Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Habs send it to Game 7

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.

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