Rebel1968

I'm suddenly reminded of Vladimir Guerrero, who couldn't speak a single word of English or French, but Montreal sure embraced the guy when he was putting up 40 homers. (yes, I know that's only baseball and it's a weak analogy, but it just goes to show what can happen when players perform very well.)

Oh well .. it's been an interesting season (especially since the Olympics) and the future looks bright. The Gainey coaching era ends - the Carbo years begin.

Anothr PP - time to poke the Canes in the eye.

YES YES YES YES YES YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow .. do the Canes ever look tight and disorganized.

I can't believe how hard my heart is thumping !!!! God I love this team !!!!!!!!!!! Hold onto your shorts gang - it's going to be a helluva night !!!!!!!!!!

I get a sense that everyone in the NHL has enormous respect and admiration for Gainey -- for the honest, hard way he played and for the calm, dignified way he approaches the game today. Even the refs, when they approach Gainey - approach with respect - partly because he was probably the LEAST whiny player of all time. I thought Gainey's status might take a hit after that Olympic loss (when Gretzky was benched in the shootout), but with this playoff season, so far, the legend of Monsieur Bob grows by the day.

The only things in the bag are the first 2 games and Souray's purple pills.

Any word on Souray yet?

AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Un######ingbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then some .............

Thank god the damn period is over. Killing that stoooppid 5-on-3 to start the 3rd will give the boys a hell of a lot of momentum - and a win.

This is sooooooooooooooo sweet !!!!!! Yes, a 3-goal lead can evaporate quickly, but at this point of the season, I don't think the Habs know how to let up defensively. Unbelievable -- it took doofus Cherry just 4 words of Coach's Corner to say the word "Leafs."

Honestly, could any of us have imagined winning the opener 6-1 -- in Carolina for god's sake. A thing of beauty !!!!!

It's probably much too early to say such a thing, but killing that 5-on-3 in the first period could stand up as the defining moment of the series.

Habby ... Your meeting Gainey reminds me of 1987, when after covering the Habs for 4 years at a Mtl. radio station, I was leaving town, so I brought the 'new guy' to the Forum to show him the press lounge, route to the press box etc. He was from Toronto, but a lifelong Habs fan who had never been to the Forum, let alone meet a habs in person. In the press lounge, I left him at a table while I went to get us a couple of beers at the counter. I turned around and saw that 3 guys had taken seats at the table -- Beliveau, Henri Richard and (I think) Cournoyer. I thought the new guy would pass out when Believeau reached out his hand and said "hello young fellow, I don't think we've met. I'm Jean Believeau." Honestly, the new guy could not remember his own name as his eyes bulged and his face turned crimson red. He then spent the rest of the night grinning and staring into space. It was priceless.

I don't think there's any doubt about Huet as a more than suitable replacement for Jose.

Ott - NJ - 2-2 !!!!!!!!

Shout it from the rooftops !!!!!

Yup - a missile from inside his blue line right down the middle

WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHUTOUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bon soir mes amis - a la prochaine !!!!!!!

Begin, Bonk et al having an awesome shift on the forecheck.

Well, they're singing the Ole song with 3:20 left and Huet just made another scintillating save.

All is forgiven

Hmmm...oh please!!