And not just because 80's anthem music sucks, nor because marsupials have no use for weight loss supplements, nor because Mickey passed away decades ago - The Boston Bruins don't need any of that, only to be relentless like Rocky - taking the Montreal Canadiens' best shot, and keep going after them.
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| The Bruins hope to see this scene early and often in Game 4 |
It's brought them back in all three games of their best-of-seven series with the hated Habs, but it could be that the best strategy for the Bruins is to throw some haymakers of their own to take control of Game 4 in Montreal on Thursday night, and not get themselves in a position where they have to come from behind to begin with.
Because instead of the Big Bad Bruins throwing their bulk around and forcing the smaller, quicker Canadiens to counter their heavy play, the Habs have been forcing the Bruins to chase them around like Mickey made Rocky chase that chicken around the pen in Rocky 2 - the challenger looking as awkward and uncomfortable as the Bruins look in playing that brand of hockey...
...though the Black and Gold made a speed move on their day off, sending Justin Florek back to Providence and recalling the cat quick Matt Fraser, presumably to bring a more quick-twitch presence to the third line, allowing Julien to integrate Daniel Paille back onto the Merlot Line, which will balance out the lineup and make the lines as whole as they can be without Chris Kelly on the third line.
"That line's been together, so there's no doubt that when you take one of those guys out of there, it's not the same thing,"Julien said of the integrity of his checking line, but self-designated team spokesman Shawn Thornton thinks it's all in taking control.
"I think we've just got to get back to playing our way," Thornton quipped. "Just play. Just go out and play. Just like in boxing, just got to let your hands go, that type of thing. Just 'go.'"
Bruins' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Jarome Iginla
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Reilly Smith
Matt Fraser - Carl Soderberg - Loui Eriksson
Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton
Defensive pairings
Zdeno Chara - Dougie Hamilton
Andrej Meszaros - Johnny Boychuk
Torey Krug - Kevan Miller
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson
It's interesting to note that Julien juggled his lines at Thursday's morning skate, then had some fun at the beat writers' expense with a jocularity that they probably are not accustomed to, given the gravity of the circumstance.
"Oh, I think it just gives you guys something to write about so you don’t get bored," Julien said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "And tonight, I can decide whether I want to stick with those or put my lines back to what I want."
Julien never offered a reason why most of his players were skating in unfamiliar spots in practice, but did offer that he felt like having a little fun while keeping the players fresh and focused.
"I think you’re overthinking, honestly," Julien responded to reporter's inquiries "We have fun with things sometimes, and that’s all we’re doing right now. We’re okay. Just having fun with things and like I said, if you guys want to write about that stuff, that's fine but we’re okay in there, we’re just focusing on our game."
As for the Habs, they seem to be all business.
“Playoffs is always a challenge,” Canadiens' coach Michel Therrien said. “I like the commitment from everyone on our team. For me, it’s the commitment from everyone. It’s the challenge, and since Day 1, we got that business attitude, and it all starts from there — with the attitude and the commitment.”
The two head coaches couldn't have been any more different in their approach to Game 3 - what with Therrien talking smack and Julien yukking it up with reporters - and if their respective moods before Game 4 are any indications, not much will change on Thursday night.
They always bring it,” Habs' blue liner Mike Weaver said on Wednesday. “That’s Boston. That’s why they’ve won a few Cups there, and they’re a hard-nosed team. They built their team around strength and finishing checks and skill, and I think for us, we just got to worry about our game and focus on the little things we do and what we’ve been working on.”
Canadiens' Projected Lineup
Forwards
Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallgher
Michael Bournival -Tomas Plekanec - Tomas Vanek
Rene Bourque - Lars Eller -Brian Gionta
Travis Moen - Danny Briere - Dale Weise
Defensive pairings
Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban
Andrei Markov - Alexei Emelin
Douglas Murray - Mike Weaver
Goaltenders
Carey Price
Peter Budaj
Weaver was paired with big-bodied Douglas Murray on Tuesday night and the impact of having the physical trade deadline pick up on the third defensive pairing was evident on every shift as the Canadiens looked to counter the Bruins' physicality - so it appears that Therrien will roll with pretty much the same skaters on Thursday night.
But for Boston, it's really not about who's on the ice for Montreal, it's about their own performance - because they know they are the more talented team.
"You know, we're a group that's confident but we also have guys that right now are a little frustrated at themselves, and they know they have to be better, and they're going to be better tomorrow - and that's the confidence we have in our group," Julien said of the mindset of his players.
"That's the way we've been in the past and you've got to rely on those guys to come up tomorrow and play the kind of game that they can." Julien continued. "It's a 2-1 series, it's not the end of the world here. We've just got to battle back - there's no reason to panic. We haven't in the past, and we're not about to panic now."
From the way Julien conducted his gameday skate, it appears he believes what he says.
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