When Bruins and Canadiens face each other tonight for the 889th time in NHL history, the 2013-14 B's are able to make one further step towards a franchise record. It was the 1929-30 season, the year after the Bruins won their first cup, in which they went on a 14-game winning streak.
At that time the team was lead by B's legends like Dit Clapper who won 3 Stanley Cups with Boston, the most of any Bruins player in franchise history. The back end featured 4-time Hart trophy winner and hockey hall of famer Eddie Shore and 4-time Vezina Trophy winner "best goalie in Bruins history" Tiny Thompson.
If you look at this year's Bruins team something comes to your mind right away: "nobody is bigger than the team". Even through their biggest winning streak in the last 40 years, no one has even waste a thought on laying back and wait for the playoffs to begin. The "David Krejci line" is arguably the best in the league at this point. Jarome Iginla will likely have a 30 goal season, Lucic is on pace for a career high in assists and Krejci will make the B's top 3 scorer list for a 6th (!) consecutive time.
"The ultimate team player" might be Patrice Bergeron who's the heart and soul of todays Bruins franchise. Leading the league in +/- with 36 he's also in for another Selke consideration. I could continue like this with any player who has just played a game for the Bruins this season, everyone has brought something to the table to make a winning streak like that even possible. Record setting 6 Bruins players made their NHL debut's in black and gold this season, 3 of them scored their first goal with Grinder Justin Florek, Mass. native David Warsofsky and shut down defenseman Kevan Miller, who's made himself a lock for the playoffs with great physical presence at the back end.
The last time Bruins and Canadiens faced each other earlier this month, the B's ended a five-game losing streak against their arch-rivals from up north as they beat them 4-1 at Bell Centre. It was the B's 6th win in a row dating back to a 6-3 victory over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 2th.
Habs will be more than determined to be the team that snaps Boston's streak on behalf of their own playoff dreams, sitting in 3rd position in the Atlantic Divison.
Montréal could be the only canadian team that makes the playoffs, if Toronto continues their run out of the wild card spot. Max Pacioretty has scored 2 game winners against the Bruins this season, whereas goalie Peter Budaj (who hasn't played since the last match-up of these two teams) is known for shining against Boston. The Slovak has won 4 of his 6 career games against Boston, putting up a 2.64 GGA with a save percentage of .911.
All 8 healthy defensemen rotated during rushes this morning, Matt Barkowski should be the odd man out at this time as Torey Krug returns to the lineup after beeing scratched in Phoenix. Tuukka Rask will make his 2nd start in a row.
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