MONTREAL – So much time had elapsed between games of this series that one goalie lost his dogs and the other became a first-time father. The break also offered the coaches a chance to take stock of the situation and dream up new possibilities.
These are the moments where Claude Julien usually thrives.
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Amazingly, the Boston Bruins had won the third game of a playoff series in 14 of 15 tries since the coach was hired back in 2007 – at least until arriving at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night and allowing the Montreal Canadiens to push them into another hole and start piling on the dirt.
Even though Boston’s recent history of dominance in these situations might easily be dismissed as a strange coincidence or quirk, you must consider that the third game of a series is when the dynamics change. It is the game when the other coach gets the last line change and, by extension, a chance to alter the matchups. It also comes at a point in the where the teams have felt one another out.
The third game of a series is all about preparation and attention to detail and it was the Habs that made the most of the opportunity here. Michel Therrien, who first coached against Julien two decades ago in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, decided against trying to engage in hard line changes to get his best players in favourable situations.
He knew from experience that Julien would aggressively try and combat that strategy, which would likely disrupt the flow of the game for his players.
Instead, Therrien elected to shake up his forward units, dropping Thomas Vanek to the second line alongside Tomas Plekanec and Michael Bournival while moving Brendan Gallagher into Vanek’s usual spot with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty. The goal was to spread more “energy” across each trio and when Vanek found Plekanec with a perfect slap pass at 10:57 it became impossible to argue with the results.
Therrien communicated the rationale behind the changes to the players individually on Tuesday morning. He wanted to make sure everyone understood. When the puck dropped hours later, his team was ready.
“I like the balance we can show on every line,” Therrien explained after the 4-2 victory. “I think it’s crucial for any hockey team. … We had reached a point where we needed to make adjustments.”
Down 2-1 against an underdog, the Bruins are almost certainly in the same position now. Patrice Bergeron’s second line is the only one that has produced with regularity in this series and the heat is starting to shift to the top unit of David Krejci, Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic – although Iginla did tip home a goal late in Game 3.
Krejci has led the Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring two of the last three years but only has three assists to show for his efforts so far this spring. He acknowledged that he can “be a lot better” and he’ll get no argument from his coach.
“David’s shown a little bit of frustration so he’s got to battle through that stuff,” said Julien. “It’s a line that’s given us a lot this year so you have to have a little trust, and right now that’s what I’ve got. Things have got to get better for that line for us to be successful.”
However, the Bruins uneven opening to this series isn’t about one player or one line. They have yet to play a complete game. They’ve trailed by at least two goals every time out.
There was an all-around lack of crispness in the early stages of Game 3, with Rene Bourque getting sprung for an early breakaway on the kind of stretch play Montreal showcased repeatedly during a first-round sweep of Tampa Bay. It should not have been a surprise.
Just before Plekanec opened the scoring, goalie Tuukka Rask and defenceman Kevan Miller had some miscommunication behind the net. When P.K. Subban jumped out of the penalty box and came in on a breakaway to make it 2-0, Rask had failed to alert his teammates that their power play was ending by slapping his stick on the ice.
“Decisions, decisions,” said Rask, who became a father on Sunday when his girlfriend delivered a baby girl.
It was yet another breakaway that produced Montreal’s third goal, with fourth-liner Dale Weise getting sprung on another long stretch pass in the second period. This was not the type of effort anyone expected to see from a patient, experienced group like the Bruins.
“Of course not – not with our system,” said Rask. “But (breakaways) happen. It’s just mental mistakes, I guess, letting those guys get behind us and not noticing the penalty ending there.”
However, all was not lost.
The Bruins did mount a failed comeback where they were one shot away from sending the game to overtime. Carey Price has been excellent in goal for Montreal, but he’s not unbeatable. And a 2-1 series deficit didn’t seem to have anyone too rattled in the visiting dressing room.
They are in the middle of the fight now and they know it is going to be hard. The Bell Centre is a tough place to play, especially with anthem singer Ginette Reno whipping the crowd into a frenzy with a version of “O Canada” that is as moving as any you’ll hear. There is an undeniable belief pulsing through Montreal and it is up to the Bruins to snuff it out.
Decisions, decisions.
Therrien’s worked in Game 3 and now we wait to see what Julien can come up with before Thursday night.