Is It Happening?

All right. It continues...

It is a damp Sunday night in Montréal, and I am considering where my beloved team stands after yesterday's game. The Canadiens have made it to the semi-finals against the Carolina Hurricanes and have shocked many commentators by taking the first game against a team that shut out two other contenders in their division (Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators). It was a 6 - 2 for the local boys in the other team's barn, meaning that they managed to score more goals in one game that both teams managed to score over the four games they shared with the Canes. Everyone commented on the fantastic goaltending and playmaking on our side, and the sloppy play and weak defence of the other team. They have also noted that, because of the early wins for Carolina, they had a lot of time off between games, meaning that they were rusty and unprepared for les Habitants.

Maybe, just maybe... We all thought that the score would be close, if not at least favourable to that team to the south. We all celebrated and I have seen more and more love for them as we approached the weekend and all of the other distractions to come (Formula One weekend also was upon us). It was a happy moment for us all...

And then we had Saturday's game.

There are moments when you can see just how bad it can be to have confidence. It can destroy any talent when they forget the hard road they had to follow to get to the top. Maybe this was a lesson that Montréal forgot as they stared down a second game down south and played one of their most undisplined games of any playoff series.

First, the goaltending...

Seriously, Jakub, what are you doing? You are one of the best goaltenders in the playoffs. You are still new to the team and have people reciting names like Dryden and Roy when you perform your magic between the pipes. You don't have to take out anyone who dares to touch your crease (Ron Hextall much?). And I understand that it can be awkward when a stick gets stuck in your pad and you still have to perform (if I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it). At least you managed to take the blame on yourself in the post-game scrum: “I need to definitely be a little better for the guys.”

Yes, you do. But you are not alone.

I have to steal this from a page called The Sick Podcast:

The Canadiens are dodging bullets on a nightly basis, but their penchant for penalties threatens to derail their progress. Ranked 5th in penalty minutes league-wide, the Habs spend over 10 minutes per game in the sin bin. This isn’t inflated by major infractions—far from it. In fact, Martin St-Louis’ team is tied for 20th in the league for major penalties.

Well, someone noticed... Too many missed opportunities and lack of shots on goal (only twelve against their twenty-six in the entire game; lucky it was only a 3-2 loss in overtime). And no great team, not since the 1970s Philadelphia Flyers, has won championships on penalty minutes. Control your tempers, play the game, locate the puck and let the other side know that you really are champions who want to lift the Cup for the 25th time.

Okay, enough from me.

Tomorrow is Game Three and the boys will be back in town. The Bell Centre is near my college and I am very tempted to head down there, despite the end of the semester, and watch it on a screen or inside those hallowed curves with the rest of the fans. I will keep you up to date on the mood of this city and where the fans feel the series will head to once both teams draw blood for the third time.

It is going to be a fun ride, folks.

;)

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

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