Chiarelli: "We Had The Jitters"; Game 2 Preview

Canadiens lead series 1-0

With game 1 in the books and the (expected) result in Montreal's favor, The Bruins aill be looking to even the series at 1 before taking it back home to Boston for game 3 tomorrow.

A Habs win would be their 10th straight over Boston this season and 12th overall.

No word on any lineup changes for Montreal. As for Boston, Patrice Bergeron had a lengthy pre game skate but is unlikely to go for game 2.

The Bruins now know the Bell Centre atmosphere, and after coming out flat and losing the game before it started Thursday, they will definitely be looking to get back to their agressive, no-nonsense style for game 2. The Habs will have to be ready to get down and dirty vs. the desperate Bruins, and Tom Kostopoulos will likely have a busy night ahead of him.

The Boston Herald had a great piece on the atmosphere of game 1. The full story can be read here (http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/bruins/view.bg?articleid=1086654) but here is a snippet:

“We had the jitters,” B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli admitted yesterday. “I haven’t seen our team play like that in a while. Normally, at the very least, we’ve been aggressive. We were tentative.”

The B’s stepped onto the ice to an absolute cacophony, blasted by a seismic sound wave of 21,000-plus frenzied locals who embrace this team to the very bottom of their souls. The remarkably emotional pregame spectacle must have had some intimidating effect on the Bruins players, nine of whom were appearing in their first playoff game.

“With the crazy crowd, the singing, the towel-waving, it was like being a Roman gladiator,” said B’s goalie Tim Thomas, who was not sharp in his playoff debut. “I took a few minutes to soak it in. I don’t know if that had anything to do with the start. I don’t think so. But (tonight in Game 2) I’ll pay no attention to it and just go out and do it.”

The B’s neophytes had been told that playoff hockey was different than the regular-season variety, faster and more intense. They quickly found out how true that was.

Things got worse in a hurry. Pregame noise was one thing, and it probably did contribute to the visible nervousness, uncertainty and jittery hands the Bruins displayed. -

Wow, what a city we live in! And I'll be there, one of the 21, 273 screaming and chanting all night long... Go Habs Go!