Boston 6, Montreal 3. Canadiens have now lost four of five.
We dedicate this edition of the Hidden Game to Wilfred Harris, better known as “Smokey.”
The left-winger, born in Port Harris, Ont., scored the first goal in Boston Bruins franchise history — a 2-1 victory against the Montreal Maroons on Dec. 1, 1924. The game was played at the Boston Arena, now known as the Matthews Arena, located on the campus of Northeastern University.
Harris was born on Oct. 11, 1890. That would have made him an NHL rookie at age 34, and it was one of only six NHL games he played, scoring three goals and one assist. Instead, he spent most of his career in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and Western Canada Hockey League, playing for the Vancouver Millionaires, Portland Rosebuds, Vancouver Maroons, Seattle Metropolitans and Edmonton Eskimos.
Why did the teams sound much cooler back then?
Although Harris was 5-foot-11, he weighed only 165 pounds. But we dare suggest he played the game hard and had a snarly side. In 252 PCHA games, he scored 156 goals and 246 points. But the stat we like the most? The guy accumulated 416 penalty minutes.
Harris lived to age 83 before his 1974 death, so must have done something right.
You expected a different outcome?: On the centennial anniversary of the NHL’s oldest U.S. franchise, the Bruins’ 6-3 victory over the Canadiens — playing their second game in as many afternoons — at TD Garden was almost a foregone conclusion. Montreal has now lost four of its last five, its record dropping to 8-13-3. But we’ve been led to believe the Canadiens still remain in the mix.
Look at the bright side: The Canadiens begin a five-game homestand Tuesday against the New York Islanders and head coach Patrick Roy. It’s their longest homestand of the season and there could be some favourable matchups against Nashville, Anaheim and Pittsburgh. The Islanders also are struggling. Come Dec. 12, the Canadiens could really be in the mix.
Hey, we all should be allowed to dream.
News you need (Part I): Joe Sacco became the 30th head coach in Boston history when he replaced the fired Jim Montgomery on Nov. 19. Less than a week later, Montgomery was hired as St. Louis’s bench boss and received a five-year contract.
While Sacco was hired on an interim basis after being either an assistant or associate with the Bruins since July 2014, the team has gone 4-2-0 under his stewardship. Sacco was coaching his 300th NHL game on Sunday.
