Old-Tyme Hockey:Montreal Canadiens Face Toronto Maple Leafs At ACC
By forumhotdog
Certainly “the great rivalry that was” no longer conjures up the same emotions that it once did, neither to players nor to the fans. There are many reasons for this of course: league expansion, the relative disparity in the quality of the product put on the ice by team management, the fact that both teams have moved into new buidings sorely lacking in character, in history, and in tradition, etc…But as far as I am concerned, if the Montreal Canadiens cannot reach deep, deep, deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep within themselves to show up for this game, then I will be forced to conclude that the team members have given up on themselves and i will concede that major changes need to be made (something that, you will notice i have been steadfastly defending against thus far).
I have been arguing that there is a disconnect between this edition of the team and its record. I have been confident that a turnaround in the vein that the Bruins demonstrated earlier was imminent. Well, that ship has sailed, or more accuately, sunk. At some point, every fan, no matter how loyal has to face the truth. This team is lacking in character; seemingly devoid of a winning / killer instinct that is so necessary in this long and competitive schedule. Unlike the captain of the Costa Concordia luxury liner that ran aground off the Italian coast last week, i will not abandon my team but if the Habs fail to show up tonight, i will be more open to roster, coaching, and management changes.
My pregame thoughts usually include an attempt at statistical analysis. Not today. Today, stats do not mean a damned thing. Throw them out the window. Tonight, all that matters is wanting it more…needing it more than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Whether or not the team has the skill to win (which the Canadiens surely do), it needs to demonstrate the will to win. They owe it to themselves and they most definitely 0we it to the fans. Passion absolutely has to be the order of the day. Even if the contest is not fought at home, even if that makes it more difficult, Montreal has to show that it has a heart and a soul and that it is a team that can fight and that it is a team worth fighting for.
I am looking for a rock-solid performance from the Habs even if that does not translate into a victory. I hope to see a significant shots on goal advantage. I long to see them deliver and finish bone-crunching bodychecks. I yearn to see a slew of bodies sacrificed selflessly in intercepting any and every shot fired towards our net. I pine to witness crisp, tape to tape passes, and shots that come close to the intended target. I will be looking for continued excellence on the penalty kill and will be eager to see some momentum gained with the man-advantage. Finally, I will be thrilled, but hardly surprised, when Carey Price puts his netminding and athletic prowess on display with huge saves that inspire his team to stay pumped for a full 60 minutes.
Perhaps, more important than any of the above, a display of team unity is required. Perhaps the media does dramatize, and maybe things are not as bad as they appear to be in this dimension, but the team can do a better job of presenting a united front. Let’s see some passionate communication on and off the bench. Here’s hoping for genuine displays of support for individual successes. Conversely, instead of alienating someone who commits an error, someone on the team has to step up and support that player. In fact, the whole team should. Forget supporting one another…that is not nearly enough…these gentlemen have to bleed for one another. Roger Waters, creative genius behind Pink Floyd’s masterpiece The Wall, sung it best in the classic Hey You in which he exclaims: “Together we stand…divided we fall…we fall, we fall..”
It is indeed that bloody simple!!! Go Habs Go!!!!