Montreal 3 Toronto 4 OT (Bell Centre)
At the end of regulation time, with the score tied 3-3, Bell Centre fans jumped to their feet and gave their team a thunderous standing ovation. With a single point, their beloved Canadiens had clinched a spot in the playoffs.
Few minded that the Habs squeaked into the post-season in game 82.
No one seemed to recognize that the opponent was the 29th place team in the league.
When Dion Phaneuf scored the Leafs’ fourth goal at the 2:05 mark of overtime, ending a very rough night for Jaroslav Halak, the fans once again rose. Canadiens’ players gathered at center ice and raised their sticks in salute.
How emotional! Fans and players were connecting.
After back-to-back shutout wins to begin April, the Habs were counting their schedule-maker blessings with final week games against three non-playoff teams.
It didn’t quite work out as planned. The touching connection, and the celebration followed a loss tonight, the Canadiens’ third straight.
“We found a way of making it hard on ourselves, so its doubling the pleasure for us now,” said Marc-Andre Bergeron. “Now that we’re in, it’s mission accomplished.”
That’s why I’m feeling odd about this game. It must be because I’m feeling twice as much happiness. Yes, that must be it.
Maybe the so-called “non-emotional” coach can explain why fans and players alike are in a celebratory mood.
“The fact that we made it (the playoffs). Our goal is achieved,” said a smiling Jacques Martin.
At that point, a light bulb went on. How silly of me? I wasn’t feeling the merriment of others, but not because I’m a curmudgeon. It was because I forgot about the “new goal.”
My insightful friend Kyle Roussel recently wrote “Some years ago after the Roy trade, when it was clear to the organization that they had lost their way, they shifted their focus from winning the Cup to merely making the playoffs. With that, marketing took over (hello Boivin and Lalonde) and they managed to successfully convince the craziest fans in hockey that making the playoffs was now the benchmark. The ultimate goal.”
Kyle is correct. Making the playoffs is not only the new goal, but the ultimate goal. See, I got the memo. I just hadn’t yet assimilated.
Well, to all of you, I apologize for being so gloomy. Please bear with me as it may take some time to get used to wearing this new outfit. Now I understand why other franchises hoist banners other than those commemorating Stanley Cups to the rafters of their arenas.
I suppose the Canadiens policy will be updated soon. I will have all summer to talk myself into getting excited when I see the “Best NHL team in Quebec (for now)” banner raised in October.
Yes I did read (or write) something recently about mediocrity being the new norm of the Canadiens.
You know, it’s starting to make sense.
With the Canadiens being down by two goals in the last game against Carolina, I was puzzled by Jacques Martin’s decision to give Halak the stop sign for the extra attacker as the clock approached 90 seconds left. With the “new goal” in mind I now understand why there was no urgency.
It also helps to explain why the coach chose the final two games of the season to destroy the spirit and confidence of two key players. One has provided third line offense and been stellar while serving penalty-killing duty. The other is the team’s only physical defenseman who regularly leads the team in hits and blocked shots.
But with the Canadiens so close to their “ultimate goal” it was a perfect time for the coach to assert his authority and re-open old wounds. With the playoffs just being bonus time, those players won’t be needed.
This whole new approach even allows me to be happy for Leaf’s center Christian Hanson. Poor kid hadn’t scored yet this season and only had one career NHL goal to date. Tonight he scored two goals (one short-handed), and was a goal-post away from a hat trick. Who cares that both goals were weak efforts on Halak’s part?
I think I’m making progress. I said “Who cares?”
The problem is that the last sentence of the previous paragraph is bringing out the curmudgeon in me again. I know we are supposed to be dizzy with celebrating by now, but wasn’t anyone else concerned about the four ordinary goals given up by Halak tonight?
Shouldn’t we be worried that Halak only has three wins in his last nine starts going into the playoffs? I know it was a tough night for Halak because his agent Alan Walsh wasn’t trashing Carey Price on Twitter. Halak even decided he wouldn’t be available to the media after the game.
When Price opted to skip the post-game media scrum, he was dubbed a malcontent. The French press talked about Price’s attitude problem, and soon after, the Gazette’s Pat Hickey became a card-carrying member of Team Halak and chief advocate.
So, I am puzzled again. Halak is struggling and isn’t willing to face the media, yet no one bats an eye. Can any of you stop doing cartwheels and please explain?
Oh, I see. Thanks. I should have known. It’s another fan/media double standard.
But before we start another rousing chorus of “O-le, O-le, ..” I have a few final questions.
During the season, the Habs were 28-8-2 coming into this game when scoring first. They scored first tonight, yet lost. Similarly, the Canadiens were 26-2-2 when leading after two periods. They led, but lost.
Statistics don’t determine performance but on a night that was virtually a playoff game for the Canadiens, they couldn’t muster even a typical effort.
Perhaps most disturbing is that once again, the Canadiens lost when scoring three goals. Two losses with three goal efforts by the offense is concerning for a team that has struggled at times with goal support. Prior to this week, the Habs’ record when scoring three times was 33-3-3.
Does that mean we will hear the Habs’ goaltending controversy resurrected during the next few days?
There I go again with my serious questions. Such a killjoy. Many of you are probably saying “Who cares?”
“Who cares?” said Mike Cammalleri in the Montreal dressing room after the game. “Now we’re getting ready for the playoffs. Now it begins.”
Thanks for the reminder, Mike! So if the Canadiens’ first round opponent is Washington, Buffalo or New Jersey (to be determined on Sunday), we should all relax and enjoy. After all, now that the organizational goal has been achieved, the rest is just gravy.
Rocket’s three stars
1. Christian Hanson
2. Andrei Markov
3. Viktor Stalberg
Special mention: Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta
Player quotes from wire services were used in this report.
(photo credit: Getty)
Y'know, I understand the "playoffs as ultimate goal" mentality in the NFL, where each game is all or nothing. Anything can happen.
But with a best of seven, cinderella shoes aren't going to carry a team very far. You need consistency—something the Habs have lacked all season.
All that to say, I share your confusion. We just barely squeaked out a point against one of the worst-ranked teams in the league, and we're celebrating?
you're not being gloomy dude. i felt the same way after the game.
the new "ultimate" standard is not good enough for the true hab faithful.
they should be ashamed of that effort last night..
they'll be summarily dismissed in the first round.
I'm not a Habs fanatic like others I know; I didn't even watch the game (out of nervousness) but when I saw the final score & heard 'positive' reaction from everyone, I was baffled. I wasn't proud of this 'win.' (that's how they saw it as, right?)
We're #8! We're #8!
Woooooooooo!!!!
So when are we all going to get together and congratulate each other over this monumental achievement? When is the playoff parade? I mean, if the ultimate goal is to make the playoffs, and you've accomplished that goal, then there should be a huge celebration, no?
In all seriousness, there are numerous quotes that should cause alarm, but this one, from head buzzkill Jacques Martin should have Canadiens fans sighing in dismay at best, and ranting at worst: "The fact that we made it (the playoffs). Our goal is achieved".
What kind of team can fire themselves up once they've already achieved so much?
And now we have more reasons as to why his teams (including a perennial powerhouse in Ottawa) were such playoff busts. I'm not sure of my memory, but I think he has a 38-47 playoff record, with the aforementioned powerhouse teams. Wonderful.
There is not one single reason why Habs fans should be hopeful. We went through some scenarios a week or two ago, but now that we know the Canadiens have already achieved their goal, how much will they care about what's yet to come? Sure, guys like Gomez, Gionta and Gill know what the post season is all about, but Martin will presumably go in to exhibition mode now. Awesome. Can't wait to pour all of my energy and emotion in to this team, that has seemingly already self-satisfied itself.
As for last night's game, I'm actually quite amazed at the Canadiens ability to be ultra-precise. Over their past 3 games, they needed 1 out of 6 points to lock up the playoffs. And that's exactly what they gave us. Nothing more, nothing less. Their only shortcoming is that they didn't lose in the shootout.
As for Halak, yes, we should all be concerned with his recent play. Whether through fatigue, nerves or him coming down to where his talent likely is, he has not been as good this week as he has been this season. The 1st and 3rd goals were horrendous. I can accept the 2nd goal, and even the overtime winner, but it's clear that if he was anything resembling the guy who played vs the Flyers or Sabres last Saturday this game would not have even gone to overtime.
If Jacques Martin still cares, he's going to start Halak in game 1. Pending the outcome of that game (assuming he will still care after game 1), he should not hesitate to go to Price if the Habs lose and Halak looks like he did last night. He has a huge asset sitting on the bench and he'd be a fool to not use it if he needs it.
Then again, maybe we're the fools. After all, the goal has been reached. The Canadiens have climbed the mountain! Huzzah!
And hey, at least they didn't back in the playoffs, right?
I'm pretty pissed actually. I think the guys who know what winning is were pretty pissed. Remember when the Habs were first in the Division/East? Price, then a rookie at 20 years of age, said they don't raise those banners here.
THAT'S the phrase they should be saying. "They don't raise a 'good job team, you got into the playoffs' banner here."
I hate losing to the Leafs. I hate that Martin crushed O'Byrne and Sergei in these pivital games, especially right after Rhino scored a goal and pasted a bunch of Islanders on the glass and Sergei was the glue of the 3rd line. Replaced him with Darche eh? That wide-open net Pouliot would never have buried because his angle was so off you could see it from Mars? Sergei would have buried that. OH SILLY ME! He wouldn't have because Sergei doesn't play on the powerplay.
And if this was Jaro's "Game 7" moment? Colour me scared. Even Pierre Houde was noting how Jaro made him nervous all night. I kept thinking about that Bronze medal game meltdown and was chewing on my blanket the entire 3rd period.
Coach handcuffed this team in the game of the year and it could have cost them that so-called ultimate goal.
I'm not happy. I wanted them to beat the Leafs. Instead the Leafs leave Montreal satisfied that on the last game of the year, they gave us a taste of Game 1 with a 4-3 OT win in our barn.
Yes we should be happy this new, broken made the playoffs…but satisfied in the way they did? Not very happy.
Halak was tired, would have been nice if he could of had a game or two rest along the way but the Habs couldn`t risk it with what they have as a #2 goalie. In the end, Halak was able to hang on for the 1 point they needed to secure a playoff birth, we should be thanking him.
Cam and Ben both looked as though their games are coming back. Mab had a very good game I thought as well. A few days rest for Halak and he will be back to his old self.
I don`t understand all the gloom and doom around here, would you all have rather that the leafs made the playoffs while the Habs sat on the outside looking in?
It`s ok to be happy for the Habs, they just might do better then what you seem to expect. Either way i`m going to cheer them on, win or lose, that`s what fans do.
I do share Rocket's and some of the previous commenters' doom and gloom take on things. Yet, at the same time I cannot but feel some of the fever that comes along with the real season upon us.
As usual, I appreciate Kyle insightful view. And kudos to Number31 for helping some of us recall that great quote from Price. I might use it myself in a soon to be (or not) written blog of my own.
As far as the goalie debate… I wish Martin starts with Halak for the playoffs. Of course, he is tired, but the time as come to find out if our slovakian prince can stay as strong as can be under that pressure and with a sustained run in front of the nets.
That being said, I'm one who does appreciate the fact that we can count on two fantastic goalies and wish some media people (and their devout followers) shed the image of the immature Carey from last year and quit using ridiculous behavior analysis on them both. Or at least recognize that the kid has been thru a lot and has shown up until now that he got the message and reacted the way a responsible one would.
Ok lets star here…. Gloomy? Hey now, i feel the same way, im a Habs fan to the end, always was always will be, its in me to support and love my home team… But this,this is not the way to make it into the playoffs "the new goal", losing vs teams, teams that were no where being close to making playoffs… Teams that the Habs should be kicking butt agaisnt!
Happy? Happy were in the playoffs, yes….. Proud….. doing cartwheels, helllll no! Dissapointed is much more like it, there are teams out there who made, heck even some who didnt make the playoffs, and play with more WANT and more HEART then what the Habs have been playing with, then the coach has been coaching with! ( if you can call what JM does coaching!)
So you're definatly not the only one whose GLOOMY about how things went down, and how we got INTO the playoff, more like BARELY!
Now on to another topic…. ahhh yes the GOALIES!… ohhh this is one i just LOOOOOVE to argue and disscuss!
I am not a TEAM PRICE, or a TEAM HALAK…. But i do tend to defend Price a lot, because i know he has talent , i know he's good for our Habs team, but if people dont give him the chance to play and prrove himself during REGULAR season, how is he supose to build his so called "confedence" everyone wants him to gain?
Why is it that Price loses a game, and alll hell brakes loose, while Halak, whose seen as freakin SUPERMAN and he loses some pretty important games, and its NO BIG DEAL? . . . The media itself is choosing teams….. let me remind you ppl that its called a HOCKEY TEAM…. yes yes a TEAM! not called a HOCKEY ONE MAN SHOW! So yes its important for a hockey TEAM to have a great GOALIE…. but the TEAM ITSELF, need to be just as GREAT as its goalie… It also helps to have a GREAT Coach, but thats a whole other topic on its own!
So now, lets see how far our HABS can get into the Playoffs, and if the IMPORTANT GOAL was to get in them, well thats done, players you got your bonouses of who care how much money….. Now can you make us REAL HOCKEY FANS, us TRUE MONTREAL CANADIENS FANS , PROUD and REALLY HAPPY and start playing like a REAL TEAM who WANTS something more then just to be in the playoffs…. yeah lets TRY it!
I still haven't heard anyone provide an real explanation as to why the Flyers and Bruins were able to get in despite horrendous injuries down the stretch (Savard, every Flyers goalie). A couple weeks ago we were looking at the Habs in the 6th playoff slot, and I think we all would have been happy with that despite everything that's gone on. Instead, they melted down and BARELY made the playoffs thanks to the NHL's free point for failure.
That the Bruins, who lost their best offensive player were able to suck it up and grind out win after win down the stretch says a lot about them, and a lot about the Habs. While the Bruins were dropping like flies, they had every reason to finally quit on the season, but didn't. On the other hand, there were the Habs who were getting healthier down the stretch and looked like anything but a team looking to clinch a playoff spot. THEY were the ones who in the last week, seemed to quit. Of their final 5 games, at least 3 were of the embarrassing variety. A solid win vs the Sabres was the only saving grace. The OT loss to Toronto, in my view was closer to embarrassing than solid, but I'll leave that to you to decide. Either way, it's not a pretty picture.
I don't know what is inside of our Habs that propels them to play so poorly when it counts most, but I'm pretty sick of it, and I'm even more sick of the "anything can happen in the playoffs" mentality that has permeated the organization and fanbase. Yes, anything CAN happen, but I guess I just miss the days when the Canadiens were more apt to ensure their own successes rather than pray to some mystical ghosts that, if they ever existed, are still hanging around Atwater & Ste. Catherine.
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