I was going to attempt to write this article in French, but since I don't speak French, I fear the joke would have been more offensive than funny!
Bonsoir!
Anyways, it's game five tonight and though the Canadiens can take satisfaction in knowing they were a goalpost away from a tied series, they are down 3-1, but all is not lost.
For one, the Rangers are not a great team. If the Penguins can blow a 3-1 lead against New York, then there is no reason to think New York can't do the same. Yes, Price is out, but these teams have looked evenly matched to my eye, and winning three games in a row isn't that rare of an occurrence.
I know it's unlikely, but it could happen.
Thomas Plekanec knows it: "We just have to take it one period at a time," he said. No word on whether he followed up that stellar quote by adding that there is no I in team and that they have to give it 110%.
Doesn't matter.
In reality, it's just one game, and the Canadiens have an advantage: they aren't the ones on the verge of seeing their entire life's work come to fruition. From a psychological perspective I think a 3-1 lead can be kind of trying, especially in game five. They have 3 chances to close the door and it's only human nature to lack urgency tonight.
Look for the Canadiens to win tonight. I give it my shoe-in of the week (*throws shoe*).
As for the Blackhawks? I was surprised they didn't give a better effort last night. Maybe Toews actually blinked? Without his robot-like space stare the Hawks just don't have the leadership to take down the Kings. I am as surprised as anyone. Here I was thinking that the best leader since Messier could just win games by the force of his will. How can Duncan Keith make such a bad play when there is such good leadership all around him?
We will never know.
This got me thinking though....instead of employing a fourth line RW who is only going to play six minutes per game, why not just hire one of those guys from the late-night leadership seminar infomercials and put him at the end of the bench, to keep everyone focused and on point? Makes sense to me.
Anyways, I gotta go, Sean T is waiting and these Abs aren't going to hip-hop themselves.
Thanks for reading, lets go Le Canadiens.
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