So We're all tied up
Let's see, so April 1st, all Habs fans were hoping that somehow, they could manage to meet up with the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, for reasons such as it was "the best match up, the sabres had a lack of offense etc". Habs fans really thought they would give "those arm pits of America" a run for there money. Well, we all know that didn't pan out, although now we can make the argument that it probably would have been a good match up for les canadiens.
On to April 9th. After two terrible losses to Carolina and the New York Islanders, Habs fans were left hoping that some way, some how, they could just squeak into the play-offs by the seat of their pants. No one really cared who they played, as they were destined to be pile driven into the ground in 5 games tops.
To get into the main event, all they had to do, beat the 29th placed, Toronto Maple Leafs. Well, they couldn't even accomplish that. Fortunately for them, all they needed was 1 measly point, which they were able to solidify by taking the terrible maple-laughs to overtime, which I may add ended with one of the Leafs 30 wins on the season. So, Hab fans got their wish, the 8th seeded Habs were onto the big dance.
Next up for the red, white and blue, a round 1 meeting with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, or should I now call the "Chock-itals" Before the series started, no one, no where could have thought the series would play out the way it did, not even Jaroslav Halak's grandmother.
Although the Habs pulled out a shocker in game 1, all of the hockey world came back earth, with the Caps taking the next 3 games and with that a 3-1 lead in the series back to the Verizon Center. However, What was about to unfold would play out to become the 5th biggest upset ever, in the 1st round of the NHL playoffs.
Though it wasn't pretty, the Habs rode 2 quick first period goals all the way to a 2-1 win in Game 5. So, Back to the Bell Center for game six went the Habs, with little, if not any pressure at all on them to accomplish anything more then the two wins that they had already pulled out of their you know what. Many counted them out in Game 6 as the Canadiens hadn't won a home play-off game in more than a hand full of attempts. Maybe it was the overwhelming crowd support, or the passion in which the French Media takes to their team, the Habs just couldn't seem to get it done on home ice.
Well, lightning struck twice. The Habs came out flying, and so did Mr Halak. Names like Plante, Dryden and Roy echoed through the walls of the Bell Center while Jaroslav Halak performed a Cirque de Soleil style performance stopping 53 of 54 shots faced en route to a shocking 4-1 victory, leaving Bruce Boudreau, Ovy and the Caps shaking their heads, stunned in disbelief. If the boys from the Capital were stunned by that performance, they had no idea what lay in store for them.
The question that the hockey world now asked, could some how, lightening strike three times in the same week? The answer. Hell ya. Not only did it strike, but the thunder and rain felt by all at the Verizon center left all but 35 players and coaches and maybe 3 dozen die hard fans leaving the arena with their heads tucked into their ass. Les Canadiens scored early, and from there, the boys from le Belle Provence buckled down to hold off an on-slaught by the Capitals. The biggest reason for the Habs outcome, 41 some blocked shots by the team and another 41 saves by Halak, bringing the total shot attempts in game 7 to 83, with but 1 finding the meshy stuff. A late third period goal from Dominic Moore sealed the deal for the Habs and even thow the Caps scored late, Montreal as we all know took game 7, and the the hearts of Caps fans everywhere, and probably Gary Bettman's as well.
So what we don't have the Crosby vs Ovechkin match-up that all "pretend" I mean, American hockey fans wanted to see. We now have 4 of the 6 original teams still alive in the play-offs. When the heck was the last time that happened?
Round two started for Habs fans just as round one did, with little hope in any real progression. And after a 6-3 shellacking at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup Champs which included 4 power play goals, everyone once again rode the Canadiens all but out in 4.
Well hold on now, someone in the Habs dressing room must have been listening to every radio, television and news paper in North America and taking offense to the fact that they didn't have a chance because out came the giant killers in game 2 and boy did they shock Sid and the crew. Holding MR Canada to 1 shot on goal, 2 if you include him breaking his stick on the net in frustration, Montreal took away Pittsburgh's home ice win, stealing game 2 by a score of 3-1.
And that is where we are now, with the Habs and Pens set to resume action at the Bell Center tomorrow night in front of 19000 screaming fans chanting the beloved "ole ole ole ole".
Yes, you can say what you want, they have no chance, their due for disaster, their to small, their to slow, but apparently all of those things helped the Habs knock off the touted " Eastern Conference Finalists", giving them a chance to do the same to the defending champs.
And who looks like a genius for all of this? No not me for enduring terrible terrible Canadiens teams since 1993, but Bob Gainey. Shipping out names such as Kovalev, Koivu, Higgins, Ryder, oh yeah, and we can't forget Theodore, or as we now know him to be "three or more", Bob Gainey knew that the team needed a major face lift, and that is in deed what he did. Brining in names like Gomez, Gionta, Cammalleri, Gill and Halak. These are the new faces of the Habs that many had doubts about all year long. Can you blame the Habs for stinking up the joint for 6 months, while they cycled through a list of injuries which included 3 of their 5 top point getters.
All I can say is that I was 10 the last time the Habs won the CUp. Yes I was cheering with my dad while I wore my Canadiens p-jays, but I was surely to young to really enjoy the passion Hab fans have for their team. Now I am pushing 27, and my passion for the red, white and blue is stronger than ever. Finally I can watch a game and be excited that we have a chance. And yes, we may not win the cup, we may not win round 2, and hey, we might not even win another game, but thank you Bob Gainey for giving Hab fans everywhere a chance to turn on the TV at 7pm in May and be excited for what lies ahead. At least we have that chance. It must be hard to be wearing a blue and white jersey watching play-off hockey. For all you leaf fans, all you need to do it's colour in a bit of your jersey's with a red marker and you can cheer for us to.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!
Derek Furlong
