Wilde Horses
- The stats said Alexei Emelin had 4 hits in the first period. I could swear he had 6 on one shift in the first period. The injury at the end of the shift seemed just that he was too tired to get up. The determination and commitment of the Russian pair was the best I have ever seen from either of them.
- Andrei Markov. Let me say it again one more time for the bigots: Russians are proud hockey players all the time including NHL playoffs, not just world championships. This Russian has no contract. He put it all on the line. His best game of the playoffs.
- Nathan Beaulieu said it was the fastest-paced hockey game that he had ever been in. Wow. Wow. Wow. Fastest-pace, yet I kept marvelling all night how he was able to slow it down. What a first playoff game. He was excellent. Set up the second goal with a long breakout pass. He was plus 2. He made a key and courageous shot block. I have been on a soap box about Beaulieu being treated poorly as I didn't think it was fair or positive. The Habs treated him like a petulant little child because they didn't like his attitude when he got sent back down to Hamilton. Well, now you see why he was angry. Because he is fantastic. You know who doesn't get angry when they get sent down? Players who are lousy. Players who know they're better than the players who stay up get angry. I want Beaulieu to be angry. He better be angry. It means he wants it. It means he's hungry. It means he wants to be treated appropriately for his talent. It means he looked at the guy playing in his spot and said no way-not fair.
- Max Pacioretty. At the end of the first period you could see was figuring out how to elevate his game. He only had to keep the feet moving when working that hard. Force the penalty. Force the action. Use that excellent skating stride. He did all that and then it happened. It was appropriate that he scored. His game was better. He worked hard on the assist to Vanek too. Just keep the feet moving. Keep the puck active and alive. Kick it to a new spot. Just keep working and who knows what good can come out of it. Perhaps that game was the Pacioretty turning point.
- David Desharnais with an excellent effort. Who says a little guy can't finish his checks? Desharnais was an annoying little buzzsaw, simply finishing his checks and fighting for pucks. He also showed intelligence the way he handled the puck on the line. He swept it away but did not close his hand on it. A keen awareness from him to save a goal and anxiety at the Bell Centre.
- Brendan Gallagher just doesn't quit. He never gives in until he is at the bench after the shift is over. He sets the work ethic standard all must follow.
- Michael Bournival. I saw him long after the game by accident in the empty corridors of the Bell Centre. He just kept smiling. He didn't say anything. I looked at him. He just kept smiling. He just doesn't talk much this kid, but the smile spoke volumes for him. Bournival is the best forechecker on the team. His speed makes it just a complete mess for a defender when he turns him. Bournival improves his shot and wow the upside on this kid. Impressed me a lot.
- Thomas Vanek with two goals. Interesting on the first goal as he told me he tried to stay out of the pile and the fray. He just wanted to ride in unnoticed. He did. That's what natural goal scorers do. They get you that thing that you need to win games - goals. They're not doing anything until they pounce when they need to pounce.
- Lars Eller is the best forward on the Canadiens this playoffs. He wins pucks. Puck winners get points. He has the most points of the forwards. He scored the vital first goal.
- Tomas Plekanec with the comeback game after maybe the worst game I can remember for him. Even worse than the little girl game. Responded with a complete effort.
- Josh Gorges and Mike Weaver for the commitment it took to not throw up during a 3-minute shift. I don't know why there is no oxygen at players benches. 3 minutes of intense effort defending like that? It was ugly. They did it though. They committed to it and got the job done. That's some bravery there.
- Brandon Prust has no healthy body parts left I think. He still threw it around like he didn't care if he was going to be in pain for months. Exemplary commitment in the face of what must be great pain in his ribs and/or shoulder and/or everywhere probably.
- Carey Price. This is the coming-of-age playoffs for Price. No anxiety in his game. The players all talk about how soothing it is to see how calm he is, how he controls the play, how he looks so steady and they feed off it. He doesn't just make saves. He exudes confidence. The Olympics did so much for Price. That he won gold on a world stage has meant so much belief. He believes he has the skill. He just focuses on stopping the puck. He is just thinking of execution and not the results or what he can't control. Execute strong technique stopping the puck. Don't worry about what you can't control. He has arrived.
- Here's PK Subban after the game about game 7 in Boston to come: "I can’t wait for the crowd, the noise, the energy in the building. I can’t wait to take that all away from them." Who says this? I am not sure if I ever heard a quote like this. The answer is who says this is a guy who draws breath so he can compete. Subban is loving this. While some get nervous or feel pressure, he is feeding off of it. He can't wait. Man, I am astounded by this quote. This is a competitor. 8 years. Now Marc. 8 years. Whatever it takes to sign him, do it happily. He is your 30-minute stud on D that all teams have who win the cup.
- Dale Weise. He is not only fast and skilled, but he is also tough and a gamer. Learned the system quickly. I would be shocked if he weren't back. He loves it here so much. After the game, every media member had a different Habs guy to talk to and Weise was just standing there by himself by his stall. A packed room and he is just standing there. No one does this. They all get to the back room to avoid the media if they can. He just stood there smiling. I was in a Plekanec scrum listening to Plekanec talk like it was a pre-season game and Weise is just soaking it all in. About a minute goes by. No one is coming to him. I think surely he will leave. Instead he puts his leg up on the bench and widens his smile more and takes in how he feels. Finally Tomas finishes and I walk over to Weise and ask if I can have some time. He smiles even wider. I don't think I needed to ask anything. He just wanted to share his love for the moment and his teammates and the fans who he just adores here. I don't know if I have ever seen a happier hockey player. Sometimes the most grateful are the ones who were down and found a new life and someone who gave them a chance to get back up. Weise couldn't get a regular shift in Vancouver under Tortorella. They feuded. He was frustrated and in the press box. In Montreal, Weise is all that he believed he could be and even more. He is my favourite story this year on the Habs. I love redemption stories, even ones I look bad because I thought the trade was a poor one before I saw him play here. The trade was genius. Weise is a keeper.
Wilde Goats
- I feel considering the talent of the opponent, along with the significance of the game, that the Habs effort was the most determined and committed one that I have ever seen at the Bell Centre. That's a lot of hyperbole but I believe it to be true. Any other amazing playoff games I could think of all revolved around the goalie. Theodore and the upset of the Bruins; Halak over the Caps and Pens were big wins but they were goalie wins. This was a team win with 20 guys so no goats. Just too complete an effort. No passengers. No goats.
Wilde Cards
- Michel Therrien must have saved his best speech for game six. What a prepared team they were. Many times you can feel a series is over the day of an elimination game: Ottawa last year due to a weird kicked-in goal and so many injuries. The Habs were done vs the Sens. We all knew it. When Saku Koivu was clipped in the eye by Williams we all knew they were done against the Canes. Sometimes there is an injury, or a fight among mates, or a stupid penalty for too many men, or the goalie has issues but something happens. You can just tell when it is falling off the rails. This year though, Therrien has kept it all on the rails and focused perfectly. He is calm, controlled and staying focused only on his own team. No crap. No games. Just preparation. He has learned his lessons over the years. He has even learned how to lie pretty well saying he loved the way that Murray played in game 5, not letting on that Beaulieu would play in game 6.
- All in all, this is why we love hockey. 5:11 without a whistle in the second period. It was a spectacular night. The fans were loud and felt they could make a difference. They did.
- About game 7: Julien said he expected to win when asked what he expects. Therrien got the same question and said anything can happen in a game 7. The Habs are facing the NHL's best team this season, Boston, in a one game playoff. One game. One better goalie. One better play. One better player. One lucky bounce. One bad penalty. One.
