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I said the other night that it wouldn’t shock me to see a seventh and deciding game between the Bruins and Canadiens. With a four goal third period explosion in a wild Game Six last night at TD Northbank Garden, Claude Julien’s pesky club did just that by pulling out a 5-4 home win.

Plenty will be riding on the line Monday night at the Bell Centre. Can the top seeded Canadiens recover from blowing a 3-1 series lead to force the first ever Game Seven in their proud history. According to the Associated Press, no Montreal team had ever led a series by that margin and needed a deciding game.

The Habs have played 18 Game Sevens in their history. They better hope No.19 doesn’t comeback to haunt them. The Bruins are looking to make some history of their own. They’ve never comeback to win a series after trailing 3-1, going 0-for-20. Will No.21 be one to remember avenging a devastating First Round loss to the same opponent four years prior? Oddly enough, Julien was the Montreal coach when his club rallied from that deficit to eliminate the B’s.

The Bruins had trailed the Canadiens 2-1 after 40 minutes last night. However, they showed plenty of resolve outscoring Montreal 4-2 to force Game Seven. I wish I had been around to see this but was instead in Brooklyn Heights picking up stuff for Passover cause the stores where we live are lame. Haha.

I still was able to get plenty of texts from my Dad who concluded that these teams had no defenses. Maybe it was just one of those nights. What has to be alarming for Guy Carbonneau’s Habs is that rookie Carey Price has allowed eight goals in the last couple of third periods against their Original Six bitter rival.

Unlike the other night where his gaffe led to the Habs’ demise, Price couldn’t be blamed for the lackluster D his team exhibited. Well, both teams weren’t exactly putting on a defensive clinic. Montreal had led thanks to a Tomas Plekanec breakaway goal at 7:43 of the second. With their rookie netminder turning aside 19 of 20 shots including 12 of 13 in a busy middle stanza, it looked like the East’s top seed were poised to close out Boston.

But then the third came in which the Bruins exploded for four goals on 16 shots. First, Vladimir Sobotka tallied at 3:13 to tie the game at two. Following a Francis Bouillon goal which deflected past Tim Thomas, Boston rookie Milan Lucic answered the bell 2:09 late to make it 3-3.

Phil Kessel’s second of the night in which he buried a Marco Sturm pass gave the Bruins their first lead with 4:15 left. However, Montreal replied only 11 seconds later when Long Island native Chris Higgins was left all alone to tap-in a Saku Koivu feed for his second of the topsy turvy contest.

When I received that text as I headed into the Key Food in Park Slope, I figured the game was destined for overtime. Maybe I’d luck out and get home in time to see part of it. Instead, here came another text telling me Sturm had put the Bruins back in front with 2:37 remaining. At that point, I guessed that would be enough to get Game Six and force an always riveting Game Seven.

A couple of minutes later, there was a message which read, “7th Game.”

Maybe it’s not so great if you’re a Habs supporter. Let’s face it. You have to be extremely nervous about this. So much is working against them. They’ve never even had to go seven after leading a series 3-1 which is stunning in itself. But then again, speaks volumes about how amazing Montreal’s playoff history is. The thing with Boston having never comeback with an 0-20 record also is probably not a good sign.

One of these times, they’re going to come through. So, will this be it? Can a team which dropped all eight regular season meetings including the first two in Montreal suddenly comeback and pull the upset in front of rabid Canadien fans?

Let’s not forget that in 2004 during the same round, the Bruins were the heavy favorite who had a great regular season only to fold up like a cheap deck of cards after building a 3-1 lead. Alex Kovalev and Glen Murray sure remember it quite well. That’s for sure. Hey. They’re still both around for their respective clubs. A rarity. If I’m correct, only the much overlooked P.J. Axelsson is also left from that Boston team which choked.

On the Montreal side, you got Kovalev, Koivu, Bouillon, Andrei Markov, Patrice Brisebois, Steve Begin and maybe Mike Komisarek.

So, how can a team which has that many players still around blow a 3-1 lead with two games in their own building? Just ask the 2004 Bruins or the 2000 Flyers. Or how about the Todd Bertuzzi 2003 Canucks? The symbol of choking.

Usually, when these comebacks take place, it’s all about momentum. If a team suddenly rises up, they have nothing to lose as most usually are busy writing their obituaries. Pressure mounts on the opponent who had a strangle hold on the series and failed to close it out.

Anything can happen in a seventh game. The good news for Montreal is that they have arguably the best fan support around. That place will be rocking. However, all it takes is an early Bruin lead to make a few of their players start having doubts. Most crowds can be taken out of it if their team falls behind. If you were fortunate enough to catch the Habs’ four-goal comeback in a 5-4 win over the Rangers, then you know that shouldn’t happen tomorrow night. Those fans BELIEVE in their team and will support them to the very end.

The Canadiens need more inspired play from Kovalev, who finished Saturday night a dismal minus-three with no points. AK27 must deliver or there won’t be much to celebrate for Canada this postseason.

There will be immense pressure on Price. It should be intriguing to see how such a poised kid handles the adversity. All in all, it should be fun.

In the other two playoff games yesterday, the Avs eliminated the Wild 2-1 with Ryan Smyth’s second period tally holding up as the difference. Ex-Hab goalie Jose Theodore made 34 saves to backstop Colorado to the Second Round. 

Meanwhile, the Capitals fended off elimination by hanging on to edge the Flyers 3-2. Cristobal Huet was strong in the third making 20 of his 30 saves. Sergei Fedorov notched a goal and assist while Alexander Semin’s power play goal held up as the winner.

It is kind of odd how former Montreal netminders are having an impact on other playoff series. If the Caps do comeback against Philly, it will be because of Huet, who’s elevated his play the past couple of games.

Later today, the Red Wings attempt to close out the Predators in Music City. The Sharks will also look to advance when they visit Calgary. Dallas also needs a win on home ice to eliminate the defending champion Ducks. So, there shall be plenty of action today out West.

Enjoy the games!