Some ill-timed penalties and the stellar play of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey price proved to be the difference as the Bruins fell 2-1 in Game 6 in Montreal to force Game 7 tomorrow night in Boston.
The game started on a controversial note as the Bruins benefited from a quick whistle by referee Kevin Pollock that took what looked like a legitimate goal by Brian Gionta off the board for the Canadiens just under 3 and a half minutes into the game. Tim Thomas never had control of the puck, but Pollock blew the whistled while Gionta tapped the lose puck past Thomas. The blown call brought a shower of boos and projectiles including a rubber chicken down on to the ice surface from the Bell Centre crowd.
The Habs were able to get on the scoreboard for real at 10:07 of the first period on a 5-on-3 powerplay goal from Mike Cammalleri following a too many men on the ice call on the Bruins and a slashing minor on Dennis Seidenberg. With plenty of extra frozen real estate to work with in the offensive zone, the Habs moved the puck around with ease before P.K. Subban's pass connected with Cammalleri at the right dot for a one timer that beat TIm Thomas for his Cammalleri's third goal of the series.
Dennis Seidenberg redeemed himself early in the second period after his slashing penalty in the first period led to Mike Cammalleri's power play tally. Seidenberg gathered the puck behind the net, skated out front to the right post and got off a quick shot that beat Carey Price for the equalizer 48 seconds into the middle period.
Milan Lucic was given a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct after Jaroslav Spacek hit the glass face first 4:37 into the second period.
The major penalty to Lucic proved to be costly. Brian Gionta finally got a goal that counted on another Habs 5-on-3 power play at 5:48 of the second period with Milan Lucic watching from a TV in the dressing room and Patrice Bergeron looking on from the penalty box (delay of game-puck over glass).
Notes:
- That was a poorly officiayed hockey game. Game 5 and Game 6 showed two completely different approaches to officiating in the playoffs. In Game 5, they let the players decide the game and made calls when they had to be made. Tonight, the guys in the black and white striped jerseys made themselves too much a part of the game. There were some real tick-tack calls (Bergeron's interference call and Nathan Horton's slash stick out) and few calls that were just blown (taking the Habs goal off the board). That being said, it is hard to pin this one on the officials. Both teams were affected by bad calls and the B's need to find a way to create some offense. You are not going to win many games scoring one goal. The refs can't put the puck in the net for you...but as we found out tonight, they can take it out of the net.
- It is interesting to see how CBC's broadcast team viewed Milan Lucic's hit's compared to NESN:
- In my opinion, Milan Lucic should not be suspended for that hit. I am OK with 5 for boarding. The game misconduct is questionable. It was a dangerous play, but a lot of that is on Jaroslav Spacek, who turned into the boards right before the hit putting himself in a vulnerable position. The hit was not late and the head was not targeted. Lucic has served his time with the game misconduct. The big question is: How many 911 calls did Montreal Police get tonight?
- Wait. The Montreal Fans pick the 3 Stars at Bell Centre??? That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. They seem like reasonable and unbiased group of hockey fans and all and I'm sure visiting players get stars in that building all the time. I mean any fan base that calls 911 on a hockey check has their heads screwed on straight. These fans would never be blinded by their bleu, blanc, et rouge lenses. Tonight's 3 Stars: Mike Camallerri, Carey Price, and Brian Gionta.
- Stick tap to Stanley Cup of Chowder reader TomServo42 for coining the phrase "bleu, blanc, et rouge octobre" to describe the Habs' diving ability.
- Claude Julien needs to treat tomorrow night like a job interview. If his team fails tomorrow night, is out.
- The Bruins out-shot the Canadiens 32-27.
- I have been calling Habs fans clowns for a long time. My theory might be right after seeing the items that they bring to hockey games. What well-adjusted adult brings a rubber chicken to a hockey game and then throws it on the ice?
- Once again, the Habs did a great job of clogging the shooting lanes. Montreal blocked 27 shots tonight (to the Bruins' 13). Roman Hamrlik lead the Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal block party with 8 blocks.
- The Bruins were charged with 3 give-aways. All 3 were charged to Tomas Kaberle.
- The Bruins were 0 for 4 on the power play tonight. They are now 0 for 19 on the power play in the playoffs.
- Wednesday night's Game 7 at TD Garden is at 7:00 PM ET and can be seen on NESN locally. The Public Skate open thread gets going at 6:30 PM ET.