No Laughing Matter

I've tried to bite my tongue, really I have. I have tried to give the Boston Bruins and their fans the benefit of the doubt in these 2013-2014 playoffs, but 5 games in, I can no longer hold in the thoughts that have been swirling around, lest they leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

Those of you who know me know of my distaste for anything Boston. But nothing makes my blood boil more than the actions of the Boston Bruins, both in the regular and post season. And what makes it even worse is that the majority of Bruins fans condone such behaviour, stating that the team is just gritty, and that it's okay to do what they did because it gets in the heads of their opponents.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't mind a good on-ice tussle. A bit of chirping, sure. It's as much a part of the game as scoring goals and winning face offs. We as hockey fans have come to expect it, whether watching from the comfort of our own homes or in the arena. But when gritty crosses the line into dirty and dangerous, that's where I cross the line. I'll also be the first to admit that my team isn't perfect. Have they gotten away with some things that they should've been penalized for? Definitely. But so has every other team in the league at some point. But nowhere is this more evident than with the Boston Bruins.

Case in point, Game 5 between the Boston Bruins and Montréal Canadiens last night, when with less than two minutes left to the game, and his team winning, Shawn Thornton took the opportunity to squirt water in the face of Habs defenseman P.K. Subban. Not once, but twice. In doing so, he impeded the vision of Subban, which could've (but luckily didn't) result in injury. P.K. was upset, and rightly so. Afterwards, in a post game interview, he stated that if it had been him who'd done it, it'd be talked about for days. I couldn't agree more.

I see many Boston fans saying today that P.K. is a p***y and should suck it up. I see others saying that it was just a joke, and that a bit of water never hurt anybody. I see terms like baby and whiny bitch being tossed about, but to be completely honest here, I'm failing to see where any of this is funny. Let's say the situation were reversed, and it had been P.K. who had squirted Thornton twice with water from the bench. Would Boston fans think it was funny then? Probably not. In reality, they would probably be irate, much like Habs fans are today. They would be calling for his suspension, and would want his head on a silver platter.

The truth of the matter is that what Shawn Thornton did was dangerous, no matter who he did it to. And I think what bothers a lot of hockey aficionados is that this happened during play. Not in a scrum or a stoppage in play, but during an actual play. In matters such as this, it feels dirty and dangerous for such an act to occur. Let's see how you'd feel if you were in that players shoes and couldn't see, Bruins fans. Because honestly, you and your whole fan base sicken me right now.

In my opinion, what Thornton did was reprehensible. He is a grown man (at least in size, if not in brains), and should be ashamed of what he did, because impeding another player's vision by squirting water in his face is childish, and has no place in the game. Geez, what's next? Whoopee cushions?

NHL, get your shit together. Because player safety is no laughing matter. The only thing that is are your so called punishments. Do you think this will change Thornton's goonish behaviour? Cause I've got news for you- it won't. He'll do it again and again and again, just like Marchand diving and Lucic's spearing dudes in the nuts.

But that's another rant for another time.

Greatest Habs Memory (so far)

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my last day in an all too brief first visit to Toronto. I wanted to make the most of my day, so while two friends went to a house concert, my other friend, along with our nephew, decided to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame.

It was 2009, the year of the Habs Centennial, and the Hall was filled with so many pieces of Habs memorabilia. Everywhere I looked, my eyes lit up. As I stepped into the replica of the dressing room, jerseys all hung up, equipment set up much in the way I imagine it would've been, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be one of those players, sitting in their stalls, preparing to do battle with their rivals on the ice.

Each display was more wonderful than the next. How my eyes lit up when I saw a picture of The Rocket, his eyes nearly smiling back at me. I wondered then he if felt the same pride in the C-H as I did, but in my mind, I already knew the answer. Of course he did. I felt just as proud to love the Habs as he did to play for them.

As I gazed at Andrei Markov's jersey, I was almost transported to that Bell Centre ice, could almost feel the roar of 21,000+ fans as his name was announced. I could only imagine the pride he felt that night, magnified by the magical night.

But I knew my trip to the Hall wouldn't be complete with one thing: seeing the Stanley Cup; the holy grail of hockey. So I followed the signs and made my way up the staircase to where it rested. When I entered the trophy hall, I was in pure awe. I marveled at all the trophies, thought of what skill and hard work it must've taken for each of those men to win that particular trophy; the sacrifice and dedication they had to their sport.

Never was that feeling stronger than when I finally laid eyes on the Stanley Cup. In my head I could see the greats of the past lifting it high above their heads in celebration, realizing a childhood dream. Knowing that you've reached the highest point of your hockey career; that for that moment in time, you were a champion.  My heart soared just being near it, so I can only imagine what it's like to actually lift it.

I may never be able to experience that, but at least seeing it has been my greatest Habs memory so far.

Not So Black & White

Imagine this- you're a hockey player and you've just scored an important goal, saving your team from the jaws of defeat. For a moment, you are on top of the world, and what do you do? You celebrate it of course. Sadly though, people get on you for it, say you're showboating, and all for one simple reason- the colour of your skin.

Showboating

Such is the case for former Norris Trophy winner, P.K. Subban. He's known for his joyous celebration of key goals, and has admitted that in the heat of the moment he doesn't think anything of said celebrations. And while there is no doubt that sometimes he might be a bit over the top, there is no need to bring race into the picture. If he were not a man of colour, would we even be having this discussion? Probably not. In fact, one of his team mates, Alex Galchenyuk did something similar at an earlier point of the season. While it was indeed enthusiastic, nobody dared say that he was showboating.

Yet time and time again, whenever Subban celebrates an important goal, I see people say that celebratory antics such as his don't belong in the NHL. But, and I have to ask this question: why is it okay for the Alex Ovechkins and Sidney Crosbys of the league to celebrate when they score, and not P.K. Subban? It just makes no sense. There's a huge double standard there. Why tell one player that its wrong when you allow others to do it?

It's not okay, and that's something that needs to change. We should be ashamed that this is still an issue in 2014. Is a player any less talented because he's not Caucasian? No. If we the fans don't stand up and say we oppose others using such vulgar language, then nothing is ever going to change. Future generations of hockey players shouldn't have to face the stigma that today's players face. Heck, the players of today shouldn't have to deal with it either.

F****** N*****

Who cares about the colour of a man's skin? Not me. I say let them play, and let's stop judging them on how they look and focus more on what really counts: whether or not he has the skills to play the game. P.K. Subban is one of the most talented and skilled players to ever put on the CH of the Montreal Canadiens.

Yet after last night, after he scored the game winning goal in double OT against Boston, Bruins fans pelted the ice with trash and beer cans, among other things. And on Twitter, there were roughly some 17,000 racist comments made towards him. Um excuse me, are they blind or something? Their top line features a mixed race player in Jarome Iginla. And within their system is a very talented young goalie, Malcolm Subban, the younger brother of the very guy you level racial slurs towards.

Even if you didn't have these players, how is this even remotely okay? What voice in your head told you this was okay? I understand not liking a guy, hey that's natural. But there is absolutely no need to call him what you did. If I were a part of your fan base (and I thank God I'm not), I would be ashamed that anybody could say that shit! Makes me wonder if you were ever taught "treat others how you want to be treated" or "if you can't say anything nice, dont say anything at all".

Because if you were, it's a lesson you need to relearn!

Tarred With the Same Brush- Habs/Lightning Game 3

Playoffs Come back to Le Belle Province

Lighting in town for games 3 & 4

Really not sure where to start when it comes to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Quarterfinals last night between the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning and my Montreal Canadiens. It was a game that had energy before the puck even dropped, with a  pre game ceremony that was very well done. From the 3D ice, a spotlight on each of the 24 Stanley Cup banners, the young child with the torch, and then the anthems, everything was just, in a word, perfect. Goals came when needed, key saves were made, and at the end of the night, the Habs gave their fans an added easter treat- a 3-0 series lead.

As you can well imagine, I was quite the happy fan when I crawled into my bed last night, my heart still racing from the excitement of the game. I was convinced I'd had the perfect night. But then I saw a status from someone I know on Facebook, and it made my jaw drop. I know we all don't like the same team, but the hate I saw towards my team last night was just enough to get my blood boiling.

"Intent to Injure"

First off, this person said that Habs head coach Michel Therrien, in a media scrum the morning of the game said that he was going to tell his players for lack of better words here, to play the body of Palat during the game, which can be read into that he wanted his players to intentionally injure other Lightning players. And during one rather unfortunate play last night, it looked to some people that at least one of his players took that message to heart when the knee of D-man Alexei Emelin accidentally made contact with the head of Tampa Bay Captain, Steven Stamkos.

I was paying attention during said play, and to be completely honest with you, I'm not sure how someone can logically say the hit was an intentional one. I've watched the replays (thank you for replays during games, CBC) and what I see was that Emelin was trying to avoid contact, but just couldn't move out of the way fast enough. But then, two sides are going to see a play different, more so an emotionally based judgment than anything. And given the high stakes during the playoffs, I completely understand being emotional. 

The Booing of Stamkos

After Stamkos thankfully got up from the unfortunate hit, many of the Bell Centre faithful were heard booing. To be completely honest here, I'm not sure what they were booing- the little tussle between Prust and Stamkos that led to Stamkos falling and getting hit by Emelin's knee, or the fact that Prust got a penalty on the play while Stamkos did not.

If you, my fellow Habs fans, were booing for the first reason, then I have to wonder where your heads were at there. There is never any good reason to wish injury upon another human being. I get that us hockey fans are a passionate bunch (Habs fans very much so), but when you stop and think about it, he's just a human being, not a machine. Sure he plays hockey, but he's not just a hockey player. He's a human being who plays hockey for a living. If you were booed after getting up from taking a hit, how would you feel? Put yourself in his shoes. Wouldn't be very nice, would it?

And to those on twitter who wish injury upon Stamkos, I can only hang my head in shame. Its sad that you let your judgment be clouded here, and that you would want him to be hurt simply for the reason that it could be helpful to the Habs. How would you feel if it was our Captain that got hurt? How would you feel if you saw people wishing him hurt for the betterment of their team? Honestly. Just stop and think about it. If you can still say you'd do it, then all I can say is that there are names out there for people like you (names that I won't say here, but I'm sure you can use your imagination).

On the other hand, if the booing was merely fans voice their displeasure at the lack of a call on Stamkos for his part in the tiny tussle between himself and Brandon Prust, then I totally understand why you would boo. There were two parties involved, and it did seem perhaps a bit unfair that only one penalty was called on the play. I didn't like that much either.

No Goal!

The no-goal call. Woo, that's a tough one. When that puck went in last night, I was thinking (like many other Habs fans, I'm sure), "Oh shit!" (And that's just the PG version of things, to be honest with you). But then I watched with interest as one of the referees waved it off, and then met in a scrum with the other referee and two linesmen. When they emerged from said scrum, the initial call stood- no goal.

I'll admit right here and now that I dont know all the rules of the game, and that I'm not always sure why a call is made one way or the other, as sometimes it just makes no sense to me whatsoever. But, what I did see was that Killorn was in the crease impeding Carey Price's ability to stop the puck and defend his net. Some will argue that he was only there because P.K. Subban danced around him a bit, keeping him from leaving. But whatever the reason he was there, the point remains that he was in the crease and impeded in Price's ability to stop the goal, and the rule (63.9, Paragraph 2) states:

"If a goalkeeper, in the act of establishing his position within his goal crease, initiates contact with an attacking player who is in the crease, and this results in an impairment of the goalkeeper's ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed."

Seems straight forward enough to me.

No "S" Word, please!

I'd like to end this post with a simple request from Habs Nation, if I may. Please, if you can, refrain from using the "S" or posting pictures of witch vehicles (yes, just like a friend, I'm that superstitious that I won't use the words). Nothing is ever guaranteed in life, and even though our boys are playing well right now, anything can happen. I'm as optimistic as the next person, but don't put our team in the next round yet. Just let our guys play and things will eventually work out the way they should.

Game 4 goes at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, 7pm (8:30 in Newfoundland).

Go Habs Go!

Up 2-0 and Feeling Good.

So, game 2 went last night in Beantown between the visiting Montreal Canadiens, and the home team Boston Bruins. This was an important game for the Bruins as they needed to win, and avoid going down 2-0 in the series, heading back to Montreal.

Shortly after taking the pre-game skate, it was announced that the Bruins Captain (also their best defenceman) would not be playing in the game due to dehydration. He was dizzy, and didn't feel well, and ended up being scratched and had to sit out the game.And it didn't take long for the Habs long to take advantage of the hole left by Chara.

Just 43 seconds into the game, Mike Cammalleri, one of the hotter players for the Habs in last years miraculous playoff run, which lead then just a couple games shy of the big dance, put a goal past Tim Thomas. 1-0 Habs.

Then at 2:20 of the same period, Mathieu Darche scored just 6 seconds into the Habs PP, to put his team up   2-0, and with Carey Price playing the way he is, a 2 goal lead is more than enough for him to win it.

The Bruins would finally solve Price later that period, and cut the score to 2-1, but before too long, Yannick Weber, who was inserted into the lineup due to Andrei Kostitsyn's injury, would restore the Habs two goal lead. Weber certainly made the most of this opportunity to play.

The Bruins are going to need to dig deep if they stand any chance in coming back in the series, but this writer seriously doubts that the Bruins are going to be able to win 2 of 3 at the Bell Centre. MTL leads the best of 7 series 2-0.

MTL Stand Up, Annakin Slayd

Montreal for life, Les Canadiens forever!