NHL Franchise Boys

The Bastard Bruins, thanks to MVP goalie Tim Thomas, win the Stanley Cup! Sadly the 2011 playoffs was less about the best hockey of the year and more about biting, taunting, slashing, cheap shots, late shots, high-sticking, slew-footing, diving, embellishing, brawling, trash-talking and name-calling. Pushing and shoving after the whistle became the norm, and by the end of it, the bullies skated away with hockey’s top prize.

Habs fans are obviously bitter at the thought of one of our greatest rivals hoisting the Cup, especially after all that transpired over the past year. Then again, we’re bitter every year the parade doesn’t take place down Ste. Catherine street. But we’re professionals, so congratulations to Tim Thomas and I salute the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins with my middle finger… oops.. that wasn’t me, it was equipment failure… damn keyboard!

What would the Stanley Cup playoffs be without a Boston-Montreal matchup? The Habs and Bruins have already faced each other in the postseason more times than any other two teams in North American professional sports. Add another notch to that tally, with the Canadiens now slated to meet the Bruins in the playoffs for the 33rd time in NHL history when Round 1 kicks off on Thursday. Although many of those epic postseason tilts took place in the Original 6 era, the last half-century has also seen its share of the heated rivalry in the springtime. Since 1984, the two former Adams division rivals have squared off 14 times – with a 15th in 27 years penciled in for the coming series. 

Despite having been swept by the Bruins in the 2009 postseason, Montreal still owns a lifetime advantage counting 24 wins in 32 series against the B’s. The Habs also took the edge in the regular-season series between the two teams, winning four of six games and going a perfect 3-0 at home against the Bruins. Despite the Canadiens’ winning record, Boston has outscored Montreal 22-20 in games this season.

         GO  HABS  GO