It takes eleven hours to get from Montreal to Washington by van.
Don't feel sorry for us that we aren't flying.
That's the same amount of time it takes to fly, trying to get camera equipment through customs and then onto a plane:
"I'm sorry Mr. Wilde. That luggage is very overweight. So that will be twice the price of your ticket to get that equipment on board. Is there any way you can make that camera lighter?"
"Well, we could take the tape out."
You might also be so unlucky as to have the airline lose your equipment as happened to NBC 4 out of Washington.
We have our long drive down to a science. Cameraman and driver Marc D'Amours does all of it.
He buys a four-pack of Red Bull and drinks one every 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Selfish fellow though.
Every time he cracks one open, it wakes me up.
Halak's performance just another day at the office
Jaroslav Halak's performance last night was absurd.
The greatest playoff save performance in regulation time in the over 100 year history of the Canadiens.
Imagine that! Wow! And he's still not guaranteed as the number one goalie next year.
I am beginning to think we put too much emphasis on pedigree.
Sure, Carey Price won world junior gold and was MVP of the Calder Cup, but the other guy just stopped 53 shots and most of them were high quality.
And as Hal Gill joked "He made it look easy."
Halak said "it was just another day at the office".
It's true. Just another common day in the life. Happens to me all the time.
When I get back from a road trip, I get a standing ovation from over 21, 000 fans camped outside CTV on Papineau.
They're all wearing suits and ties yelling "Woo hoo!! You really nailed that stand-up!"
Capitals powerplay around 3 percent
The Caps Joe Corvo says "The damn is gonna break. We gotta just keep firing".
Eric Fehr said "We'll just keep charging the net and they'll go in".
You've got to admire their consistency. Don't change a thing. It's just got to work soon.
The Caps powerplay that was 25 percent in the regular season is hovering at around 3 percent.
Josh Gorges describes it this way: "They're all righties over there and we're just trying to make them take shots on the side where they don't want to be taking them."
That's strategy so intelligent that I don't really think I'm in the mood for any more criticism of Martin, Pearn, or Muller.
Credit the Canadiens' coaches
The Habs shouldn't be alive still, considering the talent on the other side.
Credit the Habs' coaches. They are schooling their counterparts.
The Habs recognized traffic was an issue and the D have done their absolute best in blocking out.
It has been a difficult challenge against the talented Cap forwards, but you sure can see the effort.
Fans cheering almost making it
The fans were partying in the streets last night.
Chants of "We tied 'em!! Woooooo!! We showed those Caps how it's almost done!" echoed along Ste-Catherine Street.
Imagine they win the series. Has there ever been a parade for a team making it to the third round?
The Habs haven't seen that since 1993, so I think a parade would be a fine idea if the Habs made the final four.
Give them the keys to the city. It's pretty obvious they own the town anyway.
Subban is supreme
PK Subban is going to be the Calder Trophy winner next year in a landslide vote.
Subban made a play last night fighting off a checker behind the net and then backhanding it high over the Caps forecheckers and out of the zone that no other defenceman on the ice, on either team, could have made.
His assist too was excellent.
The common pass was to the other d-man.
He went back to Cammalleri who wired it past Varlamov.
At the NHL level, a surprise, any surprise is the weapon that leads to results.
Subban's play was clever. He's not just talented. He's smart. And I can't wait to watch him next year.
Ten teams left
There are ten teams still playing.
Did you think the Habs would be one of them?
I had a snack of bar-b-que pork rinds. I feel shame. Don't tell my wife. What exactly is a rind?
Second thought. I don't want to know.
We are now driving through upstate New York passing a town called Coxsackie. Insert your own joke here.
Our GPS machine is acting up.
It wants to go to Pittsburgh.
Hal Gill was booed in November. Can fans get refunds on their boos?
Is Ovechkin or Halak shaking?
Alexander Ovechkin had a clear lane to goal on a 3 on 1 last night.
He passed. You don't think Halak might be in his head a bit?
The Habs defenceman took the pass away.
Which of these two happenings is more shocking? That Ovechkin passed or the Habs were willing to let him shoot.
I wonder if Ovechkin still thinks Halak is nervous? Just asking.
The Caps keep asking how long can a guy keep stealing games like this. The answer: six.
I keep hearing advantage Habs cause they have nothing to lose.
Sure they do. Game 7.
They didn't come this far to say "Oh well". They're just as invested.
A Capital player at the end of the second period was alone among five Canadiens after he leveled a late hit.
The Habs were furious. Totally uncalled for.
The rest of the Caps mates all went to the dressing room.
They didn't even bother to see how their fallen comrade was doing behind a red wall.
Boudreau making mistakes
Why is Scott Walker not playing? Bruce Boudreau admits he's got 7 passengers and still a pro player like Walker can't get the call.
Walker has been outstanding before against the Habs as a Cane. Boudreau should check the tapes.
Varlamov let in two softies and still Theodore can't get in.
Boudreau says he has decided on his game 7 goalie but he won't be telling anyone.
Boudreau is very rarely on the ice at practice.
Martin is always on the ice.
Capitals on verge of choking
The worst thing a player can be called is a choker. That is the bane word for any athlete.
The Caps know that label is just around the corner, if they become the first number one seed ever to lose against an eighth seed after having a 3-1 lead.
It won't be fun for the Caps to hear that fact thrown at them for two days.
Also, no fun having it in the back of your mind while you play Game 7.
Final thoughts
It is still snowing like crazy. Visibility is quite poor.
Maybe Marc should amp up his Red Bull intake. The blossoms of DC are calling.
We like the Taco Bell on the road.
I don't really get the drink part.
The small lasts an entire road trip.
The medium is bigger than my head.
You could ship a large one over to Africa and cure world hunger.
And doesn't a giant drink for a dollar 30 sound a little too cheap? I'm worried some of the ingredients in there might not be good for me.
Oh well. Large please.
Also, you can only get king-size chocolate bars at the rest stops along the New Jersey Turnpike.
I don't want a chocolate bar that I can do reps with.
What is it with these people? They're obsessed with large things. Like themselves.
Just heard Tom Poti is out for game 7. He took a puck in the eye last night.
That hurts them. Poti's been steady.
That's it for now. Gotta go.
My blackberried thumbs are sore.
Marc just finished a Red Bull, so it's a good time to take a nap.
I need a rest. These playoffs are tough!
