B's take Game 1 from Habs 4-2

The Bruins were able to outlast the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Confernce Quarter-Final in a fast-paced, physical game between two familiar foes.

The Bruins got on the board 13:11 into the game on a goal from Phil Kessel. Kessel fired a wrist shot from the left circle. Carey Price made the initial save but couldn't locate the puck. David Krejci alertly tapped the loose puck across the crease to Kessel, who deposited it into the back off the net.

The Bruins made it 2-0 a minute and a half later on a backhander from David Krejci that was set up by a nice feed from Michael Ryder.

Montreal got one back with 3:41 left in the first period on a goal from Christopher Higgins. Glen Metropolit picked up a rebound in front from an Alex Tanguay shot and slid the puck to Higgins at the right circle.

The Canadiens tied up the game with a one-time rocket by Alex Kovalev from the right circle with 2:23 left in the second period

The Bruins came out flat in the third period while the Canadiens controlled the play for most of the early going of the period but with just over 10 minutes left in the third, the Bruins started to swing the momentum and take the game to the Habs.

With Josh Gorges in the box for cross-checking midway through the third, Mark Recchi came inches away from scoring the go ahead goal when he rang one off the post. The rebound bounced off the back of Carey Price and headed back towards the goalline and Price reached back to snag the puck with his glove before it could cross over the line. Moments later, Zdeno Chara's bomb from the high slot gave the the Bruins the 3-2 lead on the power play with 9:45 left in the third period.

With the Montreal net empty and the extra attacker on for the Habs , Milan Lucic picked off Mathieu Schneider's pass in the neutral zone, skated in and passed to Phil Kessel who guided the puck into the empty net with 14 seconds left on the clock. Well after the puck had crossed the line, Maxim Lapierre laid a late hit on Kessel. After Lapierre's late hit on Kessel, Milan Lucic quickly jumped into the fray and grabbed Lapierre setting of a scrum. Lapierre and Lucic were both given matching minors for roughing and 10 minute misconducts.

The rough stuff continued after the final buzzer as both teams exchanged pleasantries and face washes. During the pile up, a glove wielding Mike Komisarek started throwing some short punches to the face of Matt Hunwick while Hunwick was being held back by the linemen. Steve Montador and Guillaume Latendresse were each given 2 for roughing and a misconduct. The officials held an on-ice meeting with team captains Zdeno Chara and Saku Koivu to discuss the incidents at the end of the game.

The rivalry is alive and well!

Notes:

- This was just Game 1 folks, plenty more fun is in store. How good is playoff hockey?

- Maxim Lapierre better have his head on a swivel the rest of this series. There was no need for that.

- Bruins outshot the Habs 39-28

- 3 point night for Phil Kesel (2-1-3)

- The NHL has made it a point of emphasis to cut down on the "message sending" at the end of games. I would guess that they will take a look at the end of this game.