Montreal Canadiens: Keeping the Head Above Water

A game does not make the season, as well as two convincing wins a row do not guarantee anything in a league where a team like the San Jose Sharks can post nine.

But put into context, after the Hollywood-alike scandal that they just went through, the Montreal Canadiens deserve a standing ovation.

Trade rumours, and leadership controversies are one thing; but legal troubles, and off-ice behaviour are another.

This was not simply Saku Koivu being accused of not speaking French; this involved a drug dealer, vodka and women.

A few things make the city of the Montreal unique. Among them figure Schwartz’ smoked meat, the Old Port; and also all the attention directed to the Montreal Canadiens. Call that pressure, call that passion; they both consist of the Canadiens, the whole Canadiens, and just the Canadiens.

That is how we, as proud members of the Habs Nation always need to be prepared to hear the wildest rumours, the craziest stories when it comes to the team.

This time was no exception.

When it has been spread through the Medias that some players were involved with a “thief”; we almost drowned into an ocean of misinterpretations and misplaced suppositions.

“Four Montreal Canadiens players will be arrested as soon as they get off the plane, back from Pittsburgh. Alexei Kovalev was sent home because he has been threatened by a member of the team, in case he was going to divulge everything to Bob Gainey.”

The city went wild, and for a moment there, the team have felt the bottom of the barrel.

It is like a vicious circle, a downward spiral.

The poorer the team will perform, the more scrutinized the players will be, because we need a solution. And before any solution, we have to identify the source of the problem. That is where things tend to get hectic.

Every single game became a do-or-die one. The pressure to win was heaving on their shoulders. After all, who knows what one more loss would have done to this already fragile team?

They had to regroup; there was no other way out but to win.

Of course, questions will never end, there is no perfect season. Every year, we are faced to new highs and lows.

Now that doubts can temporarily ease on cases like Tomas Plekanec, the power play and Alexei Kovalev, let’s turn our attention to another “work in progress”: Carey Price.

This is a kid who has been thrown into the season as the pillar of the new generation of the legendary Montreal Canadiens. He has made differences in the past, and expectations are flying high for the 21 year old goaltender.

But every human being makes mistakes. And just because he could bring this team to the first seed last season doesn’t mean that he is among the exception.

It is not the troubles that make the difference; it is how he will get out of them.

I, for one, do not doubt his abilities to build his way back to what coach Carbonneau calls “his bubble.” Pressure might have made or broken him in the past, he sure can learn from those experiences.

But for now, there should not be any goalie controversy. We cannot afford the luxury to have this team focus on things other than the two points in the standing.

Yes, we have said that Carey Price is the man since Cristobal Huet’s trade. But the most important is the team; not Carey Price. Jaroslav Halak gets the job done, it is that simple.

So this is for now. But if we had to look at the bigger picture, I do have one question regarding the goaltending situation: what about the playoffs?

Notes From Aside:

These convincing wins come at the right moment, as two games in two nights are waiting for the crew. The Flyers will host our Habs, before the Sharks are coming to the Bell Center.

Alex Tanguay (shoulder) will meet the medical staff again next Tuesday.

Roman Hamrlik has been given the authorization from the Organization to give an interview, regarding the recent events, to a journalist from his native country.

Our video of the day: Vancouver / Montreal: Tomas Plekanec\’s breakaway goal