January 4, 2011

• Wanting it more

  That’s what is missing. I was watching the World Juniors play hockey last night – USA vs Canada and I realized why it was a considerably less frustrating game to watch. It reminded me of why I was able to sustain myself with watching Olympic hockey every 4 years while I was on my NHL boycott over that stupid lockout. Because where they lack in skill, experience, or team chemistry (whatever you want to call it) they make up for it in passion. They just want it more.

  As an NHL-er, what is it that you want? A better contract, good endorsement opportunities and to not get injured. Right? How do any of those things directly affect your play in an 82-game season? Not that much. Sure, everyone wants to win a Stanley Cup, but usually, by about the third month into the season, you already know whether or not your team has a reasonable shot at it. After which you coast, because your team either has no shot in hell or you’re in for sure. For fans, this sucks. How many nights do I have to yell at my computer (living in Ontario means often times, I am watching Habs games via an internet feed because I’m too poor/cheap to subscribe to RDS):

  • WANT IT MORE!!

  • WHY DON’T YOU FRIGGIN’ CARE?!?
  • THEY PAY YOU MILLIONS TO DO THIS!!”

  Sure, I understand that it’s hard to grind it out and want it as badly as an Olympic gold medal every single night, but surely three months (Dec-Jan-Feb) of non-stop apathy in the middle of the season cannot be considered acceptable.

  Why do you think I love little Eller? It’s not because he’s really so superior to everyone else. He’s got great potential, and he’s got some pretty good moves (for a rookie), but that kid is all heart EVERY GAME – THE WHOLE GAME. Even when we’re down by two goals and we don’t have a hope in hell of actually winning (short of a miracle) he’s still there, all over the place, pushing as hard as he can… even after Cammy’s given up. And Cammy’s my *FAVOURITE* player, so the fact that I’m saying this means something.

  For most teams, you’d think it’d be easy to keep the momentum going when you’re on a winning streak. Sadly, this was not the case for Montreal. We had two hot HOT HOT months and you know what happened? No one looked at why we were winning (Price was saving our asses with logic defying skill). Everyone was okay with just accepting that we were winning. And when a team relies so heavily on just one person, what happens? I don’t care how strong you think Pricey is mentally… carrying the team by yourself is no easy feat. If he gets injured, or worn out, or tired, or even a little deflated from one too many bad goals, we lose.

  People are saying Price isn’t tired. People are saying it’s confidence. People have so many damned things to say but did anyone go and talk to our MIA offense? Yes, that last game we played was good for the offense in terms of shots on goal. And yes, Pricey did let in a pair of weak goals. But I would not be so quick to pelt Price with rocks. His stellar performance in October and November were not even remotely matched by ANY of our forwards. Who in our offense can you say performed as well in their job as Price did in his? Maybe Plekanec? Maybe him, but that’s it. How sad is it that in the last game we won, two of the three goals were scored by… a defenseman… one we JUST acquired? I’m not downplaying The Wiz’s value, but I AM highlighting our deficient offense.

  I am one of those fans that loves the team no matter what. But I am not so blind as to be unable to see holes in our game. Call it Jacques Martin and “the system” if you want. Call it a division of malcontent amongst the ranks. Whatever. I’m an outcome-only kind of girl. I don’t really care how you go about getting it done, as long as you don’t break the rules (cuz cheating is just fucking wrong) and you get it done.

  Our offense is not getting it done. For those blaming Price, maybe you need to be reminded that the Flyers didn’t get to the Stanley Cup finals on the back of stellar goaltending (oh, look who’s been put on waivers). Nor did the Blackhawks (Niemi who?). Even if Pricey posts a regulation shut out every single game that he plays, we simply cannot win if we can’t put the puck in the back of our opponents’ net.

  I would love to see our PHD line (Pouliot, Halpern, Darche) put back together, but it’s a pretty sad state of affairs when I’m dreaming about the third line. Cammy needs to start scoring. Shooting into the goalie’s gut or sending stuff flying over the net is not typical Cammy. Maybe he’s got hang ups about not being captain. Maybe he’s got hang ups about Jacques not listening to him in the beginning when he said that he didn’t want his line (with Pleky and Kostitsyn) broken up. Maybe he’s not getting laid enough. I dunno… he’s just go to get over it and start showing us why we pay him $5M/year. Questions will be answered, eh? Well start answering them with, “I, Michael Cammalleri, SCORE GOALS FOR MONTREAL!”

  Don’t get me started on Gomez. Just don’t.

  Tomorrow, the Habs have another day of rest. Game day is Thursday. I’m not going to be unrealistic about anything, but I also don’t want to end up being the only one chanting blind love (as I have been of late to compensate for all the negativity) all the time. I love them no matter what, but let’s be realistic about how they’re performing, ok?

  Habs, you really have to stop making it so damned difficult to love you! My love can withstand challenge, but every so often it DOES STILL NEED to be fed. Don’t let me down, eh?

  YOU NEED TO WANT THAT WIN MORE!!!
  Want it more, and we just may win the game.

  GO HABS GO!!

  • 2:52 pm
  • 4 Comments