(Ed. Note: I thought it would be interesting to see a Montreal fans' perspective, so I asked fellow writer Brandon Hebert to contribute. Follow him on twitter at OT_Hockey - Ryan)
Every year for the playoffs a franchise comes up with some slogan for their postseason run. The Montreal Canadiens this year have come up with “put on your game face”, and if the Habs have any hope to win this series; that is exactly what they need to do.
The Canadiens seem to finally be beaten down by the Boston Bruins, a sight many Bruins fans are happy to see after years of regular season dominance by the Habs. You could even say this season was the same with them winning the series 4-2, but looking deeper it’s not the case. When Zdeno Chara put Max Pacioretty into the boards it not only broke his neck, it seemed to have broken the Montreal Canadiens. They haven’t flied around the Bruins as they once did, they don’t give the shot or two away from the play as they are accustomed to. They simply seemed to have given up. They were zombies in period three against the Bruins in the Paccioretty game, and lifeless on March 24th 7-0 shellacking. If the Habs want to win against the Bruins they need to become the fast skating team that gets under the Bruins skin that they used to be.
PK Subban needs to be himself. The Bruins hate him, and rightfully so. He’s cocky, he’s arrogant, and he’s got skill. And he can goad Marchand and Horton like nobody’s business. The Habs powerplay has had the Bruins number this season, and if PK can get the team on the PP that is the key to Canadiens success. Along with that, the fans in Montreal will be relentless, the booing heard for Chara will put Cleveland fans hatred for Lebron to shame. The fans in Montreal swing momentum and intimidate referee’s like no other. If a Hab goes down with a Bruin around they’ll b on the powerplay and they need to convert.
The Bruins are big and strong and tough, the Habs need to know their place here if they want to win. Push and shove after the whistle is fine, but don’t get tough, don’t get in a situation where the Bruins can hurt you. Cause they have, and they will. Ryan White and Paul Mara are the only two you should look for to have any fight in them. The rest of the team needs to play the same way that normally wins them games.
Carey Price needs to be who he was in the regular season, and Tim Thomas needs to be who he usually is in the post season, if the Habs want to win. Drive the net, get Thomas to bite first and get him out of postion, and take advantage. Easier said than done, because when the awards are handed out that man will hold another Vezina trophy.
At the end of the day if the Habs don’t show up tonight at 7 pm with their game face’s on. This series is going to be as easy as, one, two, three, four.
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