By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.comBOSTONHere are five thoughts from the first period with the Bruins leading the Canadiens by a 3-0 score at dominating in pretty much every phase of the game at a raucous TD Garden.1)The Bruins are showing exactly how good and dangerous they are when properly motivated and ready for a big game. Traffic in front of the net, staunch defense in the slot area and constant offensive zone pressure against the Canadiens are in abundance for the entire period. Both the Boychuk goal and the Campbell redirect are all about the bodies flying in front of Carey Price, and a good bounce off the statuesque Hal Gill in front of the net.2)Zdeno Chara has answered in a big way for the Bruins in a game that held plenty of scrutiny for him. He notched assists on each of the first two goals and started ramping up the physicality as the period went, and dropped Mathieu Darche and Andrei Kostitsyn in the same shift at the end of the first period. The TD Garden crowd cheered loudly for Chara after his name was announced on the assist for Bostons first goal.3)Another big ovation for P.J. Axelsson, who has been in attendance for each of the last two games from Sweden. Axelsson was always a big fan favorite and a smiling personality during his long career in Boston, and still has yet to get any kind of a night of recognition at the Garden.4)Johnny Boychuk has always been something of a big gamepostseason player, and he came up big in the first period. Had a couple of bombs on the Montreal net, and finished the first period with two points and a plus-2 while riding alongside Zdeno Chara. That pairing is dominating the Habs right now.5)Carey Price looks a bit frazzled after allowing three goals on 18 shots in the first period. Doesnt look all that calm in the big game setting.