What the Puck: Habs fans are cautiously optimistic about playoff chances
Oh, what a night!
On St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday an hour before puck drop, I was standing in a jam-packed McLean’s Pub watching my dear old friend Patrick Hutchinson bring to life some great Irish songs, and I was mulling over the prospects for our beloved Montreal Canadiens. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was feeling a little worried.
The Habs had lost two highly-winnable games on the weekend to the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks. All of a sudden, a playoff berth that just days earlier had seemed a sure bet was now being called into question. The Boston Bruins, their foe Tuesday at the Bell Centre, were (and still are) nipping at their heels in the Atlantic Division. Both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Ottawa Senators also look ready to jump into a playoff spot if given a chance.
On Monday, I penned one of my fire-and-brimstone columns saying the Habs were not ready for the playoffs given their wildly uneven defensive play and lack of grit. And I stand by those thoughts.
But then Tuesday night happened.
In only the latest must-win game, coach Martin St. Louis’s squad finally did put on their work boots and every single last man came to play, matching skate-to-skate with a surprisingly good Bruins team. In a finale that couldn’t have been better scripted, Cole Caufield scored the winner in overtime, becoming the first Canadiens since Vincent Damphousse to score 40 goals in a season.
It was a magic moment and it came on the type of spectacular play that has become the norm for this team. Defenceman Lane Hutson spun around the offensive zone like (to steal Yvan Cournoyer’s nickname) the Road Runner being chased by Wile E. Coyote. He then zigzagged in and sent the puck back to captain Nick Suzuki, who fired a pass right on the blade of “Clutch” Caufield’s perfectly positioned stick at the side of the net.
Boom. 40 goals. And just as importantly, a huge win over the Big Bad Bruins.
I had migrated up the street to have dinner and a Guinness (or two) at Maison Publique McLean’s — up the street from the other McLean’s — with my son Keane and his friend Ben, and the joint just erupted when Caufield scored the OT winner.
“This is the first Canadiens’ 40-goal-scorer in our lifetime,” shouted Ben to Keane.
They’re both 25. So yeah, it was a moment.
Their D might not be perfect, there may be question marks about the goalies, but there’s no denying this Canadiens team delivers the drama. Now let’s see if they can still do that in the hard-nosed, gritty, in-your-face playoffs where the officials will let just about everything except murder go uncalled.
Prior to the game, fans at McLean’s were mostly saying they followed MAD Magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman’s famous dictum: “What, me worry?”
John Ennis, who came to Montreal from Edmonton to catch a few Habs games, said the team will be just fine.
“I’m just so excited about watching this team,” said Ennis. “It’s so much more entertaining and exciting, and I think it’s just the beginning. There are so many guys on this team that are going to gel at the same time. They are fun to watch. I’m worried about them making the playoffs but I think they’re also worried about making the playoffs. And I think they’re going to make the playoffs.”
Carlo Gentille said he’s not worried at all.
“I think they’re fighting, I think it’s alright if they hit some (bumps in the road), and they have the opportunity to catch fire at the right time,” said Gentile. “I think they play better when they’re against the wall.”
John Dufresne, however, is quite concerned.
“The goaltending is so-so and the defence is a bit spotty sometimes,” said Dufresne. “I think they won’t make it. You know what happened? When the (trade) deadline came around, they didn’t do anything. They should’ve gotten an experienced goalie and a good defenceman.”
Anthony Therrien, who said he’s distantly related to former Habs coach Michel Therrien, thinks they’ll pull through and make the playoffs. But he did say he was worried about the lack of experience of the goalies. He gave the goalies a five out of 10.
“If we make the playoffs, who’s going to be the goalie?” asked Therrien. “We don’t know. It’ll be complicated.”
