Home Opener Under the Stars – The Habs @ Irish Embassy
It was opening night in Montreal, first home game since the Habs’ spectacular playoff run last May. Bars were packed again, people were walking downtown wearing fresh red jerseys, and it was the return of familiar faces I haven’t seen since playoffs. It’s middle of the week hockey and boy are we excited!
I trekked to a familiar playoff haunt, the Irish Embassy. It was one of those bars that was set up for seeing hockey games. Giant TV screens in each room, decent food, fit for the 9 to 5 crowd that needs to unwind with a couple pints and pub food. Except that we opted to watch the game on the terrasse, the Embassy has a TV outside for the smokers to not miss a minute of every period.
As I was getting over a bad cough, my friend thought it would be best to be outside, it wasn’t that cold and it was one of those rarities to watch hockey outside. My cough got worse but my friend didn’t care, he wanted to watch the game outside and that was that!
In comparison to other opening nights in other cities, Montreal makes the experience special and dignifying. The announcement of the starting lineup including children skating around the Bell Centre in Canadiens uniforms waving flags and the lineup gather at centre ice in a circle while Captain Brian Gionta announced his teammates in French.
The French is still awkward but at least we know he’s making the effort, take that to any french media when they criticize him in the near future. I’m interested to hear how he’ll sound by mid season when hopefully ‘the french’ has improved.
no kidding, terrasse!
The Montreal crowd gave particularly loud cheers for PK Subban and Mike Cammalleri after what they did last year during the playoffs and what they’ve accomplished over the first couple of games. They even cheered for Carey Price, there hearts may still long for Halak but Price’s performance in Pittsburgh is starting to win some over; we’ll take it game to game for now.
In Montreal style they had a surprise in store as the last person announce was Andrei Markov in full Canadiens gear. “Was he playing tonight?” No, he’s not yet ready, but he is an important piece of the franchise, even still on the mend. Good news for the defense however, Roman Hamrlik was ready to play.
Tampa Bay is considered “Montreal south” as they hold a large core of French Canadian players and coaching is rookie Guy Boucher, former coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal’s minor league team). Tampa can be the geographically challenged version of the “Battle of Quebec”. I sense a crazy idea since Quebec is itching for a new team…
The night was going well at least on the ice. Outside I was cold and sick and my friend decided to push my buttons and start reminding me of moments from my not so glorious past. (Let’s call it the equivalent of the Habs lean years in the early 2000s – who really wants to remember than period?). I didn’t, and stormed off. Call it a game misconduct for unsportsmanlike behavior. I left and missed the third period.
What I missed was Carey Price almost having a decent game but in the remaining few minutes, the team ends up letting him down by making a few mistakes and costing us the win. This time, it was PK’s high sticking mistake that led Tampa to tie the game with a few minutes left. We would lose in overtime, when Dominic Moore (remember him?) threw it at the net and a Lightning jersey was the first to flip it behind Price.
This past weekend was another story however as the team learned to stand by their goalie and win back to back games in Buffalo and Ottawa. They were great games for the team and goalie but I wasn’t out and about in the crazy city, I chose to watch those games at home. Strange that the Habs have their lineup together and yet, I’m struggling to find people to watch games with.
Right now my friend is in the doghouse, I figure a long suspension. And as for my search for a half decent bar to watch hockey downtown, it continues.As for whoever will watch the next game with, someone that won’t hang me out to dry the way the team did to Price on opening night.
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