Emotions Skate High in Bruins, Canadiens Series Opener
e·mo·tion (dictionary.com definition)
1. an effective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.
2. any of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc.
3. any strong agitation of the feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear, etc., and usually accompanied by certain physiological changes, as increased heartbeat or respiration, and often overt manifestation, as crying or shaking.
Emotions, they carry us through our highest of highs and lowest of lows. After one game in the books, one point has been made abundantly clear, the emotional roller coaster that follows the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens is only just beginning. An Original Six rivalry is a thing of beauty. Often, words can not express or even begin to highlight the atmosphere, the only way to fully understand is to witness firsthand.
An anthem sung in unison, rallying chants, taunting boos. The regular season moral boosting tactics are magnified to fully encompass the playoff feel. As they say, there is nothing greater than playoff hockey and just one game into the mix, that sentiment has already been skated to the full effect.
While the Bruins faced an Original Six match-up during the first round in the Detroit Red Wings, the sense of hatred for one another never fully boiled to the surface. The strife felt between the Bruins and Canadiens was felt before the teams hit the ice, as fans flooded the arena, making the drive from Montreal or hopping the train from surrounding Boston areas — everyone was well represented.
Represented, yes. Happy, perhaps not. A disappointing outcome for the Bruins and their fan base will hopefully be short lived. It was almost a repeat of the first game against Detroit, two teams feeling each other out, despite multiple regular season preludes. A demoralizing 4-3 loss in double overtime wasn’t due to a lack in effort, but a lack in discipline. The Bruins tallied 51 shots on goal, many impressive attempts that just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. In hockey, it happens.
“This is just game number one. You don’t get frustrated after one game,” said Bruins Head Coach Julien. “I didn’t mind the way our team played tonight. We had lots of chances.”
No strangers to adversity, some of the best Bruins hockey is played with their backs against the wall.
“Yeah I mean we’ve been there last series, so you know we’ve been in this situation before,” said Bruins Bergeron. “We know we’re expecting that. They’re a great team, and you know we’ve got to be better next game.”
It’s just one game in the books, with the possibility of six more ahead. Rivalry aside, Boston will continue to place all of their emotions on the ice in an attempt to experience the greatest one of all, joy, while hoisting Stanley.
