Five Must See Canadiens Games in '08: Rivalries, Grudges, Pride, and Prejudice

Andrew Gregory — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:16:47 -0500

For the record, I am a dyed in the wool Canadiens fan. I was born in ‘68 and my brain was formed watching some of the best teams in hockey history.

Ask any Hab fan and they can tell you that among other things, the Canadiens have won a Cup in every decade since their founding. Fate seems to be saying that this year will be the one.

In this 100th anniversary year, every game is important. For me, it is the rivalries built up over decades that add excitement to a matchup. Here is a highlight of five games to get excited about between now and New Year's eve in the Habs’ quest for their 25th Stanley Cup.

Nov. 8, Canadiens at Maple Leafs

A tilt between Montreal and Toronto needs no hype to make it significant. Simply put, these two "Original Six" teams are mortal enemies and unquestionably each other’s greatest rival. A game between Montreal and Toronto evokes a grudge between the French and English that spans centuries.

Take your seat and enjoy.

Nov. 13, Canadiens at Bruins

In its storied history the Big Bad Bruins can only boast two Stanley Cups, and if their fans are being honest they'll tell you one of the main reasons is their nemesis the Montreal Canadiens. Year after year when the Bruins were at their height in the ‘70s it was Montreal that stood in their way.

1972 stands out—a year when Bobby Orr was second overall in scoring and the B’s were upset by a Montreal team led by rookie goaltender Ken Dryden.

These two Northeast Division rivals will have had time to work up a healthy disregard for each other by the 13th.

Nov. 28, Canadiens at Capitals

Ovechkin, Semin, Fedorov, and Kozlov have turned the Capitals into Russia’s team. This has not gone unnoticed by Alex Kovalev and Andrei Markov. Expect fireworks.

Dec. 9, Flames at Canadiens

Quick trivia question: Who is the only team to have held aloft the Stanley Cup in the Forum other than the Habs? You guessed it. Lanny McDonald and the Calgary Flames. And who were on that team that lost the Cup to the most recognizable moustache in hockey history? Bob Gainey and Guy Carboneau—Montreal’s current braintrust.

The loss must have been a particularly bitter pill for Gainey, who was Captain of the Habs at the time and was playing in the last season of his Hall of Fame career. You can’t tell me that Carbo won’t be putting a little more into his pre-game pep talk on Dec. 9.

Dec. 27, Canadiens at Penguins

Any chance to watch Sid the Kid play can’t be passed up. Watching him play against the team he loved best growing up is always a treat.

These are the games on the schedule that I will be sure to watch in the first half. I also like the matchups with the Devils for the sheer joy of watching the best goalie in hockey facing who we hope is the heir apparent, Carey Price.

Would love to hear which ones you will be tuning into.

The Greatest Sports Moment in History

Andrew Gregory — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:49:54 -0400

Everyone must have his or her favourite moment in sports. I'd like to offer Patrick Roy's wink at Tomas Sandstrom against the Los Angeles Kings, caught live on camera in a close-up in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final as my uncontested no. 1.

As a kid growing up in Montreal, you always felt that your team had the edge. The Old Forum on St. Catherines at Atwater was said to house the ghosts of past champions...tripping opposing players, keeping pucks out of our net, and blinding referees to any Canadiens transgression.

Montreal had fallen on hard times since their win in 1979 and had only the 1986 Stanley Cup to show for 14 years of play. Montreal had never gone more than seven years without winning a Cup in their 85 years of existence...which brought us to 1993 and the Cup Final versus L.A. on the eve of a seven year drought.

The moment happened late in overtime in Game Four, with L.A. carrying the majority of the play. Tomas Sandstrom swept in with a shot (one of about 10 that night), and Patrick stopped it, covering the loose puck before Sandstrom could poke in the rebound.

In front of an L.A. crowd, in playoff overtime, Patrick was so relaxed that he actually winked at Sandstrom as he continued through the crease.

We were literally on the edge of our seats at home and I remember leaping up out of my chair screaming "Did you see that? He winked at him!"

From that point forward, I was convinced that nothing could stop our run that year.

Playoff hockey is a funny thing...and anything can happen in a close game. Patrick registered an unbelievable (and never matched) 10 straight overtime wins in the playoffs that year to quite literally steal the show, and the Cup, for Montreal.

Thanks Patrick—I'm glad they are raising your jersey to the rafters this year...our 100th.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Gregory

Five Must See Canadiens Games in '08: Rivalries, Grudges, Pride, and Prejudice

The Greatest Sports Moment in History