Canadiens Force A Game 7 With Bruins
MONTREAL (AP) -- Boston coach Claude Julien found plenty of positives as he analyzed the Bruins' loss to the Montreal
Canadiens.
"Two goals 5-on-3, that's all that there was from their side," he said following the Bruins' 2-1 loss, which set the stage for a decisive Game 7 in Boston on Wednesday night. "And from our end I thought 5-on-5 we did a great job tonight, even killing 4-on-5 we did a great job."
The Bruins' biggest negative, a constant throughout the first-round series, is obvious to all. Boston went 0 for 4 on the
power play in Game 6 on Tuesday night and has yet to convert a chance in 19 playoff opportunities.
No team has won a playoff series without scoring a power-play goal since Anaheim swept Detroit in the first round in 2003.
"The power play's been struggling and they won the game because of that tonight, because of their power play," center Patrice Bergeron said. "We've got to find a way and bear down."
In this closely contested series, one power-play goal may end up making all the difference.
Two certainly did for Montreal in Game 6 as Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta each scored on separate two-man advantages.
"Obviously when it's 5-on-3 it's harder to keep the puck out of the net," said Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, who stopped 25 shots.
The Canadiens had lost three in a row, including the previous two in overtime, after winning the first two games on the road.
Montreal improved to 6-1 in elimination games dating to last year's run to the Eastern Conference final.
"It's a lot better coming in here knowing we're going to Boston than coming in here knowing that we're going home," said Carey Price, who stopped Rich Peverley's short-handed chance with just over 2 minutes remaining and made 31 saves in all. "We can't dwell on it, though. We've got to saddle up and do it again (Wednesday)."
Dennis Seidenberg scored for Boston, which played more than half the game without ejected winger Milan Lucic but still outshot Montreal 32-27.
The crowd of 21,273 booed as a Montreal goal 3:27 in was disallowed due to a quick whistle. Scott Gomez's dump-in was misplayed by Thomas and was open beside him as Gionta slipped it in the net.
Cammalleri one-timed a pass from P.K. Subban from the right circle midway through the first as Montreal converted its first lengthy 5-on-3.
The Bruins struck back with the teams each down one man only 48 seconds into the middle period as Seidenberg came out from behind the net and lifted it inside the post.
Lucic was given a boarding major and a game misconduct 4:37 into the second for his hit on Jaroslav Spacek. The Bruins' 30-goal scorer drove the Montreal defenseman's head into the glass on a check from behind directly in front of the off-ice officials.
The Canadiens got their second two-man advantage of the game 16 seconds later when Bergeron was penalized after his clearing attempt sailed over the glass.
Gionta got his third of the series at 5:48 to restore Montreal's one-goal lead.
Brad Marchand had a chance to draw Boston even for a second time late in the second but he misfired on a chance at a wide-open side during frenzied play while both teams were a man short.
NOTES: The ice was littered with promotional towels after the disallowed goal, prompting a warning that the Canadiens would be subject to a minor penalty if the crowd caused any further delays by throwing objects on the rink. ... Yvan Cournoyer brought out the Canadiens' torch to begin the pregame presentation. ... The Bruins are bidding to win for just the ninth time in 33 playoff meetings between the longtime rivals. ... Price had lost each of his previous seven playoff starts at the Bell Centre dating to 2008.
... D James Wisniewski and C David Desharnais did not play for
Montreal and were replaced by Yannick Weber and Paul Mara. Both
suffered undisclosed injuries during Game 5. ... Canadiens C Lars
Eller left early in the first after suffering an apparent right
shoulder injury but returned late in the period.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
MONTREAL (AP) -- Brian Gionta and Michael Cammalleri scored during two separate two-man advantages and the Montreal Canadiens forced a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
Game 7 is Wednesday night in Boston, with the Bruins looking to beat Montreal for only the ninth time in 33 postseason series.
Dennis Seidenberg scored for Boston, which played more than half the game without ejected winger Milan Lucic but still outshot the Canadiens 32-27.
Boston had taken the lead in the closely contested series with consecutive overtime wins, but couldn't get the equalizer behind a sharp Carey Price -- who made 31 saves -- despite outshooting Montreal 11-6 in the third period.
Tim Thomas stopped 25 shots for the Bruins.
It was a nervous game for both teams and referees Kevin Pollock and Chris Lee, with spotty passing and missed opportunities on both sides.
The crowd of 21,273 booed as a Montreal goal 3:27 in was disallowed due to a quick whistle. Scott Gomez's dump-in was misplayed by Thomas and lay clearly open beside him as Gionta slipped it in the net.
Cammalleri was the catalyst for the opening goal as he threw the puck toward the Boston bench and caught the Bruins with too many men on the ice, then had his stick slashed in two by Seidenberg for a two-man advantage. Cammalleri one-timed a pass from P.K. Subban inside the near post from the right circle at 10:07.
The Bruins struck back with the teams each down one man only 48 seconds into the middle period as Seidenberg came out from behind the net and lifted it inside the post.
Montreal got another two-man advantage when Lucic was given a major for boarding and a game misconduct for a hit from behind on Jaroslav Spacek, who turned at the last second and was cut when his face hit the glass. Only 16 seconds later, Patrice Bergeron shot the puck over the glass for a delay-of-game call.
Gionta put Montreal ahead when he knocked in a rebound at 5:48.
Spacek returned later in the period and the Bruins had to juggle their lines without Lucic, who does not appear likely to face further discipline.
Boston's Brad Marchand wasted a glittering chance when he couldn't find the handle on Zdeno Chara's pass with half the net open on a late power play.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
