One of the benefits of taking train in to work every morning is that it gives me an hour to try and sleep off my splitting headache and other accompanying hang over symptoms. On some rare occasions however I'm simply too lazy to go on a beer run, and it takes me a half and hour argument with my dog to realize I haven't taught him how to fetch a six pack yet. On mornings following such disappointing and deceiving evenings I get to meet some interesting character and this morning was no different. I was having two interesting one-way conversations with two fanatic HABS fans. One guy was eccentric, somewhat aggressive in his arguments and came across cool as a cucumber. He was wearing a red HABS jersey and was sitting on my right....no left...I think (whichever shoulder the little devil guy in cartoons sits on). The other guy was modest, calm, collective and seemed more optimistic. He was wearing a whit HABS jersey. They were both knowledgeable and made very good points. Here's the conversation that ensued:
White Jersey Guy: The team played with high intensity and everyone seemed relaxed and having fun (especially on the power play). This showed result in the way of puck control and domination
Red Jersey Guy: The team blew a lead yet again (2nd time in three games) and settled for a point.
White Jersey Guy: Higgins and Plec played awesome. It's nice to see them break out of their shells. Hopefully this will lead to point production in the long run.
Red Jersey Guy: They didn't score, they didn't put up points...pointe finale. And Higgins had a chance to redeem him self on the shootout and failed.
White Jersey Guy: The first line is gelling! They played awesome! The line is currently low scoring but is getting so many chances.
Red Jersey Guy: Same point as above. Chances don't win games; goals win games...goals which they did not get especially with 2/3 of the top line missing on the shoot out.
Whit Jersey Guy: Komisarek was creaming the Panthers on the boards...no better way to break an offensive play than to take the body and take the opposition out of play and throw them off synch.
Red Jersey Guy: Bravo! He had some big hits, the fans enjoyed it, but hitting people doesn't score goals. Unfortunately slashing opposing players leads to penalties and the other team scoring. If Komi could have taken the body when it really counted and not when he felt like it, he would not have been stuck behind the play trying to hack down the guy, leading to a penalty with 2 min & change left, and we would have won the game.
Whit Jersey Guy: Everyone was making smart choices defensively (i.e. Bouillon had a free hit, but didn't take it cause Koivu was stuck behind the play and it could have led to a two on one - during second period 4 on 4)
Red Jersey Guy: Same as above. Everyone was not making smart choices. If they were we would not be in the box getting scored on in the third.
White Jersey Guy: Huet played spectacularly once again. He saved us on several occasions and especially saved Brisebois' honeymoon with the fans following that blunder against Zednik.
Red Jersey Guy: Well once more he played great for the whole game but could not make the one save to win the game (second time in three games). That’s the difference between a goo goalie and a great goalie. Voukoun was superior and he did his job and stole one for his team. Same can’t be said about our goalie, regardless of the circumstances.
White Jersey Guy: I was highly impressed by Kostopulous...he gets a cheap head hunter shot...he gets the team back by dishing out a lickin’ to their star player...all in the same shift. And I'm certain had he not been at the end of his shift he would have fought the bastard too. He just had to take a break before he could drop the gloves on the next shift.
Red Jersey Guy: Good point…a personal victory for Kotsopulous. On the other hand he still didn’t do enough to get a win for his team…
White Jersey Guy: Dandenault continues to impress on offence. His physical and speedy play consistently forces turnovers and scoring chances, and more importantly breaks up the opposition’s game plan.
Red Jersey Guy: Turnovers and chances mean nothing if we can’t convert. We still only got one goal…on the PP mind you. 5 on 5 the team suffered AGAIN!
White Jersey Guy: Well at least the PP scored this game. They seem to be getting back on the horse.
Red Jersey Guy: Don’t kid your self. Our special teams are nothing special. Our PK was once again unable to come through when it counted. You think they would be better after all the practice they got the last few games (ranked 23d in the league).
White Jersey Guy: Refs are still inconsistent. They call Komi with two minutes and change left, but don't call anything in OT...for either team.
Red Jersey Guy: We are indiscipline and deserve a lot of those penalties (including the call on Komi). Let’s face it…the team sucks so we’re always playing catch up…hence the hooking and slashing. Let’s stop blaming everyone else for our mistakes.
At this point in the conversation we had reached Lucien Allier (for those who don’t know Montreal or it’s train system, the Lucien Allier terminus is part of the Bell Center). As I walked down the platform looking up at the giant CH, walking through the atrium and noticed the flags and murals with players’ pictures on it, I came to the realization that I had left my briefcase in the train. After a mad dash to collect my belongings I realized that both these guys had good points, and it’s easy to fall in either o their shoes. I for one prefer to see the season as “half-full”. Otherwise it would be a very very very long season, because as is the nature of the beast, we will loose more games like this where we CLEARLY deserved to win, we will win games where we will rival a 40+ beer league hockey team, we will go on winning streaks, and unfortunately on loosing streaks. This was a demoralizing loss, but it does us no good to dwell on shortcoming. Life’s a lot more pleasant if one focuses on positives, builds off of those.
The only points left to be made are the opposing goaltenders having superb games against us, and the supposedly insurmountable challenge we have on Thursday. Seeing as this post is reaching proportions of a short novel, we’ll discuss those tomorrow.
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