A 24 Cup Perspective: The Montreal Canadiens "Un-Bandwagon"

Every spring, fans from all around the NHL, who may not have their favourite team in the postseason dance, may jump on what many refer to as a "bandwagon" and carry on with that team until their demise.  Maybe, they pick up another team on the way too.

It seems that every spring though, with the demise of any team, there becomes what I like to call an "un-badwagon".  

Simply put, it's the opposite of a bandwagon.  It's where fans get off the bandwagon and start trashing the team that they had such high hopes and aspirations for.

And in Montreal, despite the faithful 21,273 fans that have passed through the Bell Centre gates for 85 games since October, they have expressed their interested in being "un-bandwagoners".

Booing the American national anthem is by far no means of showing they are trashing their team.  It shows no class for whining about not winning in their previous seven playoff games.  

But leaving the stands before the game is over and not seeing their team out to the end only brings about signs for an "un-bandwagon".

As both BR senior writers Revo Boulanger and Miah D. expressed, their distaste at fans leaving the Bell Centre stands in Game Three amongst many still proud and young fans, the sad fact is that many fans do not understand how to be truly loyal and patient.

For Canadiens fans, who in the past have been accustomed to winning seasons and long playoff runs deep into May and June, the last sixteen years has been arduous and, at times, frustrating.

As for the "un-bandwagon", sure it happens to every team.  But when it is the Montreal Canadiens, it seems more people jump on the "un-bandwagon" to revel in the Canadiens demise than were even cheering for the Canadiens in the first place.  Watching a 24-time Stanley Cup champion crash and burn, and in their Centennial season no less, has become the ultimate "un-bandwagon".

With the booing of the national anthem and the poor play of the Canadiens combined, the "un-bandwagon" has become something pretty formidable.  For a Habs fan, it turns into a bitter taste in the mouth knowing that not only is it ridicule time, but it's time for a long summer.

I bet St. Louis Blues fans aren't going to get ribbed.  But wait, they didn't have their Centennial season this year.

This playoffs is a hard pill to swallow.  One thing is for sure.

I will never be on the Canadiens "un-bandwagon".

You can read Miah D's article here.

Matt Eichel is a Community Leader for the Montreal Canadiens here on Bleacher Report along with Miah D. and Daniel Arouchain.  Matt also co-hosts Habs All Out Radio, a in-depth talk radio show devoted to all things Montreal Canadiens.

It airs weekly at www.youcastr.com/shows/habs-all-out and is hosted by Matt and Miah.