SOMETHING POSITIVE TO WORK WITH

Well things have gotten ugly…very ugly. Relatively speaking, ugly still ain’t that bad. Ugly three years ago would have meant last place in the East, so we should still feel fortunate that a horrible horrible Canadiens team is still fifth in the East and 7th in the league with less games played than everyone in front (except Detroit who has also played 16). Now there’s an eye opener.

Regardless of the standings, we know things are no where near as good as they can be. The team seems to have lost its identity. We went through a similar patch last year (even worse than this if we can all recall) and guess who emerged as the leader and brought this team in to heights no analyst across the league believed to be possible: Kovalev.

Some have argued that Kovy is not the same man this year, not the same locker room, etc, etc… And it’s true that things have changed in his surroundings. But Kovy hasn’t changed. He’s still a fierce competitor, and a role model to all the youngsters. He still feels the joy of playing hockey, and more importantly WINNING. A la Patrick Roy, Kovalev’s whole demeanour changes when they win, and I’m not talking about the generic happy feelings one gets for being on a winning team. He WANTS to win…he NEEDS to win, and he knows with this team, he CAN win…over and over and over again.

I may be naïve and a blind fool as a direct result of my unhealthy obsession with the Tricolore, but I think last night’s shootout scenario with Alex Kovalev scoring the game winner in true Kovale style (i.e. sending the goalie to collect his jock strap on the other side of the net) is just the type of clincher he needs to kick him self in the butt and get into gear. Once Kovalev is on the proper wavelength, the rest of the team will follow.

This of course is my belu blanc et rouge two cents that are not worth very much, unless of course you’re as blind, wishful, hopeful and obsessively loyal as I am.