MONTREAL – Brad Marchand scored in the fourth round of the shootout, giving the Bruins a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the first meeting of the year between the two rivals. The Bruins improved to 12-1-3 in their last 16 games.
The game was halted with 1:27 remaining in the middle period after Montreal winger Phillip Danault took a slapshot from Zdeno Chara to the side of the head. He lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being taken off by stretcher. The remaining 87 seconds were played after the intermission, before the third period began.
Danault, it was later announced, was taken to a local hospital with a head injury, but was reported to be conscious and able to move.
After the Bruins had taken their first lead of the night, courtesy of a great cross-ice pass from Charlie McAvoy to Jake Debrusk, the Habs scored twice in the span of 3:06 in the second with goals coming from Nicolas Deslauriers and Alex Galachenyuk.
David Krejci intercepted an ill-fated clearing attempt in the slot and pumped home the equalizer at 17:42.
The teams had traded goals in the first period, with Brad Marchand taking a perfect feed from linemate Patrice Bergeron and scoring on the power play. Montreal had scored first when Max Pacioretty banged home a rebound from in close.
PRE-GAME NOTES
After going almost half the regular season without a look at their longtime rivals, the Bruins will see plenty of the Montreal Canadiens over the next week or so: the game Saturday night at Bell Centre will mark the first of three meetings in eight days between the teams.
“It’s kind of weird. We’ve played half the year and you still haven’t faced them,’’ said Patrice Bergeron. “It’s different, but we’re definitely looking forward to tonight’s game. We know it’s going to be a battle. It’s always a tough match against this team, especially here and we all know what’s at stake with the standings.’’
Brad Marchand seemed surprised to learn that this week’s slate featured three head-to-head meetings with the Habs – Saturday night in Montreal, Wednesday night in Boston and back here next Saturday night.
“Really? I really didn’t know,’’ chuckled Marchand. “I hadn’t looked. But it’s good to get them over with because they’re always tough (games)."
“I’d rather see them spaced out,’’ said coach Bruce Cassidy. “It’s odd that we don’t play them until now, forty games in. But it is what it is – you play the games in front of you. We’re going to know a lot more about them in the next eight days. It’s a great rivalry, so it’s a little surprising them that we haven’t seen them a little sooner. But we’ll deal with it tonight, look forward to it. It’s 'Hockey Night in Canada,’' Saturday night, Bruins-Montreal, so I think our guys we’ll be a little more into it. I know I will, growing up watching those games as a kid.’’
The Bruins are loaded with young players and for some, Saturday’s game will mark their first pro games in Montreal.
“I think for our young guys to be in Montreal, I hope they appreciate it,’’ said Cassidy. “I’m sure a lot of them (appreciate the atmosphere). I think things seem to happen quick here early, so we’ve tried to warn our young guys. But until you live it …. this will be great for them. This is part of the learning curve for young players: the history of the game and the big rivalry here. Hopefully, they get immersed in it quickly.’’
“It’s almost like a mini-playoff series, to play them three times in (eight days),’’ noted Tuukka Rask. “You’re grinding it and during the season, you don’t really pay attention to who you’re playing – one game at a time and you move on, week-to-week. It just so happens to be Montreal with three games in a week. So be it. We’ll play it one game at a time.’’
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Defenseman Adam McQuaid has sufficiently healed from a broken leg suffered back in October, but hasn’t been able to crack the lineup.
“Right now, it’s game-to-game,’’ said Cassidy of McQuaid's return. “We’ve talked about maybe going with seven ‘D.’ We haven’t gone down that road since the Tampa game. We like where our group is right now, we like where our team is. It’s just a tough circumstance when things are going well. I’d be the first to move pieces around if I thought it would make us a better team, but right now, it’s going pretty well. It’s a long year. He’ll get his chance. He’s earned that right. Great character guy, not being in the lineup, he’s working hard so I’m sure that when he gets back in, he’ll do a terrific job for us."
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Former Bruins Chris Kelly was recently named to the Canadian Olympic team, earning a cheer from Marchand, a former teammate.
“I’m very happy for him,’’ said Marchand. “He’s a phenomenal guy. He’s gone through a lot of adversity the last couple of years, so it’s an incredible opportunity. He deserves it. I wish him nothing but the best over there. I’ll be watching very closely. Having the opportunity, that’s probably the biggest stage you can play on. (NHL players) not going probably allowed different opportunities for different people. But guys deserve it. It’s unfortunate that we can’t be there, but I’m very happy for every guy who will be there. ‘’
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SECOND PERIOD OBSERVATIONS:
- The Bell Centre, by reputation, is one of the loudest rinks in the NHL, with a capacity of about 21,000 and a seating bowl that has fans hanging over the ice. But that building became eerily quiet late in the third period when Montreal defenseman Phillip Danault was struck on the side of his face by a slapshot by Zdeno Charo. Danault went down quickly and play was stopped. He remained on the ice for several minutes, motionless, as he was attended to by the Canadiens' training staff. He appeared to move some, but was eventually taken off by stretcher. With just 1:27 to play in the middle period, officials made the wise decision to have the teams go to their dressing rooms, suspending play. When play resumes, the teams will finish the 87 seconds remaining, then play the third period in its entirety.
- The two teams traded two goals apiece in the second. The Bruins took their first lead when rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy zipped a crisp cross-ice pass to fellow rookie Jake Debrusk, who skated in from the left wing and beat Price.
- That lead didn't last long, as the Habs scored twice in the span of 3:06. Rask didn't look good on the first, allowing a long-range, low shot to Nicolas Deslauriers to beat him stick-side. It was a bit reminiscent of some goals he allowed last Sunday in Pittsburgh.
- The score (1-1) and shots (9 each) reflect a pretty even period in this first meeting of the season between the rivals, though the Bruins' had to endure a sloppy stretch of about five minutes that saw the Canadiens press and get the first goal of the night.
- Rookie defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who's earned the trust of the coaching staff with his play, allowed Max Pacioretty to outmuscle him to the left of Tuukka Rask, enabling the Habs' captain to rap home a rebound inside the post for Montreal's first score at 3:22
- The Bruins had some good chances, including one by Danton Heinen, who, off the rush, beat Carey Price, but had his shot ring off the left post. Later in the period, Heinen had linemate David Backes closing in the slot, but his pass was off-target, lost in Backes's skate
- Rask has had his challenges in Montreal over the years, and while he couldn't be blamed on the only goal of the period, he looked unsteady at times, twice losing his footing when he came out to play the puck to the side of the goal.
- On the power play, the Bruins pulled even at 17:40 and the goal was a thing of beauty. Patrice Bergeron entered the zone on the right wing and feather a pass into the slot for Brad Marchand who unleashed a wrist shot above Carey Price's blocker. The B's had been just 1-for-7 with the man advantage over the last three games.