On Pro Hockey

Mike McMahon

Right or wrong, the Boston Bruins franchise is at a crossroads.

In tonight's Game 7 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, a win would catapult the forgotten hockey club back into relevancy. A loss, and the fight the B's have showed the last two games will be forgotten by next week.

In an era where the Boston sports pages and fans are reveling in the success of the Patriots, Red Sox, and now, even the Celtics, the Bruins were getting the same attention as the Boston Cannons or New England Revolution — they were viewed as alsorans.

Entering their first-round series with the Canadiens, the B's archrival, hardly anyone noticed. They were expected to bow out early.

After trailing 3-1 in the series and clawing their way back to force a Game 7, they suddenly have the attention of the region. But, in order to keep it, a win tonight is a must. A loss, and it's just another first-round playoff exit.

The B's effort in Game 4 and 5 will quickly be forgotten with the upcoming NFL Draft, Celtics playoffs and the rolling Red Sox. That is, of course, unless they pull off the improbable.

They're not more talented than the Canadiens, but they have worked harder. That's what's brought them back in the series, and that's what has brought the Boston fans to attention.

"There has to be a role fulfilled in every locker room," said defenseman Aaron Ward. "You have guys like (Zdeno) Chara and some other guys with notoriety attached to their names, but there are a lot of plumbers in this locker room as well. The fact that our plumbers keep plumbing and working hard — and I include myself in that category — then we'll hopefully achieve a level of success."

It hasn't just been the local fan base that has noticed the Bruins lunch-pail mentality. ESPN's hockey guru Barry Melrose commented that he was shocked at how much determination the Bruins showed. and even remarked that they're the team he's rooting for. There have been Habs' fans posting Bruins Internet message boards congratulating the B's, and ripping apart their bunch.

"They've just been hungrier," said Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who has allowed 10 goals in the last two games. "They bore down on every chance they had. You have to give them credit."

People have long commented that the TD Banknorth Garden could never get as loud as the original Boston Garden. But fans in the building have had little to cheer about before now.

During Saturday's 5-4 win, in which the B's erased three deficits, the rafters were shaking. It showed that the Bruins have the fans' attention ... they just need to keep it.

With a win, Julien should be talking Jack Adams

It doesn't matter that his team backed into the playoffs as the eighth seed, if the Bruins win tonight, Claude Julien should be the NHL's Coach of the Year.

Look at the roster: Julien had less talent than Dave Lewis' 13th-place team of a year ago. With the same players, minus star center Patrice Bergeron for almost the entire season, he has managed to not only get the B's into the playoffs, but they're on the brink of one of the bigger upsets in recent memory.

The B's haven't forced a Game 7 on their talent, they've done it through hard work and by following Julien's system perfectly. The Bruins have clogged the neutral zone, limiting the faster, more talented Habs' odd-man rushes. They've hit and they've played smart. That all goes back to the head coach.

"It seems like they stifling us a little bit in the neutral zone," said Montreal forward Chris Higgins. "We are having a hard time coming through there."

When Julien benched Phil Kessel for three games in the middle of the series, plenty of people thought he was crazy. Kessel was playing soft, but he was still one of the more talented players the B's have. But Julien turned out to be right again.

Since Kessel was reinserted for Game 5, he has flat out been the best player the on the ice, and he is playing with a fire that he hasn't shown in his two seasons in black and gold.

Bruins in Game 7's

The Bruins have never come back to force a Game 7 after trailing a series 3-1, so they're in uncharted territory. The franchise is 9-7 all-time in Game 7's, but 0-3 when those games are on the road. They're 0-2 all-time in Game 7's at Montreal.

Year%Opponent%Result

1939%New York Rangers%Win

1941%Toronto Maple Leafs%Win

1945%@ Detroit Red Wings%Loss

1952%@Montreal Canadiens%Loss

1959%Toronto Maple Leafs%Loss

1971%Montreal Canadiens%Loss

1976%L.A. Kings%Win

1979%@ Montreal Canadiens%Loss

1982%Quebec Nordiques%Loss

1983%Buffalo Sabres%Win

1988%New Jersey Devils%Win

1990%Hartford Whalers%Win

1991%Montreal Canadiens%Win

1992%Buffalo Sabres%Win

1994%Montreal Canadiens%Win

2004%Montreal Canadiens%Loss