HockeyPressure on Bruins, for a change

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Boston coach Claude Julien's job could be on the line this post-season. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)

We all know about the expectations and pressures of playing in Montreal. Walk into the Bell Centre, look at those banners. If all the Stanley Cups don't remind you what that city is used to, then the retired numbers certainly will.

There is always pressure to succeed. Too often, you're only as good as your last game.

This time, however, the Canadiens aren't the team under the greatest scrutiny. For the Boston Bruins, the entire regular season was a dress rehearsal. This is a team that must eradicate the painful memory of last season - the second-round collapse against Philadelphia.

"That's going to be our greatest challenge," said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "How is our team going to handle that?"

Right back in training camp, the organization plotted a strategy to deal with the fallout. The loss was not ignored. Rather, it was discussed during team-wide get togethers.

"We didn't want the players to feel like it was something they should hide from," Chiarelli said. "They were going to be asked about it. Now is the time we really have to deal with it."

He's absolutely right about one thing: everyone's being asked about it. While the players are rather calm about it, head coach Claude Julien seems much more tense than normal. This will be the third Boston playoff series I've covered under him. I really enjoy talking to him, as he tends to be business-like but relaxed. The difference in his demeanor is noticeable.

Why? Because his job status keeps coming up.

The Bruins did not practice Monday, although Chiarelli held a conference call. The coach's security came up there. The GM defended him. Then, at Julien's own media briefings Tuesday and Wednesday it came up again.

Chiarelli's been very clear about one thing: winning two rounds will be considered a success this season. Anything less: not so much. He re-iterated that in a radio interview Wednesday morning. Hours later, Julien was asked what he thought about that quote.

His reply: "I'd agree with that."

So that's where the Bruins begin these playoffs. Two straight second-round heartbreaks: last year against Philadelphia and 2009's Game 7 overtime defeat to Carolina.

The organization is making it very clear: that can't happen again.

Got a question for Elliotte? Drop an e-mail to cbchockeyonline@cbc.ca, and he could reply in his weekly mailbag column. You can also send comments to Elliotte via Twitter  @friedgeHNIC.

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