There was a time when the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens was must-see television.
Every game. Every shift. Every hit. Every fight. Fans from both sides couldn’t get enough of the storied rivalry. For over a century, there have been epic regular-season games and monumental playoff series.
Oh, how times have changed.
This Original Six matchup has lost a lot of its luster. The hate used to be real.
In the third and final game of this season series between the clubs, the Canadiens posted a 4-1 victory Thursday night at Bell Centre and handed the Bruins their 10th consecutive loss. For Montreal, the win helps its chances of earning a Stanley Cup playoff berth. It’s also the first time the Canadiens have defeated the Bruins in the last 17 meetings between the teams. Just another low point for the Bruins this season.
Entering the game, Bruins coach Joe Sacco said they wanted to play the role of spoiler, but that wasn’t the case. For a moment, the game became a bit chippy, but it then quickly fizzled away.
There’s certainly been a different feel to this rivalry the last few seasons. It didn’t help that it was so one-sided for such a long stretch. This one-time fierce rivalry almost seems like an afterthought these days. Normally, a game this late in the season would be a perfect stage for the hatred to intensify, but not of late, especially Thursday night. Games between the Bruins and Canadiens have been dull and uneventful.
Instead of the normal physical battles and typical fisticuffs, these games feel more like a pillow fight. Thursday’s game was the 764th meeting between the clubs, but the storied history has become dormant and the only way it gets ignited is when both teams become perennial threats once again.
Hockey fans in Boston and Montreal deserve better than this latest product.
