The Montreal Canadiens, who finished first in the Eastern Conference for the premiere fois in over a decade, have just singlehandedly blown their 3 games to 1 series lead over their arch rival Boston Bruins.

It started in Game 4, when Montreal clinged to a one-goal lead off of the rejuvenated Patrice Brisebois’ lone tally of the night for both teams, while Carey Price posted his first career playoff shutout en route to the 1-0 victory and a 3-1 series lead with a possibility of closing it out 2 days later in front of the monstrous and Cup-hungry crowd in the revered Bell Centre.

It didn’t happen.

Not only did Montreal get badly outplayed following their first two laughingstock victories over the Bruins on home ice, but followed with a pathetic and undeserved victory in Game 4 and then by two games that may have changed the momentum and the meaning of this series.

Now, I first want to say I HATE posts where people rant after a loss, like many do in Montreal, it’s quite annoying and pessimisstic but I feel this time, a rant post is well deserved.

Game 5 was an embarassment.

With the Montreal Police on hand and the party starting well before puck-drop on the outskirts of the Bell Centre, fans were pumped about the idea of knocking off the B’s and heading into the 2nd round.
After all, every victory in Habville means the Cup is coming to town; every loss is a message for Bob Gainey to start his fire sale.

It didn’t happen again.

The Habs got ousted 5-1 by the Bruins in Phil Kessel’s return to the Boston lineup after sitting out the previous three games.
Carey Price played his worst game in recent memory and the defence was non-existant in many ways…Mark Streit being atrocious once more in his own end (I’m getting really really tired of his ineffectiveness, sure he had 62 points, but he’s basically the second coming of Sheldon Souray while being a UFA this summer) and even on the attack, with just 1 assist thru 6 games…Roman Hamrlik taking a “holding” (WTF) penalty on the Bruins’ Glen Metropolit but usually being pretty solid…Andrei Markov looking totally lost with the puck out there, icing it several times per game and no longer daring to carry the puck towards the B’s end himself…Mike Komisarek not throwing his weight as much…and Patrice Brisebois, the best defenceman Montreal has dressed these playoffs.

Admit it, that’s sad, and this applies for the whole series.

Moving on to the forwards, as the goals have dried up since the first few games as well…
In Games 4 and 5, Montreal scored a grand total of…drumroll…2 goals!

Where is the intensity? Where is the damn passion? Alex Kovalev, where the hell are you?

Kovalev has been a big question mark for me this whole series; he’s looking more and more like the Kovy of old, showing up whenever he feels like it and it’s been absolutely no secret so far.
The slick and enigmatic Russian has 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games, if it were any other player, I’d say “not bad”, but in Alex’s case, it hasn’t been like the numbers tell.

Game 1: Habs blowout, pointless, but looked good.
Game 2: 1 goal and 1 assist, but arguably cost us the game in regulation by taking a dumb and selfish slashing penalty late in the 3rd period to put Montreal down two men; he delivered in overtime with a rocket pas Tim Thomas’s blocker.
Game 3: Pointless, -1, with just one shot on goal the entire game.
Game 4: 1 assist on Breezer’s lone goal of the night.
Game 5: Highlight of the night material goal.
Game 6: Zero, Zero, Minus 3.

And there you have his rocky playoff performance so far, if we’re expected to win or even compete in Game 7, something the Bruins have admirably done since going down 2-0, Kovalev better show up and not float around the blue line with under 4 minutes to go in the game resulting in the game winner, ahem.

The first line, including Kovalev, has been MIA…Tomas Plekanec called himself out a few days ago, saying he played “like a little girl” while Andrei Kostitsyn has not looked as strong or confident with the puck and lacks that poise that made him so desireable and dangerous during the regular season.
They all need to wake up.

The second line, prior to Koivu’s return, saw Christopher Higgins return to his natural centre position in between Sergei Kostitsyn (who’s a very underrated player) and *giggle* Michael Ryder.
Higgins played very well so far, and I’m pleased with his uneven output while Sergei Kostitsyn has been far too indisciplined and hasn’t shown that flair in his usual tape to tape passes on the powerplay and in the offensive zone.
Mike Ryder? I don’t know how to accurately describe his performance over the past year without breaking my keyboard.

And there are the two lines exposed for what they have been this series: nowhere to be found.
With the exception of Chris Higgins, 5 players are swimming somewhere far away.

Saku Koivu gave a much needed jolt to the 2nd line, which looked better in last night’s latest debacle, but had limited ice time and did not play in the final minute with the team down a goal.

He had 2 assists and was named 3rd star of the game.

Everything you just read (if you bore with me this long, thank you) is a reincarnation of what took place on the ice last night at the TD Banknorth Garden in Bahstin where Montreal royally fell 5-4.
Oh, and the powerplay, which was our bread and butter throughout the regular season, is marred in a pathetic 6.9%, last in the playoffs behind the eliminated Ottawa Senators.

So there you have what has been wrong with Montreal this past week and I hope to God that Monday night will be better…it had better be…I don’t want to be sobbing like a little girl for the 3rd time in 3 years…

On and ending note: hats off to the hated Bruins, who have done a remarkable job in their own end in shutting down Kovalev’s line and taking advantage of offensive chances (ie Phil Kessel).
Hats off Claude!

As always, take it easy,
-BBeR