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Claude Julien looks to improve his Boston record in elimination games tonight against Guy Boucher

Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Six

in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum on May 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida.

Justin K. Aller

One of the more curious angles on tonight’s Game 7 between Boston and Tampa Bay centers upon the head coaches. While both Guy Boucher and Claude Julien have had their hands full with trying to strategize ways to beat each other’s teams they’ve each got different histories when it comes to handling things when their team’s season is on the line.

During his tenure in Boston, Julien has a record that’s stellar against the team he used to coach for in Montreal but against others it’s not quite so good. Overall he’s 5-3 in elimination games with the Bruins but he’s gone 3-1 against the Habs in two different playoff rounds. In 2008 his Bruins rallied from down 3-1 to force a Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs only to lose 5-0 in Game 7. This year, Boston knocked off Montreal in Game 7 to advance to the second round. We’re sure Boston fans would like to forget Julien’s record in Montreal coaching in elimination games as he went 3-1 that season with all three coming against the Bruins as the Canadiens rallied from down 3-1 in the series to beat Boston that year. Those Habs were then swept out by Philadelphia in the next round.

In 2009, the Bruins again rallied from down 3-1 to force a Game 7 against Carolina in the second round only to see series nemesis Scott Walker beat them in double overtime to knock the Bruins out of the playoffs. Last year we all remember the Bruins blowing a 3-0 series lead against Philadelphia and then a 3-0 lead in Game 7 to the Flyers before losing the game and series.

For Guy Boucher, his only record comes this year and the Lightning have been more than resilient as they rallied from down 3-1 against Pittsburgh to take that series in seven games and then won Game 6 against Boston in this round to give Boucher a nice 4-0 record in elimination games. It’s not much of a history for him, but if nothing else the Lightning have found numerous ways to win including a 1-0 shutout of Pittsburgh in Game 7 this year and an 8-2 win in Game 5 of that series.

Julien has the experience in these situations but Boucher’s ability to get his team to adapt styles when needed makes him more of the wild card. We essentially know what we’ll get out of Boston if they’re on their best game (and they should be) being tough defense, physical play, and quick counter-attack when they get the opportunity, especially when trying to take advantage of Tampa Bay’s 1-3-1 defense. The Bruins have had more than a few 2-on-1 situations develop with varied success.

Tampa Bay will figure out ways to slow down the game if they get a lead at all. We saw it happen against an offensively stricken Penguins team in round one and similar play against the Capitals in Game 4 of their sweep in the second round. Boucher’s smart but he knows when it’s time to really buckle things down if they get in front. One way or another either Julien will get to shake off some gut wrenching Game 7 defeats in the past and provide himself with a new legacy to look ahead to or Guy Boucher will make even more fans wonder aloud about why he’s not a finalist for coach of the year.