RANGERS, SENS, PHILLY, DEVILS, STEAK AND PIE

So we’re tied for fist place with Ottawa and New Jersey in points. I hate to point out that we would be at the bottom of that list on the fact that Ottawa has a game in hand and the Devils have more wins. The good news however is that we’re but one night away from potentially being at the top of the point standings. A loosing streak ending performance by the Flyers and a series loosing streak ending performance by those guys in the Bleu Blanc et Rouge, and all of a sudden we’re #1…no ish, just straight up #1.

It has been a loooooooong time since the last time the team was flying so high, and based on the average age of the users in this forum, I’m part of the minority who was lucky enough to see the last time we were challenging for top seat in the Conference. With that in mind it’s no surprise that the hype is getting the better of Habs fans, and all of a sudden we’re expecting too much.

We have not won a game against the Rangers yet, and the five unanswered goals on the last game the rangers potted in our net will play a huge psychological role come game time tonight. Furthermore, the Ranges have proven that their style of play is one of the more difficult ones to beat for our Habs, given our style of play.

On the other front, the Flyers are just having a terrible time. The Sens are on a mini-slump as well, however the Sens are too powerful a team to loose too many in a row, and the last time the Sens were challenged for the top seat after a mini-slump we all know how they responded. Odds would more than suggest that Philly is not likely to end their loosing streak tonight, and that the Sens will be looking for a demolishing win with a 4-5 goal differential.

With all that said, logic would dictate that we would not be ending the night ahead of Ottawa, and at best we can remain tied. However expecting us to win and them to loose is a bet that would make many a man rich.

On the up side, none of that matters. We should not worry about any of this when we hit the ice tonight. We have a more focused team tonight than we did the last time we met the Rangers. We have some momentum, and we’ll have some good goaltending. If Price is in net, we’ll have a confident goalie who can push back when Avery is in his crease. If Huet is in net, he will have no other choice but to play a whale of a game if he wants to keep his job. Hamerlik is back in the line-up so defensively we’re back at our best.

I wouldn’t say odds are in our favour to win, but I wouldn’t say odds are against us either. The Rangers are a mature and veteran team, and they should be playing a rather consistent game. So the way I see it the outcome is in our hands. If we play our game, alert, keep the puck out of our zone, deep in theirs, and win fights along the boards, this one is ours. If we start giving the puck away in the neutral zone, or worse in our zone, this will go the other way. It up to us, and that’s the way it should be.

As for the Sens game, you never know what could happen. I have seen more bizarre things happen this season.

PS If you’re wondering why I had steak and pie in the title…well it’s cause I like steak and pie :D