Lots On The Line For Price and Habs In Toronto

Question: How many consecutive heartbreaking losses for the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs before this streak turns into complex?

Answer: We will hopefully not find out tonight!

This is the scenario in my eyes for this particular contest. That and the perception that Carey Price has usurped Cristobal Huet as the goalie of choice in games versus the Maple Leafs.
For me, these are the two stories that will be played out.

The fact that Guy Carbonneau has chosen to go with Price tends to reveal that possibly the Habs coach figures that the Leafs have gotten inside his team, and his goalie's, heads. Team psyche's are often fragile when confidence is young, and the notion that nothing much seems to faze Price might be an attempt to rebuild it. Coming off a game in which the Canadiens played 55 minutes of near perfect hockey against the league's best team before fizzling, this is an ideal way to refocus the troops.

No one on the Canadiens would dare suggest that they may take Toronto lightly on occasion. God help us if anyone on the team is stupid enough to even think so.

Habs / Leafs games have been following a particular trend, going back to last season. Toronto comes out all fearless guns a - blazing, usually helped by a dumb Montreal penalty, and taking a large advantage in shots, going up by a goal or two, before the Canadiens settle down to begin evening the game up. The Habs will then take a slight lead into the depths of the third period, and finally find some unscripted creative way of catastrophically blowing the game all to hell.



While their slacking off might have roots in underestimating the Leafs once they seem to be put away, history should have taught the Canadiens by now, that against the Canadiens, the Leafs rarely roll over and play dead.

For what the Leafs may seem to lack in some area's against other teams, against Montreal, pride is not one of their deficiencies. Of course, Montreal measures up equally to the task, but they have moments where it's as if all they need to do is blink to see the deja vu of past disasters.

This is where the trouble can start and a complex can set in. Detroit seems to be dealing with the same masked fears when it comes to Chicago. Ottawa may still be carrying scars from Leafs undoings of the past. Montreal is in the Bruins heads in the same way.

It's never easy to explain why it happens, but recurrances built upon each other magnify what may only be a small focus issue.



It's never easy to explain why it happens, but reoccurrances built upon each other magnify what may only be a small focus issue.

That is why, switching Huet for Price might play into settling down the Canadiens more to Carbonneau's liking. It might seem preposturous a notion, to those unfamiliar with Price's play so far, but Carbonneau must be atuned to the calm Price brings about in his teammates.

Surely some will bristle at the thought that a goaltender with all of five NHL contests under his belt can be ready for the jump from the frying pan to fire that can be games at the ACC.

It could well be that after this game, Toronto hockey fans may be better aquainted with Price.

The kid just never gets overly excited - before, during, and after games!

The kid is so cool, focused, and collected he was probably scanning the pages of The Hockey News while losing his virginity!

"Distracted" just is not in his vocabulary.

What has worked so far for Price at the NHL level is what has often worked best for him in past conquests. Meticulous focus on being square to a shooter is where his game begins. He then concentrates on keeping himself big, which offers shooters little net to view. Underrated in his game, is how pucks bounce from him as though he were composed of soaked oatmeal. Rebounds either tend to drop at his feet, or be carefully steered to harmless area.



All taken together, he has grouped a rare set of skills for someone who's only twenty.

What he brings also collides perfectly with the Maple Leafs tendencies against the Canadiens, which comprises of shooting often, and from every possible angle.

Huet has had his share of flukey goals beat him this way in games versus the Leafs. One game of seemingly bad luck, can be cast off. Having it happen again, becomes annoying and a concern. After the third occurance, one begins wondering what's up with his focus.

With Price starting, the Habs may well get off to better start also. The Canadiens players have great faith in the calm demeanor of Huet, but it goes missing at the drop of the puck versus the Leafs. Should their game plan be better executed with confidence in Price as the last line of defense, a win for the Canadiens tonight could mark a turning point in their season.

A turning point which may see the Habs goaltending duties split more evenly from this game on.

Two fine reads that tag well into this game preview are the Habs Inside Out entry that has a comparison of the Habs and Leafs seasons so far and a Globe Sports article titled "A Tale Of Two G.M."s", that is a must read for fans of both teams.

Robert L Note: The photoshop image of Jesus in a Habs goalie mask was not sought out for this post. It was saved, through a Facebook search, after reading a joke that a regular reader had sent me. Just for laughs, here is the joke, retuned of course for this evening contest. I'll find out after the game, if Jesus is pissed at me!

John Ferguson Jr, in the far away future passes away after a long life. Past the Pearly Gates of Heaven, he is greeted by Jesus, who walks him along, while discussing his contribution to Earthy life. After a while Jesus pauses and says "John, you have been a good man, overly generous to those in your path. I have something to offer you, and please be advised that not everyone up here gets such reward."

With these words, Jesus points to a house at the bottom of a hill. It is a nice bungalow, with subtle blue and white siding, identified by a Toronto Maple Leafs flag, flowing above the attached garage.

"Thanks so much, dear Jesus", JFJ exclaims as he proceeds to walk towards his heavenly home.

As the former Leafs GM reaches his drive, he glances high upon the hill and notices a multi - room mansion of dominating proportions. It features 4 marble white pillars leading to the doorway, skylights open to the sun, and stones across the house's front stretch that parlay into a Montreal Canadiens logo and stripe that twist around the whole of the structure. Above it are dozens of Canadiens flags featuring retired numbers of familiar legends.

Ferguson shrinks and shudders at the site. Curiously, he asks Jesus, "This may sound vain, but why has Bob Gainey such beautiful residence?"

"That is not Bob Gainey's home", counters Jesus, "But you are familiar with it's owner, I'm sure."

"Oh so that is where Rocket Richard lives, then", says a humbled Ferguson.

"Close", Jesus offers, "You're getting warm, but not quite! Let's just say it belongs to someone in whom you've spent many prosperous days following in their footsteps to arrive here."

"It's my father's house, I should have known."

"Wrong again, my son", says Jesus, "It is mine!"

Habs Elimination A Stairway Step To Better Days

Funny thing... it's not the end of the world as I thought it would be.

But, before getting to the silver linings that are sure to sew better days, an analysis of tonight's loss by the Canadiens is in order.

Leading up to the game, the hype was tantamount to the game of the century. I felt it, knots in my stomach and all. It has greatly dissapated in the last hours.

I'm left to wonder, now, what all the fuss was about. On the ice tonight, we saw two honestly very mediocre teams battling for a last grasp of playoff bound pride. What we saw from both sides in the game, spoke loudly as to why both these teams were left to battle down to the 82nd game, still on the outside looking in.

Instead of great hockey, we got excitement at it's best, from hockey at it's worst. And the officiating came along for the ride.

Hockey is said to be a game of errors, and in that sense, we witnessed more about how to lose a game than win it - from both sides of the ice.

You would think that in a 6-5 game, with this much at stake, there would be highlight reels plays aplenty. Instead we got broken plays, flukey goals, and a spectacle that wasn't really worthy of all that pricy talent on the ice.

I'd imagine that perhaps the perspective from the Maple Leafs point of view is vastly different, but it really shouldn't be.

In the end, Toronto is one measly overtime loss-earned point better than the Canadiens after 82 games. The Maple Leafs are then, one small point superior to Montreal, while having won two fewer games. Leafs fans can mangle that consolation whichever way makes them feel best.
My angle,comes with no smoke and mirrors.

Neither squad was very good this season, when it mattered most, including tonight's game. These two teams, shrouded in proud Canadiana, have been God-awful lousy in stretches, but for different reasons altogether.

I initially felt a sting, thinking the rival Leafs had eliminated the Canadiens from playoff contention, but actually all Toronto did was hammer a final nail.

The coffin was prepared and delivered by a devastating flu virus that made successive appearances in the months of December and January. There was much more to it, but what the vomitting induced, hit the floor tonight.

The Canadiens valiantly attempted to recover, discovering a great goalie prospect in the process, but ultimately succumbed to doubt, chemistry, and fear along the way.

I say valiently, because against all odds, they missed out by one final goal scored.

So, onto the silver linings as I digress.

Depending on what occurs with the New York Islanders tomorrow, the Maple Leafs will know their playoff fate by suppertime.

Oddly, from where I'm viewing things in these early morning hours, I'm almost happy that the Habs have a head start in assessing their year and getting ready for the next. It's all about illusions, to be honest.

I'm sure no Habs fans in their right minds truly beleived this was the Canadiens year to win it all. I honestly doubt many Leafs fans see it that way either. I wouldn't have expected either team to go farther than one more week into the playoffs.

is the illusion that I speak of.

Toronto may well deem this season a success now, as they really weren't expected to go this far. What they do from this point on, and how they react to whatever it is they feel they have achieved, is affected by their illusion of tonight's win.

The Canadiens, on the other hand, will not be under any such illusions. However much success they have had it this season, and there are a bundle of positives, the critical eye will make decisions very cut and dried.

And that's a good thing.

I will make no apologies for using a classic rock song as an analogy, but think of "Stairway To Heaven" for a minute - it's all about the steps, and not about the bustle in your hedgerow (roadbumps, for Brit-slang analogy challenged).

When Bob Gainey took over the Canadiens, one of the first things he said was that it is easier to make the players you have better, than it is to go out and get better players.

Tomas Plekanec and Mike Komisarek, to name but two, exemplify that truth. There are others.

Sergei Samsonov proves his point. Gainey won't admit he regrets that move, but you can be sure he does.

"A lady that's sure, all that glitters is gold", was John Ferguson Jr. emptying the wallet for Kubina, Gill, Raycroft, and Peca (remember him?). Glad the Habs aren't saddled with that fate, aren't you?

Against that, I'll take the Samsonov boob any day.

Gainey knows "the stores are all closed" now for most free agents, and is not willing to compromise the Habs ideals, in sacrificing the prospects the team has built up.

That's not saying Gainey will stand stone in the face of improvement. He'll just be wiser this time around.

In next summer's free agent market, that "spring clean for the May Queen", players who did not make their teams good enough this year, will become very attractive and luring. There may be one or two that fit the Canadiens plan.

"Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven" when it comes to who can make the Canadiens better overnight. Hopefully Gainey is not distracted by the "rings of smoke through the trees, and the voices of those who stand looking" in the press.

The media will scorch him badly, starting tomorrow, and suggest that there is "still time time to change the road" the Canadiens are on. But even thought the club has missed the playoffs, Gainey and the team are on the right track.

The GM will immediatly begin the daunting task of ridding the club of those who do not fit in any longer, whether it be monetarily or compositionally in order to get to a place where "all are one and one is all."

Hello Alex and Sergei!

Now I've pushed this Led Zeppelin lyric as mantra-for-hockey-life far enough - point taken! You can make your own "to be a rock, and not to roll" euphemism's from here.

Reading between the lines of these Stairway-isms, is to understand that Gainey will again be preaching patience and youth as the road to improvement, even if it has taken a slight step sideways this April 7, 2007.

There is a core of players on the Canadiens who will continuously improve upon their seaons of learning. They wear numbers 8, 21, 26, 35, 40, 41, 42, 46, and 84. Others are primed to follow.

As those nine players grow in experience, their invaluable learning will be combined with that of those who've been to battle, and that will eventually make the group stronger, one step at a time.

If I am able to focus squarely on such positives, those plentiful silver linings I see, it may have much to do with observing 8 Stanley Cup wins in my first 17 years of watching the Habs from 1969 to 1986. I got a bonus Cup in 1993 I did not expect.

Of course, in a 30 team NHL, things have changed. It's much tougher to dominate when a team is one of 30 teams, and no longer one of six.

Have faith in Bob Gainey's ways and patience, he's been there and seen that, and is doing what it takes to make it happen again.

You're witnessing it now.

Have faith in those steps and silver linings.

That's the stairway to the Stanley Cup!

Brokeback Maple Leafs Mountain Dew

Production begins on film comedy about fictional former Maple Leaf

Canadian Press/www.nhl.com

Nov 24, 2006, 11:37 AM EST

(RC Note - This is taken from this link. The title is mine, but I otherwise haven't changed a word! Honest!)

TORONTO (CP) - It's time to start laughing about the Maple Leafs. (Ahahahahahaha!)

The team and the NHL have given permission for their logos to be used in a movie called "Breakfast With Scot." The producers call it "a thoughtful comedy," about a gay ex-Leaf and his partner, the team's lawyer, whose lifestyle and relationship are turned upside down when they become the guardians of "a budding queen of an 11-year-old boy."

The movie stars Tom Cavanagh of "Ed" and "Scrubs," and Ben Shenkman of "Just Like Heaven" and "Angels In America" star along with Noah Bernett of "Gothica."

Laurie Lynd is directing Sean Reycraft's script based on a Michael Downing novel. Miracle Pictures and Capri Releasing are behind the project.

The 25-day shoot in and around Toronto is slated to end Dec. 15.

(RC Note II - A more detailed article at www.star.com goes a little deeper. Ouch!)

Movie Features Gay Leaf

NHL, Leafs give flick full supportDue out in theatres next December

Nov. 24, 2006. 08:23 AM

SPORTS REPORTER

The appearance of the first gay Toronto Maple Leaf will be groundbreaking, even if it is only in celluloid.
Actor Tom Cavanaugh plays a gay ex-Leaf in a comedy film Breakfast With Scot currently being shot in the GTA and Hamilton. He's one-half of a homosexual couple — his partner is the team lawyer — whose lives are turned upside down after becoming guardians of Scot, "a budding queen of an 11-year-old boy," according to the storyline.

What makes this movie even more unique is that the NHL and the Maple Leafs — part of a sport where no player has ever come out of the closet — have given the filmmakers their blessing to use their logos and uniforms. The Leafs have even agreed to let them do some filming with them at the end of a practice next month.

Cavanaugh, a huge hockey fan who was born in Ottawa, admits to being shocked they got the go-ahead from the league and Leaf brass. He vividly recalls his first thought when he read the script a year ago and saw in the opening scene that his character, Eric McNally, was a Maple Leaf.

"I never in a million years thought when we finally went to shooting we'd be donning Leaf sweaters," Cavanaugh said yesterday. "I thought it'd be that thing where it's the Toronto Razorbacks or whatever. There's something instant to the viewer when you put on a Leafs jersey or any Original Six jersey.

"It's harder to tell the story asking the public to remember this is supposed to be the NHL, even though we have to call it the NHA. You have to give full credit to the NHL and the Leafs for signing on. It also shows the possibility for if someone were to come out, perhaps it wouldn't be as big a deal as we think."

That remains to be seen, of course.

Leafs general manager John Ferguson, for his part, said it wasn't hard for them to give the project the go-ahead after it got the green light from the NHL, which had screened the script.

Click here if you really need to read on!