The Montreal Canadiens have a tantalizing an opportunity: they can clinch the season series against their foremost rival whilst the season is barely one-third complete. Due to extenuating circumstances, however, getting a third win over the Boston Bruins may be more difficult than getting the first two was.
With the recent change in Boston's status on the NHL totem pole, descending from the likes of a NHL super-heavyweight to their current standing as merely a good team, combined with Montreal's continued Stanley Cup aspirations, the emotional tenor of this year's first two Habs-Bruins games felt different than previous match-ups.