The Winter Classic is great for the NHL as it gives hockey plenty of exposure, but the experience may be having a negative impact on the Bruins and Canadiens.
Montreal kicked off the season at 9-0-0 and was on top of the Eastern Conference for the majority of the campaign, but once the cameras started rolling, the team began to fold. The first game to be filmed for the "Road to the Winter Classic" series was the battle between these two teams on Dec. 9.
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The Canadiens lost that game, 3-1, and a swoon soon followed. Montreal has lost eight of 10 games since that meeting, while the struggle was documented on the reality show. It makes for gripping television for hockey fans, but it also raises a bigger question over whether or not the constant filming is a distraction.
The Canadiens lost six straight games during their most recent stretch of hockey, and have won just once in their last eight gmes.
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As for the Bruins, following that victory on Dec. 9, it hasn't all been rosy for them. Though Boston hasn't slid quite as hard as Montreal, it has been very inconsistent since the show started.
After the cameras began rolling, the Bruins won four of their next five games, but they then fell into a three-game slide, finishing up their pre-Winter Classic slate by dropping three of four.
The skids have been good for one team, the Panthers, who have played through their regular schedule without any outside distractions. Florida (46 points) enters New Year's Eve surging with seven straight wins, good enough for first place, while the Canadiens (45) are in second after an amazing start and the Bruins (44) are in third.
If there is any sort of distraction, it will be over soon as the Canadiens and Bruins will clash in the Winter Classic on Friday at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
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