"War is the unfoldingof miscalculations– Barbara Tuchman –"
On this November 11 , a day to remember all those that fought and died for our freedom , it is fitting that The Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins will square off tonight at the TD Garden.
On the wall in the Canadiens `dressing room at Le Centre Bell , are the words taken from “In Flanders Fields” . One of the most notable poems written during World War 1. The poem was created in the form of a French rondeau – a form of French poetry that consists of 13 lines with eight syllables.The poem is said to be written by Lt. Colonel John McCrae on May 3 , 1915. He penned the poem a day after his friend , Lt. Alexis Helmer was killed.
"To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high!"
The above words hold true to not only the Montreal Canadiens – the Boston Bruins as well.
Montreal and Boston first squared off for the Stanley Cup in 1930 when coach Cecil Hart`s Habs defeated the Bruins ` boss Art Ross . It came a year after the Bruins won their first cup on a goal by Bill Carlson. The Habs ` Howie Morenz took matters into his own hands and stripped the defending champions of their title. Montreal beat Boston two games to none and that was the beginning of one of the longest and most bitter rivalries in sports.
Over the years , Montreal has beaten the Bruins seven times in the finals. The most recent being 1978 as the Habs won their 21st championship. The Bruins and Habs have met 705 times in regular season play with Montreal winning 339 times. The two teams skated to a draw 103 times. In the play -offs they have met on 163 occasions with the Canadiens winning 99 times.
In the French language , a puck is a rondelle. A rondelle is a vulcanized disc that is hurtled at speeds of over 100 miles per hour at crazy men that call themselves goaltenders. It is therefore fitting that another example of a rondeau which closely resembles the French word for puck , is We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
"We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. We wear the mask. Nay, let them only see us, whileWhy should the world be over-wise,In counting all our tears and sighs?"
George Abbott , Marco Baron , Gerry Cheevers , Jim Henry and Pat Riggin are some of the men that have defended goal for the Bruins . They have attempted to stop Montreal players such as Maurice Richard, Stephane Richer , Guy Lafleur , Mats Naslund and Buddy O `Connor. At the other end – Ken Dryden , Jacques Plante , Steve Penney , Bill Durnam and Patrick Roy have tried their best to stop Bobby Orr , Milt Schmidt , Raymond Bourque , Dit Clapper and Cam Neely from beating them and leading their teams to victory. Lest we forget.
Stan Jonathan ,` Knuckles ` Nilan , Jay Miller , Butch Bouchard . The players that fought for the sweater that they wore so proudly on their backs . Scotty Bowman , Don Cherry , Dick Irvin Sr. and Eddie Shore. The generals that guided their troops to war. Lest we forget.