Game 5: A Montreal Canadiens Fan in Toronto
These "heroes" were all over Toronto. REALLY?!?
We won but it was weird. Enough said.
It wasn’t a weird win but it was a weird place to watch the win. Game 5 was on the road in both ways. The Habs were back in Washington to ease the pressures of hometown expectations. I, on the other hand, was at a conference in Toronto.
Yes, I was going to watch the game in possibly the worst playoff city of them all.
Toronto is known to be a great disappointment when in comes to hockey. The Maple Leafs haven’t seen glory in, hmm…you know, I don’t think I can think that far back.
I do recall one time watching a habs game in Toronto. Was on an assignment to cover Canadian Music week, a friend of mine also had time off and was in Toronto also. We found a place (the only place to show a Canadiens game) called Kilgours on Bloor. We opted for beer and breakfast during a matinee against the Ducks. The minute the Leafs game was on, everyone cleared the room. Good times.
Too bad my friend now is a jerkface. This is where the Ovechkin term comes from.
Was schmoozing with photographers and editors, a great way to advance my career. At the same time texting anyone with a score and convincing my friend (an ex Montrealer) to leave his apartment and watch game 5 with me. My first period analysis is brought to you by a Montrealer avoiding his essay again, thanks.
Luckily I got the text I never thought would be, 2-0 Montreal. In his words: they’re playing sloppy. Moen had one of the goals.
Travis Moen got one, when I hear his name I think of a lawn mower mowing in the mud. “I’m Moen.” Similiar to how they started the first period, sloppy.
After giving out business cards, chugging a beer and making fun of Torontians, I bolted to find a bar. There was one between where I was and where my friend lives. Went to Ben Wicks on Parliament, saw the TV and felt safe again.
Except, no sound.
Ok, this might be weird for some, I’ve seen games with no sound. However, since being a habs fan known to yell at tvs: is it appropriate to yell when it’s not your town? There was no sign of at least one person watching the game. Toronto is not familiar with the concept of playoffs. Would they be put off by the obvious Montrealer in the room?
Nah, f**k it. It’s the playoffs.
They did a quick channel change for the CBC, apparently it’s the channel “where heroes are made.” Really guys, this is what you can come up with for the playoff campaign? I’ve seen these posters all over Toronto, depicting the sun beaming down from the heavens through thick clouds and praising which ever hockey player on the poster.
It looks like Sidney Crosby is in an aquarium tank.
Change the channel. Thanks.
My friend arrives for the rest of the game and goes well until Jerkface scores. Happens it’s the only goal that Halak was able to let in. As sloppy it was before, the Canadiens were still all over Washington, still shutting Alex Semin and the power play again.
We thought of this theory that the Halak/Price who should be the #1 goalie debate compensates for the “Habs have no defense except for Markov” debate. Think about it, we have guys that can score. We have solid goaltending no matter what, it’s defense we have none. In the off season, shop for a defenseman or finally bring PK Subban to the show.
Then again, we were drinking and bracing for our playoff lives as we watched the clock. Can they finally hold a lead, 2 minutes left. This would be the part where we blow it.
No, not this time. We held it. Thank god.
The bar then realized, yes! A couple of Montrealers.
So it’s game 6, this is how far I predicted a couple of entries ago. The question lies if they have enough to go the distance or this is how far we can go. We haven’t won at home in over 12 playoff games and Alex the Jerkface likes to hot dog it at the Bell Centre, sometimes with some fries on the side and a 9 dollar beer before game time.
Asking if it’s the last game (maybe/maybe not) give me a shout and let’s do this in style. Will be around, back by the way from Toronto. Let’s do this.
Let’s prove that no matter what, we’re a Hell of a lot cooler than Toronto.
