It’s a Bitter Rivalry…and it Always Will Be

According to NESN’s Jack Edwards, the Bruins rivalry is bitter still. How do you figure Jack? Because the Habs faithful were singing the stupid Nah-Nah-Nah-Nah Hey-Hey-Hey Goodbye song when the Habs went up 5-3? That makes it "bitter"? No, Jack, that makes it polite.

Let me re-cap. Sheldon Souray jumps Andrew Alberts after a knee on knee hit by the rookie Alberts in the 2nd period. Souray smoked him, as he should have. I have no problem with the former Mr. Bridges going after Alberts. In fact, I would have had a problem if he didn’t do anything. Later in the game, Aaron Downey puts Montreal up 5-3. Here is where I disagree with Edwards saying the rivalry is bitter.

In the old days, and I’m only going back about 5 years now, after Downey put the Montreal up by two, the coaches would have tapped the tough guys on the back. Hell, Downey would have stayed on the ice, and done some heavy lifting himself. With the home team up by two, and Boston owing Montreal one for Souray jumping Alberts, there would have been a fight. That is what "Bitter" rivals do. Look at The Battle of Alberta the other night. Right off a face off after a goal, Chris Simon, and Georges Laraque got into it. Both guys did what they wanted. While Simon got smoked by Laraque, he showed the Calgary bench he was in the game. Laraque showed his mates he wasn’t backing down from anyone. After Downey put Montreal up tonight, there should have been a fight. With the unbalanced schedule in the NHL, it practically demands it. Boston is out of the playoffs, while Montreal is not. They should have had a tussle tonight, and set up a possible grudge match type victory for the next time they play. It’s what bitter rivals do. The only thing bitter about this game, was the bittersweet morsels in my cookie during the second period.