"If you want to be a hero, well just follow me" - John Lennon

If there's ever a need for help from the black and gold Gods who look down upon us, it's tonight. For the fourth straight year the Bruins are playing in a Game 7 in the NHL playoffs. Their record in those Game 7's? 0-3. A loss to Montreal in round one, and losses to Carolina and Philadelphia in round two. It's frightening, terrifying and awful all rolled into one. If you haven't read my Gridin Gears piece of Game 6's refereeing, go ahead and read it. I won't be commenting on it much here because I don't want to sound redundant. I also don't want to rile myself up any further than I already was.

This game means so much in the world of hockey it's amazing. The Bruins and the Canadiens are Original 6 franchises who have played each other 32 times in the playoffs. The Canadiens lead the all-time playoff series 24-8, but are just 1-1 against the Bruins in the past four years, which includes a Bruins sweep. Tonight, though, has nothing to do with the past. It has nothing to do with the Bruins 2-4 record against the Canadiens this season. It has nothing to do with Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4, Game 5 or Game 6. It has nothing to do with the abortion known as the officiating last night.

Tonight has to do with two teams looking to extend their season. Both teams have extremely passionate fanbases that will be disappointed in a loss. Fanbases that has been at each others throats all season. Fanbases that have pulled radio media to turn on each other, for TV analysts to show their true colors and for a hockey game to become more than just a game, but a way of life. People in Montreal bleed the blu, blanc and rouge because of history and pride. They have their car flags, their Ole chant and they cheer when a red sweater falls (and boo when there's no call). People in Boston bleed black and yellow. They're drunks. They believe in aggressive, hard woking, blue collar type of hockey. Although these fanbases are completely different, they have one thing in common: Passion.

So tonight is anyone's game. If the Canadiens can continue their fast skating, diving style of hockey, they'll win. If they can coax officials into ghost penalties and stay on the power play, they'll win. If the Bruins can stay 5-on-5 and out hit the Canadiens, they'll win.

We're down to a one game elimination. The time to hold back is over. If Claude Julien wants to win this game and continue to keep his job, he'll need to coach with desperation. If Tomas Kaberle wants to remain a Boston Bruin, he'll need to play with desperation. If the Boston Bruins want to play in May, they'll need to play with a level of desperation we haven't witnessed since Game 3 of this series in Montreal. The Bruins have been the better team since Game 3 and are 3-1 because of it. Lets not forget, the only reason the Habs scored last night was because they were 5-on-3, twice. Without those power plays, it's a different story.

Boston won a lot of the one on one battles last night. but they couldn't finish. They had the chances but, again, they couldn't finish. They are also dreadful on the PP (0-4 last night, 0-19 on the series) and it's been their downfall, especially if they lose by a goal or two tonight.

I'm not going to do the usual stuff. I can't. Bruins need to focus on the task at hand and win this fucking game or heads are going to roll. Add a comment

That hockey game last night was a fucking sham and a mockery of hockey. It was a shamockery! What I witnessed last night was one of the worst officiated NHL games to ever grace the airways. I don't know what the hell happened in Montreal last night, but David Stern (NBA Commissioner for those who are unaware) had to have sent an e-mail to his boy Gary Bettman on how to fix games. I'm not one to attack the referees during a game because it's a hard job, especially in hockey. They miss offside calls, they miss penalties, they're human but last night was disgusting. I don't know where to begin. Oh wait, yes I do.

Let's start out with the goalie interference call on Carey Price at the end of the first period. I tried to find the video but there wasn't one floating around the internet, surprisingly. With the Bruins on a power play, Patrice Bergeron BRUSHES Carey Price who then hits the deck and Bergeron gets hauled away with goalie interference. Later in the game, the Habs are on a 2-on-1 and Scott Gomez absolutely demolishes Tim Thomas, but no call.

And this was the trend of the night. The Canadiens were getting away with a lot of shit (like Subban's cross check to the head of Chris Kelly and Mara's high stick on Rich Peverley) but the Bruins were called with such miniscule things. The biggest injustice of this miniscule refereeing? The phantom slashing call on Nathan Horton while Horton was on a break away. It's amazing if you think about it. There's no doubt in my mind that Horton would've buried that break away, but if you watch the replay Horton gets hooked then gets called for a slash. It's unbelievable! Here's the video:


There's no fucking slash there, unless I'm blind. That play happens a million times a game and suddenly that's a slash? That was the second time where the Bruins PP was negated because of a "penalty" on the Bruins. If someone can legitmatly point out where the "slash" was, I'll listen but to me that's a standard play that happens all the time.

Last point I want to touch on is the Lucic hit on Spacek. Here's the video:

 
Do I believe that Lucic deserved a penalty on his hit to Spacek? Absolutely. Give the guy two minutes in the box and move on. Now, Lucic was being taken to the box when the referee looked over and saw Spacek laid out like he was shoved into a stanchion. The referee then decides to give Lucic a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Un-fucking-believable. Let's look at the NHL rulebook folks:

41.3 Major Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a major penalty, based on the degree of violence of the impact with the boards, to a player guilty of boarding an opponent (see 41.5).

41.5 Game Misconduct Penalty - When a major penalty is imposed under this rule for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent, a game misconduct shall be imposed.

Here's the issue with rule 41.3, it allows the referee to use his discretion when assesing these penalties. Based on the hit from Lucic, that was not a five minute major for boarding, not even close. A lot of people are also saying it's because Spacek was cut on his forehead from the hit. I'm sorry, do you mean cut from his helmet? If Spacek isn't wearing that stupid visor, he doesn't get cut and Lucic doesn't get a major. Major aside, my issue is with the consistency of the NHL officials when it comes to those kind of hits. Mike Richard, Daniel Briere and Raffi Torres all had hits that were worse than what Lucic did and two of those on the wrong end of those hits missed a game or two - no calls and no suspensions. Lucic hits Spacek, who does his best Pacioretty impression, gets the major and Spacek barely misses a shift.

The officiating sucked, plain and simple. 

After the jump, more suckiness!

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This game was terrible in so many different ways. The refs set new lows. The Bruins powerplay set new lows. The Bruins were a better five on five team but there wasn't much five on five play. No idea how their powerplay coach still has a job, evening dating back to the regular season.

This game needs to already be behind you. And behind the Bruins. Hard to say considering how tough the loss was. But Game 7 is less than 24 hours away. It comes down to this again. The Bruins season has ended in Game 7's a lot in the past few seasons. We don't need to tell you that. Going to be an intense scene at the TD Garden Wednesday night.

Might want to call in sick for Thursday now. You're either going to be up until the early hours high fiving your friends and harassing Habs fans or drinking heavily and avoiding anything that has to do with Canada. Even though Canada hates Montreal.

Look the Habs won. Doesn't mean they're not cowardly diving bitches. What a disgrace to the game of hockey. But hey, the Bruins didn't do enough in this game to get by that. Doesn't matter how good or bad the refs are when the Bruins look like they couldn't score on a powerplay even if Roberto Luongo was in net.

After the jump.... Dive, dive, everywhere a dive, shitty powerplays and Purrgeron interviews a Montreal legend......

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Game Six. Bruins lead the series 3-2.

Now's the time to end the series. Now's the time to finish the Canadiens and send them off packing. 

If this was a zombie movie, the Bs need to give the Habs a double tap just to be sure. Don't want them getting back up, biting you and turning you into a retarded, self-entitled diver. *shudders* 



Like HockeyBuzz's Ty Anderson said earlier -- tonight is Boston's Game 7. Bruins need to come out flying, put the pressure on early and often and squash any hope of Montreal seeing another game this season. Game 7s are crapshoots and going into one after a loss in back-to-back games is even a bigger crapshoot.

Bruins need to finish Montreal off.

Some finisher moves Boston can choose from:



Or the DOY personal favorite:


We're doing another live chat tonight. Like Mary Paoletti said: If Bruins go 4-0 during our livechats, we should get like a billion dollars. We'd take free season tickets for life or a Johnny Boychuk/Shawn Thornton group hug, too.

After the jump... porjected roster, game day links and game day video.

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"Nathan Horton scores! The Bruins lead the series for the first time!"

The best sound you've heard in months.

There are few things better than seeing the joyous burst of emotion following an overtime goal, especially when your team scores it. Grown men suddenly turned into giggling boys. The team pig pile in the corner. The playful face washes. Joy and happiness in its purest form. 


What made the victory even sweeter was how cowardly the Habs were. Subban ran his mouth again and refused to drop the gloves and answer for it. He ran, in typical Subban and Habs fashion. Hamrlik ran from Thornton but then acted tough against Marchand. Plekance attacked Marchand while refs held Brad. Montreal dove left and right trying to buy calls. And nothing worked.


Thomas saved more then Jesus. Ryder even made a save. The Bruins did what needed to be done and they are one victory away from moving on. 

The Bruins haven't even played their best yet and they are up 3-2. They get better every game. They look hungrier. There's more grit in their game. They're suddenly playing like a team that knows nothing worth having comes easy. 

After the jump.... our thoughts on the game......

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By now you've probably heard by Patches made a crack about Brad Marchand's large nose:



Our official response:

 
Seriously. Whatever. He made a joke about Brado's nose. Big whoop. If this is Montreal's answer to Ference 3:16, they're in trouble.

Other Brado's Nose Jokes:
* Brado's nose has lasted longer on the ice with Chara than Pacioretty.
* Brado nose helped him sniff out that first Bruins goal last night. (Ok... not a joke; it's a fact)
* Brado's nose is probably bigger than your (boyfriend's) dick; definitely bigger than Montreal's.
* Brado didn't need a prosthetic when casted to play Cyrano de Bergerac.



In fact, these nose jokes are 100x better. Thanks, Cyrano:

1. Obvious:  Excuse me. Is that your nose or did a bus park on your face.
2. Meteorological:  Everybody take cover. She's going to blow.
3. Fashionable:  You know, you could de-emphasize your nose if you wore something larger. Like ... Wyoming.
4. Personal:  Well, here we are. Just the three of us.
5. Punctual:  Alright gentlemen. Your nose was on time but you were fifteen minutes late.
6. Envious:  Oooo, I wish I were you. Gosh. To be able to smell your own ear.
7. Naughty:  Pardon me, Sir. Some of the ladies have asked if you wouldn't mind putting that thing away.
8. Philosophical:   You know. It's not the size of a nose thats important. It's what's in it that matters.
9. Humorous:  Laugh and the world laughs with you. Sneeze and its goodbye Seattle.
10. Commercial:  Hi, I'm Earl Schibe and I can paint that nose for $39.95.
11. Polite:  Ah. Would you mind not bobbing your head. The orchestra keeps changing tempo.
12. Melodic:  Everybody! "He's got the whole world in his nose."
13. Sympathetic:  Oh, What happened? Did your parents lose a bet with God?
14. Complememtary:  You must love the little birdies to give them this to perch on.
15. Scientific:  Say, does that thing there influence the tides.
16. Obscure:  Oh, I'd hate to see the grindstone.
17. Inquiry:  When you stop to smell the flowers, are they afraid?
18. French:  Say, the pigs have refused to find any more truffles until you leave.
19. Pornographic:  Finally, a man who can satisfy two women at once.
20. Religious:  The Lord giveth and He just kept on giving, didn't He.
21. Disgusting:  Say, who mows your nose hair.
22. Paranoid:  Keep that guy away from my cocaine!
23. Aromatic:  It must be wonderful to wake up in the morning and smell the coffee ... in Brazil.
24. Appreciative:  Oooo, how original. Most people just have their teeth capped.
25. Dirty:  Your name wouldn't be Dick, would it?

Recap later today. 

(Tweet image from PuckDaddy)  Add a comment

For real, guys? Can VERSUS get anything right?


Whatever. Nothing can ruin tonight's win.

Recap coming later. Add a comment

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You know what we miss seeing? Home wins.  This supposed home ice "advantage" hasn't helped out much so far.  But we're feeling that it could all change tonight,  Bruins have definitely shifted the momentum away from the Habs, where home losses probably sting a little more.  That being said, Bruins shouldn't be satisfied with their play, I'm looking at you  top line and power play, get your asses in gear!

In a way, I'm glad that the Bruins needed to come from behind a lot last game to get the win rather than blow them out, simply because it shows that they have the ability to do it.  Sure, it means that our hearts may temporarily stop, but that's what defibrillators are for!


Plus, it's got to sting a lot more losing after playing with the lead all day, which makes it so much more delicious for  Bruins fans...and we know something about losing games after leading in the playoffs *sob*.

After the jump, we put FingerGate to rest (maybe).
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