By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
BOSTON -- @font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; a:link, span.MsoHyperlinkcolor: blue; text-decoration: underline; a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowedcolor: purple; text-decoration: underline; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1; Stemming from the aftermath of Zdeno Charas hit on Max Pacioretty two weeks ago, the buzz leading up to Thursday nights game between the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens had many believing that it would be fight night at the TD Garden.
But it turned out to be much the opposite. Both teams stayed disciplined for the most part . . . and that worked in Bostons favor, as the Bs received two goals from Nathan Horton, two goals from Gregory Campbell, and three assists from Chara, David Krejci, and Milan Lucic each, as the Bruins defeated the Canadiens 7-0, in a game that was never really close.
Boston took a 3-0 lead in the first period. Johnny Boychuk opened the game with a slapper from the right half-wall that found the top-right corner of the net, thanks to a Lucic screen out front, just 1:01 into the game.
Campbell made it 2-0 with 6:17 left in the first period, after he somehow re-directed a Zdeno Chara shot from the left point through the pads of Carey Price.
Horton added the third Bruins goal, with 2:32 left in the first, after he caught Price off-guard by accepting a Lucic pass out front and putting it into an open net. Price was caught sliding to the left post on the pass, which he thought was going through the slot and all the way back to the point.
Horton also added the fourth goal, after he finished a nifty pass by David Krejci on a 2-on-1, and sniped the top-right corner, just over four minutes into the third period.
Boston Bruins
Adam McQuaid have the Bruins a 5-0 lead 26 seconds later when his shot from the right point re-directed off Montreal forward Lars Ellers stick and beat Price five-hole, ending his night.
Tomas Kaberle added the sixth Bruins goal with 8:33 left in the third, while Campbell made it 7-0 with his second goal of the night, two minutes later, while on a 5-on-3 penalty kill.
Tim Thomas finished the game with 24 saves and recorded his eighth shutout of the season. Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard. You can listen to Danny on his streaming radio show I'm Just Sayin' Monday-Friday from 9-10 a.m. on CSNNE.com.