the 4th star

Here are a few things about the heated rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins, a match-up that will once again fire up Thursday night in Beantown:

- Dating back to 1929, the teams have met 31 times in the post season. Montreal holds a huge edge in wins, advancing (or winning the Stanley Cup) 24 times.

- The Habs have won the last three meetings. Boston won the four before that.

- Of the last six, four of the series have gone to the full seven games, with another going six.

You don’t need me to tell you how the teams match-up against each other this time around. You can get that information everywhere. Montreal is small and fast, and without its best defenceman (Andrei Markov). Boston is big and tough and can play it anyway the opposition wants to. Unless Montreal’s power play is lights-out (meaning they score every chance) it’s got to be the Bruins here, let’s say in seven games. Look to the past for future inspiration. I don’t know how that applies here. Just thought it sounded good.