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Take out the highly entertaining seven-game playoff series in the opening round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs and there hasn’t been much excitement in hockey’s greatest rivalry over the past few seasons, but after Sunday’s intense playoff-like first place battle it looks like the rivalry has been reignited once again.

Looking at it from both sides it’s the perfect rivalry as each team has their heroes, and each team has their villains. Bruins fans love to hate P.K. Subban, but when in Montreal Subban can do no wrong. In Boston, Bruins fans love Brad Marchand, ask fans up north in Montreal what they think of Marchand and you’re bound to hear a few expletives, but that’s what makes this rivalry fun.

Then you have the fans. Canadiens fans bleed Montreal hockey, it’s all they have. They call themselves the best fans in hockey, and honestly it’s hard to disagree, even with them begging for a call every time someone looks at a Canadiens player the wrong way.

Bruins fans are tough, beer-guzzling bullies who certainly get going when the Le Blue Blanc et Rouge hit the Garden ice, and get going even more every time a Hab takes a spill as in their eyes it’s obviously a dive. It’s a perfect clash of two complete opposite fan bases that only helps add fuel to the fire in the historic rivalry.

Take a look at the play on the ice and it’s clear these two teams just don’t like each other. Everything from crazy game-seven’s to Zdeno Chara’s 2011 hit on Max Pacioretty to the Carey Price vs. Tim Thomas “fight” to Claude Julien calling out the Habs for “embellishing”, this rivalry has had it all, and then some.

Flip back the calendar to a year ago, the Bruins were defending their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years and the Montreal Canadiens were well on their way to dead last in the Eastern Conference, but hockey just wasn’t the same because that extra spark that is usually there when these two teams meet was just not there.

Sunday night the Habs traveled into Boston with first place in the East on the line as both teams hit the ice with 30 points on the season. Even though the game didn’t go the way the Bruins and their fans would have liked, it was Bruins/Habs hockey at its finest.

Let’s face it folks, hockey is better when the Bruins and Habs are good, and luckily for all of us, both teams are good, they’re both very good.

Sunday’s tilt had it all. Back-and-forth goals, fights, dives—by both teams—big saves, and some controversy that always seems to surround these two historic franchises.

If you’re to take anything away from this game, here it is. After maybe taking a back seat to the extremely exciting Penguins/Flyers rivalry, the Bruins/Habs are back as the league’s best rivalry.

“Yeah, obviously it’s fun in rivalries. Those are always the best games” said Canadiens tough guy Brandon Prust who is getting his first taste of the Bruins/Habs rivalry.

“There is a lot of energy in here. They are fun games and the rivalry is kind of ignited again tonight.”

Bruins rookie defensemen Dougie Hamilton who scored in the loss is starting to enjoy the rivalry.

“Yeah, I was kind of excited for it and I think it was pretty fun and with our fans on our side, so I thought it was a pretty fun game, just unfortunate that we lost it in the third” said Hamilton.

Barring something crazy it looks like we have a dog fight on our hands as these two should remain neck and neck all season in the race for the Northeast Division. The two talented clubs meet again on March 27 in Boston.

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Dougie Hamilton, the ninth overall pick in last summer’s draft, has transitioned tremendously to the NHL. The 19-year-old prospect provides crucial offense to Boston’s back end, showing Bruins fans a talent they haven’t witnessed since the likes of Ray Bourque and Bobby Orr skated at the Garden.

“He is very calm, and he’s very poised,” coach Claude Julien said before Sunday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.

“You can see that in his play too- the way he moves the puck for a young defenseman, a 19-year-old, to come in and be put in that kind of situation, I like the way he handles himself. No matter what happens with him, he never gets discouraged. “

The Bruins head coach seemed particularly impressed with the rookie’s “big play” ability: “We like the fact that he’s got a great vision of the play and certainly has made some big plays; we remember those winning goals early in the beginning of our regular schedule where he made some great plays to allow us to score those winning goals, one was in Carolina. He really finds those open guys.”

Hamilton continued his contributions on Saturday, when he even helped the daunted Bruins power play unit get a key goal in an impressive comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hamilton’s lateral movement, blue-line play, and Bourque-like vision helped create the goal, which sparked the Bruins to victory.

Montreal, Boston’s biggest rival, provided Hamilton with a different test on Sunday night, as the Canadiens blend of speed, skill, and grit can give even the best of NHL defensemen major fits.

The rookie had a solid first period against the archrival Canadiens, staying consistent with his game, jumping up into the play, and using tremendous mobility to keep his defensive position.

With the score tied at two midway through the second period, the rookie came through with yet another “big play” moment.

Brad Marchand entered the offensive zone, and whipped a cross-ice pass to Hamilton who was parked next to the Montreal goal. Hamilton, in impressive fashion, slapped the bouncing puck out of mid-air past Montreal goaltender Peter Budaj, giving the Bruins their first lead of the game.

“Dougie” chants rained down from the Garden faithful in a rather cool moment. The youngster has become a fan favorite in the early goings of his first pro season, and rightfully so, his above-average offense and better than advertised defense have been a pivotal aspect of the Bruins success.

Hamilton finished the game with strong play, but the Bruins gave up two consecutive third period goals in a 4-3 loss to the Canadiens.

The game seemed to turn when Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was penalized for 17 minutes for instigating a fight with Montreal defensemen Alexei Emelin. Chara, who did the right thing by standing up for young Bruin Tyler Seguin, was forced to miss a majority of the third period while Montreal staged their attack.

Some will point to this the main reason for the loss, but that isn’t accurate. Boston’s forwards did a poor job of defensive coverage, particularly on the game-winning-goal by David Desharnais.

The Bruins will look to start a new winning streak on Tuesday, when they play the Washington Capitals in D.C. Can Dougie-Mania continue?

Inside Edge Hockey News – Writer – Matt Linsky Twitter @MLinskyHockey