The band of disrespected boys (even NESN bailed on the Bruins, bumping them from their high-definition feed in favor of the Red Sox) who know no quit not only made Game 6 tomorrow night at TD Banknorth Garden possible, but they did so in a manner sure to rattle the confident Canadiens, winners of 11 of 12 previous meetings this season. Boston now trails, 3-2, in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
After allowing a first-period goal to an electric Alex Kovalev, the Bruins shut down the wicked winger the rest of the game. They equaled their offensive output of the four preceding games. They ended the barrage with a bad-angle goal by Vladimir Sobotka that might have temporarily buckled Price's confidence.
"I'm not going to tell you that we got in his head," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "We got shots. We threw pucks at the net. And we got a few breaks here and there."
And they got the long-awaited goods from arguably their most skilled player.
The Boston bosses consider Phil Kessel, owner of the team's fastest wheels and finest release, the type of player who needs an occasional boot to the rear. During the regular season, Julien delivered benchings and public tweaks, mostly to do with Kessel's need to compete.
But there can be no bigger bold-faced message than three straight banishments in the playoffs, especially when Kessel dressed for every regular-season game. So for Games 2, 3, and 4, when Julien deemed his services unnecessary, Kessel waited and watched while his teammates did battle.
"Obviously, you're not happy to get sat out," Kessel said. "You're disappointed. You try and help the team whenever you can."
With the Bruins desperate for some offense, Julien gave Kessel the nod and scratched fourth-line grinder Jeremy Reich, putting the 20-year-old on the second line with Milan Lucic and Marc Savard.
The kid responded.
