(AP Photo/Canadien Press, Paul Chiasson)
Bruins' fans can admit it: they want to see this outcome tonight.
For the first time ever, Bruins' fans have a reason, and an excuse, to be rooting for their long-time nemesis and rivaled Habs, as a Canadiens victory could favor Boston's semifinals matchup
With their series tied up 3-3, the No. 1 seed Washington Capitals host the No. 8 Montreal Canadiens in the series-deciding Game 7 of the Conference quarterfinals tonight at 7:00 p.m.
A Capitals win tonight would put all matchups in place and pin the Pittsburgh Penguins as the Bruins' next round opponent.
However, the Candiens are not only fighting for an upset and advancement to the next round, but for history as well. Since the current playoff format was adopted in 1994, no No. 8 seed has come back to defeat a No. 1 seed having been down 3-1 in the series. So the Habs could rewrite history tonight while doing the Bruins a big favor:
Giving Boston home-ice advantage against the Philadelphia Flyers in the semifinals.
Boston's general manager Peter Chiarelli said this on a conference call to the media yesterday when asked about the two possible matchups:
"I suspect if we play them [Philly] it'll be a crash-and-bang series. They've got some big physical forwards, they like to play in your face. They've got [Chris] Pronger on the back-end who plays a physical game and can also move the puck. So I think that;s the type of series you'll see there..”
“Pittsburgh, my guess is because they have the two elite forwards, I think you're going to see maybe more of a technical...tactical matchup type of series. It will still be physical becasue they've got some big bodies up front including [Alex] Ponikaravosky and [Mike] Rupp and guys like that, that are big bodies and can fill lanes."
The Bruins went 2-1-1 against the Flyers during the regular season with a 11-9 scoring edge. Tuukka Rask posted a 1-0-1 record in two starts against Philly (4-3 SO loss, 5-1 victory) while stopping 67 of 71 shots-against.
Versus the Penguins, the B's were owned with a 1-2-1 regular season record while being outscored 10-9. Rask played in just one game, the March 18 revenge of Matt Cooke, where the Bruins were shutout 3-0, while stopping 28 of 31 Pittsburgh shots.
The Flyers are going to be without center Jeff Carter -- who posted 2-1-3 and 17 SOG in 4GP against the Devils last series -- for the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing successful foot surgery. Left-winger Simon Gagne (toe) could return to the ice on Friday, but isn't expected to play until Game 3 at the earliest.
Philly is backstopped by 33-year-old journeyman, and mostly back-up, goaltender Brian Boucher, while Michael Leighton slowly recovers from a high-ankle sprain. Boucher put up fantastic numbers against the Devils in the quarterfinals (4-1, 1.59 GAA and .940 SV%), but I'm still liking the Black-and-Gold's chances against the Black-and-Orange.
If the Bruins can eschew the greatest hockey player in the world and the reigning Stanley Cup champs for as long as possible by rooting for the hated Habs tonight, then so be it.
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