By Jim Chandley
The B’s beat the rival Canadiens 4-2 at the Garden tonight in their first playoff game of 2009.
Phil Kessel scored twice including an empty net goal with 15 seconds left to salt the game away. Zdeno Chara scored on the powerplay and David Krejci scored only moments after Kessel’s first goal to set the pace.
The Habs got goals from Christopher Higgins and Alexei Kovalev, but it was not enough to hold of the top seed in the East.
Fisticuffs ensued as the game came to a close. Steve Montador and Guillaume Latendresse went at it in an obvious carryover from the last regular season game the two teams played, which was full of rough stuff.
Game 2 will be played Saturday night in the midst of one of the best sports days Boston has seen in some time.
The Celtics will open their first round playoff series with the Bulls at the Garden Saturday afternoon. The facilities crew will then flip the floors so that the B’s can host the Canadiens in game 2. At 7, the puck will drop at the Garden and the Sox will take the field against the Orioles back in the Fens.
The city will surely be abuzz over all the sports action; just make sure you’re in town early to get a parking space…