This story originally ran in BruinsZone.com on April 14, 2011.

By Nick Tavares

The third-seeded Bruins host sixth-seeded Canadiens at TD Garden in Game 1 tonight (7 p.m., NESN/Vs., 95.5 FM), bringing with them plenty of history and, even for them, bad blood. It’s a series most fans in Boston wanted (and I have to believe the same in Montreal). There are no shortage of revenge angles (Montreal’s 24-8 edge in playoff series over Boston, the hangover of Chara vs. Pacioretty, etc.), but on the whole, these are two pretty evenly matched clubs.

The goaltending is about as even as you’re likely to find in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montreal boasts Carey Price, owner of a 2.35 goals against average and a .923 save percentage, and Boston will answer with likely Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas. Thomas led the league in GAA this season at 2.00, and his .938 save percentage set a new record, topping Dominik Hasek’s mark of .936.

Short of an injury or uncharacteristic meltdown, I don’t expect either goalie to lose this series for his team. Both have been solid all season, have playoff experience, and are looking to avenge their playoff benchings last year — Jaroslav Halak got the nod in net for the Habs, while Tuukka Rask was the starter for Boston.

The real test will be a battle of wills, and which team can best impose it on the other. Montreal is built like a poor man’s Detroit Red Wings, relying on speed and skill to outwork and outskate teams, and when it clicks, it clicks. Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and company are able to open the ice and pass the puck away from battles, getting a jump on the other team and setting up goal scorers like Tomas Plekanec.

Boston runs defense first, second and third, and offense comes from the defense. Built from the back up with Zdeno Chara anchoring the blueline and two-way centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci leading the top lines, the Bruins are all about physical play, winning battles for the puck, and creating scoring opportunities out of transition. From there, scorers Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton and the rest are called upon to capitalize.

Through their season series, games have gone one way or the other. Montreal won four close games where they were able to outskate the Bruins. Both of Boston’s wins have come in slugfests, an 8-6 bloodbath and a 7-1 drubbing, their first meeting after Chara’s hit put Max Pacioretty out of commission.

If the Bruins skate, they’re a very difficult team to beat. Most of their losses have come when they take a period or two off, or when they try to play another team’s game. Montreal has its success, obviously, when it’s able to spin other teams on their collective heads.

So which style wins out? Montreal brings the edge in the season series, but I don’t expect that to carry over here. Playoff hockey is a different beast than regular season hockey, Montreal doesn’t respond well when the Bruins push them around. The Bruins’ physicality should win out. Mark it down, Boston in 6.