A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens Facing Dejected Maple Leafs: Some Concerns

By Lissa Albert

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Game Preview: Concerns Facing Fans When the Habs Meet the Maple Leafs

It’s the last game of the regular season, and the Montreal Canadiens, as is so often the case for Game 82, are facing their rivals in Toronto. The Maple Leafs have had a dismal second half of the season, their strong start turned to a steady decline and they will finish fourth from the bottom of the league.

It’s always fun to watch one’s team play rivals – except when it isn’t. The Leafs, over the years, have become more of a physical, pugilistic team, and while that is something the Habs have faced with teams like the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, the Leafs have given fans a reason to be concerned.

When a team is so dejected, with absolutely nothing to lose or gain in one, final game, that team can either play in lackadaisical fashion or they can turn to fisticuffs and dirty tactics to try and hurt their opponents. I fear the latter.

I wouldn’t be so concerned, perhaps, had the Leafs not called up Colton Orr for the first time all season. Orr is an enforcer who has only played 14 games in the AHL this season, but has been called up ostensibly as a gesture (retirement may be his next move). While I can appreciate the Leafs organization giving this honor to their player, it strikes me as odd timing.

It’s hard to forget the game, February 9, 2013, where Orr attempted to take out Habs’ Tomas Plekanec with an attempted knee-on-knee hit. There were 5 minutes remaining in a 6-0 blowout against the Habs, but Orr’s move – thankfully unsuccessful – remains in the long memories of many.

Any time there is a lot at stake, fans hold their collective breath watching for both a good outcome and an unscathed team.

Of course, that game included a biting incident, 5 game misconducts, and a total of 112 penalty minutes, and the Leafs were doing well so far that shortened (lock-out) season.

But memories are long, the Habs are in playoffs and the Leafs are not. The Leafs know the vulnerabilities of their rivals, and they also know that key players – Carey Price, P.K. Subban, Alex Galchenyuk, to name three – will be crucial for the Habs to succeed in the upcoming post-season games. Every team this season has been aware that Carey Price is the Habs’ not-so-secret weapon and crashing the net has been a constant occurrence since October.

I got through Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings with a sigh of relief; no injuries, no incidents. But the Wings are a different team, and the Leafs are in a devil-may-care position.

Any time there is a lot at stake, fans hold their collective breath watching for both a good outcome and an unscathed team. Saturday night’s game, for the Habs, is important for home-ice advantage in the playoffs (with a win, they will have that in the bag), and for a strong finish to the year. For the Leafs, there is very little at stake except – as it always is in rivalries – bragging rights. The Habs have beaten the Leafs all season, and are looking for a sweep of their series.

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To me, it’s less about the sweep (though home ice is a definite priority); it’s about getting into Toronto, getting the job done, and leaving with players intact. Orr is a concern – but he’s only one player. He may be different from his old enforcer self.  We’ll know that only as the game unfolds.

But his team is down and out. These two teams always seem to clash physically. And as a fan, already missing the team’s top scorer, Max Pacioretty, and with Carey Price announced as the starting goaltender,  it’s going to be hard to shake this tension until the game is over.

Come to think of it – won’t every game, from here on in until the Stanley Cup has been awarded, be one of heart-stopping anxiety?

It’s not always easy being a Habs fan. But it sure is exciting.

Here is that questionable almost-hit from February, 2013:

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