Hype is a funny thing. For an early season game between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, it's a bit something else. It always is when it's between these two teams.
After the Canadiens knocked out the Bruins in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinal, the lasting story wasn't the Habs pulling the upset or the unreal performances by P.K. Subban and Carey Price. Instead, it was best remembered for Bruins power forward Milan Lucic not taking the loss so easily and melting down during the handshake line and telling Habs forward Dale Weise, "I'm going to f*cking kill you next year."
Well... Now it's next year. RIP Weise? Not quite.
Lucic and the Bruins are off to a tough 2-3-0 start and Weise and the Canadiens are 3-1-0. Of course, Weise hasn't had a lot to do with that with zero points in three games. Lucic has somehow been worse with no points in five games with 14 penalty minutes. Weise is likely going to be a healthy scratch when the two teams resume their historic rivalry at Bell Centre Thursday night and Lucic will be hoping to get off the schneid.
So much for all that stuff about killing someone next season, eh?
Lost in all the incredible hype for this game is that the NHL will be keeping an eye on things. The head of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Stephane Quintal, will be in attendance. Should someone decide they want to enact a little vengeance for last season, Big Brother is watching up close and personal.
All that aside, of all the games the Bruins and Canadiens will have against each other this season, this one will likely be the most pedestrian of the bunch.
It's early in the season and the Bruins are still working on getting themselves together. The Habs are playing great and don't need to go upsetting things by getting caught up in histrionics. Sure Lucic is playing, but Weise is not. Although Subban and Alexei Emelin will provide enough ire for Boston, much like Brad Marchand will for Montreal, the heat (in the most classic of pro wrestling senses) isn't there yet.
Things can change in an instant. A questionable hit here, a dive or two there, and suddenly the fire returns. But if you're dialing in for Thursday's B's-Habs game looking for a Jim Ross slobberknocker, you might be disappointed.