Bruins head up to Montreal for Game 3 down 0-2

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 18, 2011 2:35 PM EDT in Game Previews

The Bruins find themselves in the unenviable position of being down 0-2 in a best-of-seven series and having to hit the road for Game 3 and 4. The Bruins will try to get their first win of their series vs. the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the Bell Centre.

The big question on everyone's minds is "Will Zdeno Chara play?" Well, the B's big defenseman was on the ice for the morning skate this morning at the Bell Centre and led his team in the post-skate stretch. While, Chara looked like he is ready to play, Claude Julien was not making any guarantees (perhaps he learned something from David Krejci), saying "As we speak, it's looking good, but I can't stand here right now and say he's a definite in."

Tim Thomas appears to be the starter tonight for the B's. There was some speculation by Bruins fans that Tuukka Rask could get the nod in goal tonight, but that does not appear to be the case as Thomas was the first goalie to leave the ice during the morning skate.

For those of you hoping to see Tyler Seguin in the lineup, tonight probably will not be the night. The rookie forward stayed on the ice for an extended skate this morning, which usually is a sign of a healthy scratch.

Notes:

- Andrei Kostitsyn (foot) and Jeff Halpern (lower body) are game-time decisions for the Habs. Kostitsyn skated on the right wing with Tomas Plekanec and Mike Cammallerri during the morning skate.

- The Bruins did not run full line drills during the morning skate, so we will have to wait until game time to see if Claude Julien shuffled the lines.

- Audio from Claude Julien's press availability after the morning skate.

- The Bruins guarded their captain Zdeno Chara from facing the media this morning.

- It looks like Bob Ryan and Pat Hickey have got themselves into a pissing contest.

- It is pretty clear, if Claude Julien can't find a away to motivate his team to come back and win this series, his days behind the Bruins bench are numbered.

- The Bruins have given up the first goal in both games and dug themselves early holes. They need to get on the board early tonight, neutralize the crowd a bit, and let the Habs play catch-up. Montreal was 12-24-2 in the regular season when giving up the game's first goal.

- At the time of publish, most books had the Bruins as slight favorites tonight.

- The Bruins announced over the weekend that they have signed 2009 6th round pick Tyler Randell to an entry-level deal.

- Your Ironic Tweet of the Day comes from Chris "Knuckles" Nilan telling you not to steal

- Speaking off Knuckles, he thinks that he could take Chara in fight at the age of 53. Trust me this video is worth watching, not just for Knuckles' ridiculous claim but also for the large quantity of douchiness and awkward high fives by Habs fans.

- The game starts at 7:30 PM ET and will air on NESN locally.

- The Public Skate open thread start at 7:00 PM ET. I swear I will remember to schedule it this time.

- Milan Lucic summed up the Bruins' current situation pretty well after Sunday's practice:

We’re in trouble right now and we need to find a way to rally and get our heads around it. And everyone needs to step up and play the way we know we can."

- Patrice Bergeron spoke to the media after the morning skate:

Video Credit: Hockey Inside/Out

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Comments

From a Habs fan:

1. Halpern is good on faceoffs, his return would be welcome. Faceoffs always seem so crtical in playoffs.

2. If you want to find the highest concentration of douchey fans, go to a sportsbar during a big game. Good god.

3. Habs fans not exactly breathing easy – Bruins can play better.

4. Did Nilan have a substance abuse problem? I mean that seriously – he looks high mileage.

by I_miss_Switzer on Apr 18, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t know about Nilan’s past and would not want to speculate.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 18, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

found a March 2010 article

long struggle with booze and pills. Not an uncommon story.

Seeing those dorky high fives might lead to a relapse.

by I_miss_Switzer on Apr 18, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I somehow find his claim that he could still fight Chara way less ridiculous then when at the Caps convention this summer, DJ King claimed the same thing.

Link?

I like Laich, but I <3 Green
Keep the faith!!!!!!

by RockinRed4Life on Apr 18, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

should have provided - here you are

http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/columnists/story.html?id=98e7826f-25ea-45c6-bed1-a69d7d26c725

by I_miss_Switzer on Apr 18, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

By the looks of him now, maybe a little meth thrown in there too.

As for the rest of the “fans” they interviewed in that video, while they are my mortal enemies, most Habs fans are much more intelligent and educated on the game than those tools were.

by MattS on Apr 18, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

you get many of the worst fans, any team

at a sports bar.

by I_miss_Switzer on Apr 18, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

1. Yes he is, especially in the defensive zone
2. No question. And that goes with any city
3. Agreed, and neither are the Habs
4. Yes it’s well documented. It’s taken it’s toll on him over the years. But he’s not the first hockey player to go that path, is he?

Nilan has really been gearing up the appearances in Montreal and on Montreal radio this season. He’s probably looking at something permanent on-air for next year.

Kevin van Steendelaar

http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar

but don't forget...

http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Apr 18, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Just keep him away from the swimwear section at the department stores up in Montreal.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 19, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I should actually be able to watch the whole game tonight!

Hopefully the B’s can do what the Rangers did yesterday (grumble) and cut their series deficit in half.

has there been official word as to if Chara is in or out tonight?

I like Laich, but I <3 Green
Keep the faith!!!!!!

by RockinRed4Life on Apr 18, 2011 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Habs media

said he looked to be a full strength at practice – colour had returned, laughing, etc.

by I_miss_Switzer on Apr 18, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

No official word on Chara. Julien’s quote above is the closest thing we have to go on.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 18, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought after your caps tied it up late in the 3rd the Rangers would be close to finished. I still think the caps will get to see what the 2nd round looks like this year. I would love to see them and the B’s go at it but we need to show up for this first round series that we for some reason decided to not show up for yet.

by beachguy113 on Apr 18, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

A Bruins vs Caps round would be great!

I honestly didn’t expect the Caps to win that game. The way they were taking bad penalties left and right, and the way the Caps luck seems to go, the fact that goal for the Rangers was waved off for being ON the goal line as the clock hit 0.0, made me thing something equal would happen the other way too. In my pool tho (is it bad to go against your own team?) I had them splitting the road series and winning in 5 so I wasn’t too upset…tho that game was quite frustrating — especially since I work at the phone booth it was the first game I could watch uninterrupted since it was away.

I have faith the B’s will do it tonight and win this series.

I like Laich, but I <3 Green
Keep the faith!!!!!!

by RockinRed4Life on Apr 18, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I have the blind faith that I have not given up hope yet but it really sucks to have your whole season come down to your first road game that is 3 games into the playoffs. Really early for the make or break game considering they had home ice adv.

by beachguy113 on Apr 18, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It all comes down to tonight!

Bruins need a confidence boost. If they drop tonights game, I unfortunately believe they will fold. Everything is resting on tonight’s effort. Being in attendance for games 1 and 2, I can say that the Bruins got NO bounces… the puck seemed to have a mind of it’s own and everything went Montreal’s way. In my experience, the team that is leaving it all out on the ice gets the luck. We will see how tonight plays out.

by gordiehowehattrick on Apr 18, 2011 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

I am not sure I would count them as out if they lose tonight (tho certainly a win is a kind of a “must”) but then i am an eternal optimist.

I do, however, thing their chances of a comeback are HUGE if they win tonight — being down 2-0 on the series and then winning AWAY would not only be a huge confidence boost, but hopefully would serve to take some of the wind out of the sails of the Habs more so than if the win came at home for the Bruins.

I like Laich, but I <3 Green
Keep the faith!!!!!!

by RockinRed4Life on Apr 18, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

If they drop tonight’s game, it’s over. Down 3-0 with 2 more games at Bell Center? Forget it.

by Phunwin on Apr 18, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Score first!

by 13_Legion on Apr 18, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait is it that the same Chris Nilan who Stan Jonathan beat the he tried to take jonathen down with a leg move ????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX8PWfPxdiI

by TheTruth88 on Apr 18, 2011 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

#30, knuckles Nilan. The same.

Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Round 1: NO HABS NO (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Apr 18, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that was a rhetorical question, Cornelius.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 18, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Old time hockey. Make it so.

by MattS on Apr 18, 2011 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

You think that’s going to fly in Montreal tonight?

by 13_Legion on Apr 18, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably not an all out donnybrook, but the B’s need to be way more physical and at the very least knock most of Ryan White’s teeth out of his stupid head.

by MattS on Apr 18, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah.

by 13_Legion on Apr 18, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d like Krejci and Bergeron to use some of their modern hockey skills to score goals. The “Old Time” physical hockey we’ve tried to play against Montreal doesn’t seem too effective.

by Toe Nash on Apr 18, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

When the Bruin had success against the Habs during the regular season, it was when they were hitting hard and intimidating the Habs. The Habs don’t look too intimidated right now. The Bruins need to bring that physical edge and make the Habs think twice about skating to the top of the crease. Some goals would be nice too.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 18, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

They also had success when not playing from behind because of early goals.

by Toe Nash on Apr 18, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ahem!

by Toe Nash on Apr 18, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they did both tonight and at least from what I saw (1st period).

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 19, 2011 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

They win tonight

B’s will win tonight to ensure their title of Greatest Sports Tease in Boston is not challenged. To make things perfect, they’ll likely get it go 7 and then lose in excruciating fashion at the Garden. I would love it just once if Claude thought outside the box and threw Caron up with Bergeron/Marchand tonight and then have Seguin center Peverley and Rex. Sit both Ryder and Kelly down. What’s the worse that could happen? Be down 0-3?

by PuckheadinSD on Apr 18, 2011 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, that is the worst that could happen.

by tkent on Apr 18, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Nilan is absolutely nuts, but listening to him is pretty funny.

As for the bar shots… those are some awkward high fives, and interviews with drunk fans are always like that, they’re never going to air a smart hockey comment.

Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire

by Andrew Berkshire on Apr 18, 2011 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

Correct...That bar was in Montreal afterall

As for the bar shots… those are some awkward high fives, and interviews with drunk fans are always like that, they’re never going to air a smart hockey comment

A lifelong Bruins fan living in Penguin land!

by KJSK on Apr 18, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

heh heh…

and I always find it ironic that Habs fans are accusing the Bruins of goonery rather than “playing actual hockey” when their team employed Nilan for all those years…

by phonymahoney on Apr 18, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Most of Nilan’s PIM were from fights resulting from protecting his players in the pre-instigator rule era. Pretty much every team had at least one guy like that in that period.

Bruins must have liked what he did, as he played their for two seasons.

Kevin van Steendelaar

http://www.twitter.com/kvansteendelaar

but don't forget...

http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Apr 18, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Every team has had their share of goons or questionable players and the two teams we are watching tonight are no different.

by beachguy113 on Apr 18, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

that link was so funny

nilan is a crazy guy, is there never real news in Quebec? actually i take that back. nesn is pretty much the same thing as your news channel except it watches 4 major sport not 1. your football team doesnt even count

by muffinman2 on Apr 18, 2011 10:58 PM EDT reply actions