Bruins DieHard: Fans Got What They Expected In Game 5

BOSTON (CBS) -- Despite the words of Bruins Coach Claude Julien, it was what we Bruins fan have come to expect. No nonsense, no backing off, give it all you got Boston Bruins hockey. They played their game. They hit them, and they hit them gain. They got their power play working scoring two of their four goals with the man advantage. Something they last did in the post season against the Habs in 2009. The coach had a "chat" after the first period about the manpower situation and he was happy with the results saying "our power play was due." And after allowing 10 goals in the first three games of the series, new papa, Tuukka Rask has yielded but two in the last two games and both were Saturday night on the Montreal power play.

When asked about his team returning to their style of play, Julien said "I don't think you can look at tonight and say all of a sudden we found our game. I think we were better tonight, but there's another game to win and ....we know it's not going to be easy."

Against the Canadiens it's never easy, especially at Bell Centre. But Saturday, you could see a sense of confidence in how they were playing. And they solved that early series brick wall Carey Price. Boston is one game away from their third Eastern Conference Final in four seasons.

Bruins kept the heat on Montreal not letting their speed get going. Slowing them down in the neutral zone and, until the final two minutes of the game when the Canadiens had pulled their goaltender giving them a two-man advantage, neutralizing P.K. Subban on the power play. Subban would eventually send a laser over the glove of a screened Rask late in the game which would account for the final score.

The Bruins kept pushing the Habs with their forechecking and hitting which caused Montreal to look lost on the ice, especially Tomas Plekanec who took three consecutive penalties of which Boston's power play cashed in on two at the start of the second period. Reilly Smith on a redirection of Doug Hamilton's high slot shot and Jerome Iginla one-timer, all alone in the low slot. Both goals sliding through the legs of Carey Price.

It was breathing room for Boston and their fans and even though Brendan Gallagher's power play goal would make people think the Canadiens were back in the game, The Bruins would have none of it. Continuing the effort for the entire 60 minutes. There was no second period lull, no lets back off and let the Habs bring the game to us. Loui Eriksson would seal it, picking up a rebound of a Matt Fraser shot and putting by Price. Ericsson also assisted on Carl Soderberg's first period goal which was his first NHL Playoff goal.

Lots of all around goodness as the Bruins head back up to Montreal for the chance to eliminate the Canadiens as the little guy lights the fire on the ice at pregame of the Bell Centre. No it won't be easy, but we are looking for Boston to extinguish the Habs in game 6 as quickly and efficiently as they did in game 5.

Ric Duarte has covered hockey and the Bruins for various media outlets since 1986. You can follow Ric at BruinsDieHard.com and on Twitter @bruins_diehard.