Game 5: The Journey was bound to end sometime
Back to reality for this dog, but isn't he cute?
Well, good things were bound to end and in the case of the Montreal Canadiens, it lasted six weeks longer than anticipated. The one thing I can say about all of this: who knew? Who knew they had it in them to beat both the best team in the league and the defending champions. However, it was another scrapper of a team, The Philadelphia Flyers, that got us beat.
They too had their underdog story as they needed an extra game to even qualify for the playoffs, then go knee deep in the neutral zone we call New Jersey. However, the legend grew when they came from a 3-0 Boston lead then won the next four games in order to go up against the other belle of the ball.
I guess the clock stuck midnight, the party has ended. Time to go home.
I decided to go on a bike trip on game day, I explored the western parts of the bike path, seeing the rapids, finding surfers, chilling by the river all day. Nevertheless enduring the heat and fatigue on this ride.
It was a long ride, where my bike down on it’s last gears managed to pull off 30 km. My legs are going to pay for it however.
It does remind me of the journey of “the team of destiny.” How it was long and hard, yet surprising and positive. I pegged the Canadiens to last four games (six actually as I was being nice). Now six weeks and 21 entries later, there is hockey in late May. Still going.
We all learn on these journeys that we take with us in our lives. Each game was a lesson in surviving the grit and grind of a long playoff run. However, like my bike trip, all journeys must come to an end.
Game 6: All the biking lead me back to Brutopia for a cold beer and a warm feeling in my heart. We can come back or at least give the Flyers a hard time. We needed the first goal no matter what. Not even the loud angry Flyer crowd or the rendition of God Bless America sung by the late Kate Smith on the scoreboard was going to psyche the Habs out.
Then out came Gionta that got us the lead. I think this could be our game.
It looked good until the big mistake Jaroslav Halak made. He’s usually at his top game however he came out of his net too far to clear the puck as Roman Hamrlik was trying to clear it himself. Mike Richards of the Flyers saw this as open game and tied the game up.
Possibly the costly move was what made or broke the game as after that mistake, the Canadiens weren’t able to come back.
It was all Philly, Chris Pronger and his defensive core all over the small guys. It was near impossible to make passes or go near the net. PK Subban learned a lesson as he got clipped in the lip by the veteran defenseman. PK has had many lessons in the last six weeks he will take with him as he will finally be on the official roster next season.
PK’s passes were the highlight of the game, however since the Halak incident, morale had been sloppy, letting in goals by Giroux and Jeff Carter still nursing a broken foot. It looked like that’s all she wrote until for the 1st time since game one against Washington, Scott Gomez scored.
How fitting that he had the first and last goals of the Canadiens playoff run.
The bar came alive, the same way the Habs did, thinking, there is another chance. We need to tie it up, more beer and cheers. The city on it’s feet, they have enough to pull this off. The last five minutes were nothing but fingers crossed and held breaths.
It’s been done before, once, twice, can it be three?
However not the case, it was a valiant effort. Everyone took a shot, Cammalleri, Gionta again, Gomez too. Even Andrei Kostitsyn. So close.
However, the Canadiens were stopped by a big guy in pads, Michael Leighton.
It’s over, done. The end of the journey that no one knew was going to last this long.
The look on Hal Gill’s face was the same as the look from the guy drinking the pitcher to himself during game 4. It was devastated. These guys worked hard to get here even when they were doubted in game 1 in the 1st round. This was the 1st time we got a glance at the human element of Halak after he had been a superhero these last three rounds.
I walked out of the bar with my friend, I decided to show him what I’ve been covering these last few weeks. For one thing, the riot cops and helicopters were out just in case. The cops opened up the streets as there was no need for trouble.
I was still able to drink my beer on the street without hassle, I guess I’m better at drinking on the street than most people I know.
There were guys selling shirts on the streets, having a clearance as they were hoping on cashing in on a win, now hoping to get rid of their merchandise. I bought one for a friend, who I think will enjoy this new hockey memory.
I showed my friend the area where I took awesome photos of the semi riots, how Crescent and Ste Catherine was filled with hundreds of people celebrating a couple weeks ago. There was a dixieland band on the corner playing rather than being used as a riot tactic.
We passed by the SAQ that still hasn’t repaired their window after the semi riot. I showed him the fire station with the homemade sign they had up. I told the firefighters about my blog, but I think they find me kind of cute instead.
Yep, I might as well find comfort in firemen.
We ended up drinking in the park near the Bell Centre where during the Pittsburgh series I drank like Carey Price. It became a clearer memory as I contemplated the amazing playoff run in the last few weeks. Also, I was drinking out of a can so less damage there.
So many people I’ve seen games with, so many bars. The scenarios at hand. Glad that this team had gone this far, that myself and the people I was with watching games were on this amazing journey. Sad that I can’t find a better excuse now other than hockey to see some of these people again.
Bike ride anyone?
On my way home I saw the key chain that someone left for me to put on my keys during the run. I used to be big on Canadiens merchandise, hell my walls and wardrobe were nothing but. I stopped doing that as I am a hockey fan but don’t want to have to prove it by wearing something.
However, with my new found respect for the team, I might as well for old time’s sake. There will be a Canadiens sum up and my Stanley Cup prediction in the next entry. Go Habs.
It's on my keys now
