by Kelly Monteith

Created on: April 21, 2008

Please note, this article was written prior to game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins.

The Montreal Canadiens were not predicted to even make the playoffs.Little movement was done over the summer,no blockbuster signings of unrestricted free agents, team management felt confident with the players they had.The so called hockey experts said the team would be lucky if the finished thirteenth or possibly lower.

Then something interesting happened, although the team started off slowly, which some teams tend to do, the Canadiens started their impressive winning streak and then battled with other teams such as Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Philadelphia and the Rangers for top spot over all.At the trade deadline GM Bob Gainey made what some called a gutsy move by trading their number one, Goalie Cristobal Huet and naming Carey Price, a rookie, their starting goalie.After the shock had settled the team went on to win their division and Bob Gainey looked like a genius.

Players and coaches will tell you once you get into the playoffs,it's like starting a new season of hockey.The Canadiens were favored over the eighth placed Boston Bruins, who made the post season by the skin of their teeth.The Bruins could breathe in life into their game and although the had some key injuries, thought they had as good a chance of beating Montreal as any other team.The Canadiens set out to do what they intended to do.Home ice advantage throughout the playoffs and they made the Bruins pay for every little mistake made.Unfortunately, the one thing which made Montreal so dominate throughout the season, their power play, was nowhere to be found in the playoffs.

As of today, the Canadiens and the Bruins are tied 3-3 going into tonight's game (April 21st).What happened? Well, for starters the Canadiens were up 3-1 in the series and thought they were home free, and they should have eliminated the Bruins, for the Bruins could not get the puck passed the Montreal defense, they could not put the puck passed Price.But the Bruins players were patient, let the goalie make a mistake, and that is what happened.Price grabbed the puck and instead of holding on to it and stopping the play, decided to throw it to the nearest team mate, only problem, there wasn't anyone there except Bruin players in front of the net.Price attempts to clear the puck, only to have it go off a Bruin player and into the net.Then the flood gates opened up and the Canadiens ended up losing game 5, 5-1 in Montreal and now were heading back to Boston.

Although the Canadiens had a 3-2 lead on Boston, there were some grumblings as to whether or not the Bruins had finally gotten to Carey Price.Game 7 was one of the best games the Bruins played, not letting the Canadiens over power them, and attacking the Canadiens in their zone every chance they could.Heading into the third period, with the Canadiens ahead 2-1, the scoring for both teams began.The Bruins tied the game, only to have the Canadiens once again go ahead, but the Bruins answered twice, only again to have Montreal score again.Back and forth they went, but in the end the Bruins came away with a victory and sent the series back to Montreal for game 7.What will happen tonight? Anything, the Canadiens, who were up in the series 3-1 and on the verge of going on to the next round must ask themselves what did we do to make this so hard.Carey Price is a rookie goalie, in game 5 he made a rookie mistake, and now the Bruins know they can score on him any chance they get.The Montreal Canadiens are now one game away from being eliminated from playoff action, maybe the move GM Bob Gainey made at the trade deadline is now coming back to haunt him.

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