What a crazy playoff year it has been so far in the eastern conference of the NHL. The 7th seed Philadelphia Flyers and the 8th seed Montreal Canadiens are battling for a chance at the big dance, something that has never happened before in the NHL. It makes me wonder if either of these teams even deserve to be here to begin with. Is this what fate looks like? Montreal clinched a playoff spot by losing in OT against the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in their last game of the regular season. Philadelphia on the other hand, clinched the 7th seed by winning in a shootout against the New York Rangers in their last game of the regular season. Philly should have to formally thank Darryl Sutter and Olli Jokinen’s mediocrity. It was Darryl who made that trade that sent Jokinen to New York, and it was Olli’s failed shootout attempt that won Philly the game, and got them into the post season.
I can’t take away from what these two teams did once they got to the playoffs though. Montreal beat the Capitals who won the presidents cup this year and the Penguins, the current Stanley Cup Champs. Philly beat out Buffalo,who many picked to go all the way, led by Ryan Miller who came off of an extraordinary year. They went on to do something only 3 others teams have ever done in North American professional sports history, come back from a 3-0 deficit in the series and win game 7. On top of that, they came back from a 3-0 deficit in the game to win it. On top of THAT, they did it without 2 of their top scorers and without their starting and backup goalies.
Who deserves to go to the Stanley Cup finals? As a fairly short person, I tend to cheer for the underdog. A part of me feels like Philadelphia has the better Cinderalla story with their rookie goalie, and their powerful, yet under-the-radar roster, but the Canadian in me wants Montreal to go all the way. Bad. Interestingly enough however, the Flyers have more Canadian players in their starting lineup. It comes down to who you like. I’ve been a big Gomez fan since his rookie year. My heart sunk when I found out that Cammalleri left the Flames because I thought that that was a lot of talent we weren’t getting back. P.K Subban is just ripping it up on the back end as well.
I just feel so separated from the French hooligans that decide to riot, and break into a fuckin Payless Shoes and steal shoes when their team wins. Yeah, connect those dots. The cops had to use tear gas, for God’s sake. Best fans or worst fans? Apparently in Montreal, there’s a thin line between celebrating a victory with your city and petty larceny.
Oh well, GO HABS!
