May 1, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing
Shawn Thornton(22) checks Montreal Canadiens defenseman
Josh Gorges(26) during the first overtime period in game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins came out firing on all cylinders tonight. Their 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens gives them their first lead in the best of seven series. The Bruins now have the opportunity to finish off the Habs at the Bell Centre on Monday night. We can talk about the high powered performance of the third ‘How Swede It Is’ line, and we can talk about the Bruins finally playing an aggressive defensive minded game against their bitterest rivals in the NHL. I would like to take an article to redress a recent issue and show how it works both ways here. After game one, “Bruins fans” showed their lack of class (and hockey knowledge in general) with a racist attack against P.K. Subban. Well, this time around, it’s members of the Canadiens fringe fan base accusing the Bruins of racism.
I wish I was kidding here.
In the closing minutes of the third period, Bruins forward Shawn Thornton was accused of spraying water into the face of Subban. Subban immediately went to the refs to demand another penalty against the Bruins. (To his credit, he had done a rather spectacular job selling the hit Matt Bartkowski gave him. That hit allowed a power play that got the Canadiens back within two goals.) Subban jawed at the ref, the ref told him to go away, and Shawn Thornton laughing at the whole scene became a monster trend on social media. The Bruins won, and a healthy majority of the Habs’ fans accepted the loss and chose to move on to game six. A certain percentage of the Canadiens’ fan base on the other hand chose not to be such gracious losers. Leave it to the Montreal faithful to fire off a gem like this.
@Godwentwhoops @PaulHReporter1 @FSAWinningHabit to me this looks like a racist attitude and gesture from Thornton. Voilà, I said it. #Habs
— mister_P (@mrP_Square) May 11, 2014
Had this comment been made to me, I’d be making sure my attorney was working for his retainer fee. Our counterpart over at the Montreal Canadiens’ site A Winning Habit saw this interplay and commented quickly on the subject. (Personal Note: While we disagree on hockey, the staff over at A Winning Habit have been a class organization ever since I started at FanSided in 2012. If you’re a Habs fan, or at least tolerant of the bleu, blanc, et rouge give them a look over. They’re a quality staff that loves hockey as much as any normal Bruins fan.)
@parentpascal @Godwentwhoops @PaulHReporter1 That's quite an unnecessary stretch. He and Iginla seem to get along just fine
— A Winning Habit (@FSAWinningHabit) May 11, 2014
A *stick tap* to our counterparts over at A Winning Habit. Another *stick tap* out to the 99.99% of the Montreal fan base you can still talk hockey with like adults. Finally, a big *stick tap* out to the Bruins as they take a 3-2 lead in the series over the Habs.