining.

The Bruins were playing out the string when Ryan O'Byrne got his stick up high on Chuck Kobasew in blatant frustration. O'Byrne whined to the box and as Jack Edwards said, stick a fork in them. With the win the Bruins extended their lead over Montreal to 18 points in the Northeast division as we welcome in February.

Indeed, it was a 'Super Sunday' here in Bean town after all.