The Montreal Canadiens have accomplished something that will put them in hockey history books. This team is a shadow of the great clubs that established the Habs the premier franchise in the game's history. But what they've done in these playoffs is what legands are made of. First K-O the best team in the NHL, Then this 8th place wanna-be eliminates the defending Stanley Cup champs. The Habbies didn't just beat Pittsburg in game 7. They embarassed the Pengies who were at home, with more talent and with the best player in the game in their lineup.
So...what are we talking about a day later. Riots in the streets. What turned into a celebration ended with a pack of neo-Luddites looting St. Catherine Street. I realize that it was a very small portion of the wave of fans who poured outside to honour the blue, blanc, rouge but there were enough to form a cretin meetin' and embarass the city.
Now they say the rioters and looters were mostly male, mostly young and mostly drunk. Hey I've been young, drunk and stupid. I'm only one of those 3 things now. But never once did it cross my mind to smash a store window, to pillage a village, to torch a car, to throw a Corona at a cop.
I love the old line.."If this is what they do when their team wins, what the hell would they do if they're team lost?" I'm willing to bet nothing. Your team loses you're more sad than mad, Your team wins and it's "PARTY". They turn what should be unbridled bliss into Sherman's march to the sea.
Rioting by the poor, the disposessed, the wrongly persecuted is understandable. Rioting for the sake of rioting is something I've never understood. Not even when I was young, drunk and stupid.
Oh, and a note to all you Habbie haters. The Canadiens didn't steal game 7. That was a legitamate win against a team that's supposed to have the makings of a dynasty. The Penguins were out played, out goaltended, out coached and out hustled when it mattered most. You can dislike the Canadiens all you want. But give them their props for this one.
Cool video link to all the Habs fans out there...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tru2P7i46o8&feature=youtu.be
Sad state of events when winning becomes something to fear because of the danger caused by the celebration. It use to be that it brought pride and a sense of excitement to the patrons of the city. But now the big question after a win like the habs had last night is "will someone be hurt? Will the damage be excessive?" But good for the Habs themselves. Didn't want them to win but when four goals had gone in so quickly and effortlessly; kudos to them.
Rick. You are right, but goaltending aside, primarily they were outcoached. These guys have bought into Jacques Martin's system and are sticking to it. The othe big difference, discipline.
Well said Rick... I also think that alot of the credit has to go to Kirk Muller - he is/was a shut down specialist and the approach that they used on Ovie and then the Penquins centres worked well. Bob McCown is of the opinion that the Caps and Penquins choked...that leaves no credit to the Habs and that just isn't right.