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Bruins-Canadiens
| Bruins |
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Canadiens |
Fox's Take |
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Goalie |
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Even though Carey Price is a rookie, he has the mental makeup to be sound under pressure. Tim Thomas can get hot but he is 'overly athletic' in getting the job done. |
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Forwards |
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The Bruins might have an edge in top-end skill, but Montreal’s forward group plays a structured game. |
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Defense |
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Boston’s Zdeno Chara is the best in this series, but Montreal’s depth and 1-on-1 shutdown capabilities gives the Canadiens the edge. |
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Power Play |
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No. 1 all year long, and by a wide margin for the Canadiens, Montreal typically just uses regular lines, which leads to effective variety. |
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Penalty Kill |
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Head man Guy Carbonneau and top assistant Doug Jarvis behind the bench lead to a solid penalty kill. |
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Coaching |
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Claude Julien has been integral to Boston's turnaround. Guy Carbonneau is bona fide coach of the year candidate. |
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Intangibles |
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Boston had to overcome numerous injuries during the season just to get in, which can lead to a close-knit group. |
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Canadiens |
Bottom Line: Montreal plays the most consistent brand of structured hockey. Canadiens in 5! |
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| Series at a Glance |
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