WE ARE HALFWAY THERE. MONTREAL CANADIENS ARE GOING TO THE EAST FINALS.

There are little words to describe the feeling of this victory. I'm going to let it soak in. Bring on the Broons or Flyers, the Canadiens are on the run of a lifetime. Rest in Peace Mellon Arena. Sid and company, you put up a hell of a fight.

I love this team.

Peace true believers,

E

2nd Intermission Update

The Habs got out to a slower start in the 2nd, but Andrei Kostitsyn made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone, fed it to Jaro Spacek who threw it in front and BAM!
Attack of the Jewtalian!

Mike Cammalleri has been Conne Smythey. I can safely say it now.

Then killing a powerplay, Travis Moen, MY FAVORITE THIRD LINER, MY ORIGINAL SELECTION TO THE BAWS LIST, BURRIES ITTT!! 4-0. AAAAND

IN COMES BRENT JOHNSON!!!!

THEN GIONTA ALMOST MAKES IT 5.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M STILL IN CAPS LOCK. I'M WAY TOO HAPPY.

WHAT IF MARC ANDRE FLEURY DIDN'T SHIT THE BED???

HISTORY WILL BE MADE!!

Whew. So everyone reading this, I am writing as the game goes on. So think of this as a literary highlight reel.

Back to the game, Halak played well, but gave up a bad chance in fron to Chris Kunitz. He made no mistake and buried it.

4-1 Habs.

The Canadiens cannot get shaken by this, they have to keep doing what they're doing. Crap, I was so happy, now it almost feels like we're down. We fans in Montreal have confidence issues.

No shit, I know.

TSN brain farted majorly in their update, crediting Kris Letang with his first of the playoffs.

Two things wrong with that, Letang didn't score and he has 5 already this playoff.

Dom Moore is playing so well, he almost set up a goal with about 8 minutes left by making a great rush to the net. Habs are still sticking it to the Pens, good to see. Hamr takes a penalty, the Habs NEED to make it out of this period unscathed. Sergei Gonchar has been absolutely dreadful tonight.

Jordan Staal tips a shot past Halak. 4-2.

They need to hang on. They need to calm down. At least now we have a game on our hands.

I really thought I wouldn't have a heart attack tonight. Well I guess that was wishful thinking. Things starting to get chippy. If they Habs can once again finish the period with a two goal lead, I'm happy. Matt Cooke is a little bitch. Fuck Gorges, why couldn't you let him have the puck and THEN hit him. Period over, still up 4-2, but we have a Power Play to deal with next period.

Peace true believers,

We can still do this.

E

First Intermission update.

Whew, that first goal really lowered my heart rate.

A crappy goal is exactly what we needed to get back into this game, nothing quiets a crowd like a softie when their Captain is in the box.

Dom Moore picked up a interesting penalty after Lapierre almost made it 2-0. Gill is a warrior for being back on the ice blocking shots. Great effort by the Habs on the kill, Tommy Pleks almost buried an amazing short handed chance on the breakaway. The Pens look more nervous than a 14 year old unclasping his first bra.

The Pens started to pick it up in the form of Jordan Staal and his line mates. You really wonder what he could be capable of if didn't play behind Malkin and Crosby at Center.

Then Dominic redeems himself. 2-0 Habbies.

His second huge Game Seven goal this playoffs, and an incredible effort from the all of a sudden godly Maxim Lapierre.

The Pens are nervous, Sid Crosby is nervous, and Marc Andre Fleury is nervous. I will not declare anything just yet, I will only feel confident once Brent Johnson is between the pipes and Fleury is chased.

As the period ticked away. The Canadiens have their work cut out for them, they are up 2-0. And need to keep it that way.
TALK TO YOU AFTER THE 2ND TRUE BELIEVERS!!!

E

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE. PLUS ROUND TWO PREVIEW

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't nervous last night, I would be a fibber if I told you that I didn't feel the initial stages of Cardiac Arrest coming over me as we killed that final Ryan O'Byrne penalty. One thing I am not lying about, is that I had faith in this team. I continued to have faith in this team and at NO point did I write the Montreal Canadiens' obituary prematurely.

I knew this day would come, I knew eventually I'd be able to safely praise Bob Gainey and at the same time, make all of you idiots who do not have the self confidence to support this team all year round feel well, like idiots. Well guys, I'll let you wallow in your own shame. But here's some subtle retribution for all the crap you gave this team throughout this year.

To all those who believed trading Chris Higgins for Scott Gomez AND Tom Pyatt was giving up too much:

Suck it.

To all those who criticized the signings of Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta because of their size:

Suck it.

To all those who thought that Hal Gill and Travis Moen were wastes of space DESPITE watching them play pivotal roles in previous cup runs:

Suck it big time.

Aaaaaaaaand to all those who said that Gainey never did enough, that he didn't know what he was doing, and that his revamp this year was a waste of time:

You folks can suck it the most out of all of them.

So on to the Second Round!

EAST

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens Friday 7:00 PM

The Canadiens just came off of one of their most emotional series wins in recent memory, but they will have no break as they take on the defending cup champions. Pittsburgh is a complete team, and Sidney Crosby is playing his best hockey that we've ever seen. That's a scary thought.

#6 Boston Bruins vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers Saturday 12:30 PM

A re-match of the 2010 Winter Classic, these two teams are tough, tenacious and surprise first round winners. I expect this series to be gritty, bloody, and totally awesome. Marc Savard is set to return to the ice for Game One for Boston while Simon Gagne and Jeff Carter are still out for Philly.

WEST

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings Thursday 9:00 PM

The Sharks are out to prove they can finally win in the Playoffs, the Wings are trying to prove they are still a major Hockey force. This series could go either way and should be full of impressive offensive performances. Look for San Jose's top line to step it up if they want to advance to the Western finals.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks Saturday 8:00 PM

The Vancouver Canucks have nightmares of Patty Kane's hat trick on home ice that won the series for Chicago in 2009. If Roberto Luongo wants to silence his critics, he will have to be on the top of his game. The Canuck's superb swedes should have a interesting time playing against Chicago's vast arsenal of rough and tumble power forwards and Marian Hossa will be on a mission to finally capture that elusive Cup that he has gotten so close to the last two years.

So there you have it, the Canadiens are up against the world yet again. Many people will not give them a shot, but this series is a testament to not giving up hope and having faith in your team.

Peace TRUE believers,

E

GAME 7 PREVIEW

Judgement day.

The signings, trades, managerial changes all come down to tonight at 7. The best team in the League, the most explosive player, the best entourage of play makers, snipers and power forwards, all a game away from being eliminated by a team called too small, too weak and too injury prone to do anything. The Canadiens get a lot of crap from fans around the league, because of their um, eccentric fans, and the long and drawn out historic ceremonies. You know what, most of the time, they deserve your not so gentle ribbing, but to all Leaf and Sens fans, if we pull this win off, in the immortal words of Dale Doback and Brennen Huff from Step Brothers, just shut your mouth. Just, shut it.

Jaroslav Halak was truly spectacular in Game Six, and must be more than spectacular tonight. I feel that each time we play the Capitals, we need a one goal handicap to properly be even. It's only when we score the second goal do I feel any ease at all. The Canadiens have scored first in four of the six games, and will need to add a fifth time to their list tonight. There is room to have hope boys and girls, mad crazy hope, so get out there, put those annoying little flagfs up on your car and be a good Montrealer and break a window if they win. Second one was just a joke, but I could always use a new pair of shoes from Foot Locker...

Enjoy the game, and Go Habs Go

Peace True Believers,

E

I want you to imagine this for a moment.

I want you to assume that Marian Hossa's last minute poke check ended up in Detroit's net.

I want you to assume the 6th Game of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals went to OT.

I want you to assume Sid Crosby shoved in a rebound in the second overtime. Pens win.

I want you to assume that Jarkko Ruutu, Ryan Malone, Georges Laraque, Adam Hall, Gary Roberts and Ryan Whitney missed the Pens charter to Detroit.

I want you to assume that Miro Satan, Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Craig Adams, Ruslan Fedotenko and Matt Cooke took their place.

I want you to assume that Dallas Drake felt too tired to play, and retired on the spot.

I want you to assume right before the game, Marian Hossa had a revelation and walked over to Detroit's dressing room, thinking he had a better shot with the Wings. Coincedentally, the Red Wings had a #81 Hossa jersey lying around.

Funny huh, we could've played the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals game Seven 365 days ago.

Enjoy these next two days.

Friday is the last Hoceky game of the season.

Wow.

Peace,

E