That means that the Bruins get the No. 7 seed Philadelphia Flyers and home ice advantage next round, with the series beginning this Saturday in Boston. Game time is 12:30 pm. Also, Bruins in Philly means that I will be able to cover at least one of the games there next week. Good times-- the first postseason matchup between the two since they were the Big Bad Bruins and Broadstreet Bullies.
The Caps and their fans are living what the Bruins have had to endure all too often. Anyone remember 1984 and some holmes named Steve Penney? No? Then how about the Jose Theodore show in 2002 and 2004? Theodore sitting on the bench tonight in Capitals red while Jaroslav Halak stoned his team for the third straight game was oh-so ironic.
1 for 3o on the power play? Really, Bruce? Really?
Make no mistake-- the Capitals will be back, but they looked like a team that expected they would just win. Montreal outworked them and made up the delta in talent by cashing in on their opportunities. The Caps? Not so much. Montreal blocked a ton of shots in the series and the players paid the price.
Sometimes, you have to lose hard before you learn to win. Alexander Ovechkin will have to grow from this because he's an unbelievable talent. Too often, he tried to do it all himself, so he'll either reflect on this and elevate his game the next time around, or he'll have to start getting used to being second fiddle to Sidney Crosby.
"I thought we had a good chance to win the Stanley Cup this year," a stunned and subdued coach Bruce Boudreau said after the game, adding that he would have bet his house that Montreal would not have won three games in a row.
Well, at least his mortgage is safe (as is his job, I believe), but this one is going to hurt for a long time. Bruins fans know all about the gut-wrenching feeling that comes with a great regular season followed up with a first-round flameout.
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