The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 This sets the table nicely for the post-Olympic madness in Habsland. It's freely available on the Gazoo's main site, so there shouldn't be any copyright issues. Enjoy! Will Koivu pay price from Games? RED FISHER, The Gazette Published: Monday, February 27, 2006 Come back with me, if you can, to the moments before the first of the last three regular-season games of the 2001-02 season. The noise had erupted even before the first of the Canadiens had stepped onto the ice and grew and grew as one player followed another. Now there was no longer a noise in what was then the Molson Centre, but wave upon wave of thunder engulfing it. "Saku! Saku! Saku!" He stood there at the Canadiens blue line, along with the rest of the starting lineup. Then, with the noise washing around him, Koivu skated to Jose Theodore, hugged him and said: "C'mon, let's do it." Koivu returned to the blue line, and it was only then that he removed his helmet, the lights glinting off his short, golden spikes of hair - and all the while, the screaming thousands stood there welcoming back one of their own, seven months after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma ... after eight cycles of chemotherapy that left him more sick than he could ever imagine. "Saku! Saku! Saku! He raised his stick, waving it as if it were a wand signalling the magic of the moment, and who can say it wasn't on this night only moments away from the Canadiens' 80th game of the season? And then ... another soaring moment: the five Ottawa Senators starters at their blue line skated to their bench, leaving Koivu alone. "Saku! Saku! Saku!" Magic. That was then and this is now. What, I wonder, was Saku thinking about yesterday after Finland's 3-2 loss to Sweden? Was he thinking about lining up against Mats Sundin for the third-period faceoff with the teams locked up, 2-2 ... of breaking his stick, racing to his bench for another and hearing the roar of the crowd on the Nicklas Lidstrom goal 10 seconds into the period? What was he thinking of much later, the silver medal - rather than the gold he desperately wanted - sitting on his chest, unable to erase the terrible disappointment, the grief, the empty feeling of coming so close to the top of the mountain and yet ending so far away? Silver never is enough for someone seeking gold, not for a gladiator who was voted to the all-star team, who was surely Finland's most valuable player and leader at Turin and, perhaps, the tournament's MVP - a prize which went to Finnish goaltender Antero Nittymaki. It's unlikely, but was he thinking about what lies ahead when he rejoins the Canadiens tomorrow for the start of a six-game road trip? Here's the point; Captain K has metioned to me several times that Alex Kovalev is the best player on this team. He gets no argument from me, but I say that while the Canadiens need Kovalev at his best, they will go only as far as Koivu takes them in this stretch drive to the playoffs. How much, though, does he have left in the tank after this horrible Olympics schedule, which had Koivu playing eight games in 12 days? After hardly no time at all between the start of the Olympic break and the incredible pressure of Games competition, after the disappointment of yesterday's result in which the Finns came within a hair of tying the game in the final seconds, after yet another jet-lagged trip from Turin to Long Island today, what's left? Tomorrow's game won't be a problem for Koivu if only because he'll be running on the excitement of at least being part of a gold-medal game. Furthermore, Bob Gainey is smart enough to understand he can't saddle his team leader with too many minutes against the Islanders, even though the games remaining in the Canadiens' regular-season schedule mean more than the silver medal Koivu brought back. Lots more. The danger is in the games following this one, when even though Koivu's spirit is willing, his body may not be - for at least a little while. You don't go through a gruelling schedule like his without paying some kind of a price down the line. The Olympics are unique. They are special, but the remaining games awaiting the Canadiens are more important - and the reality is that they're going into them with a lot of questions that need answers. Can the goaltending hold up? Will the Canadiens be able to get the best from their best players, Koivu and Kovalev? When do Mike Ribeiro, who hasn't scored a goal in his last 13 games, and Richard Zednik, who has only one in his last 18 games, report to the team bus? Can the Canadiens, as a team, turn around a terrible road record which stands at 10-19? Tune in later. rfisher@thegazette.canwest.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieu30 Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Ah, Mr Fisher. Gotta love him. Sure knows what he is talking about. Great stuff. Got goosebumps reading that first part. Still get goosebumps thinking about that night at the Molson Centre. Thanks Cucumber. .. Oh, by the way, retire #19! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieu30 Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Here's another good one: The Gainey Way http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news...f9-11a47cc99ac1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Minister Koivu Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 And one more: http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey...6e-c6c46633724d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CerebusClone Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 What the Gainey article said about Pollock reminds me a little of Bobby Clarke. He doesn't always go with the "best available player", instead he goes with the guy he feels is going to give it all for him. Steve Downie should have never been a 1st round pick, but Clarke just loved his determination. Carter was picked quite a bit higher than projected. Richards was another great pick. Gagne. Pitkanen (well, he was a no-brainer). All of his picks (besides one goalie) in last year`s draft are gritty guys that have well over 1PIM per game. Love him or hate him, you gotta respect the man; he manages just like he played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dark_faerie87 Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Awesome articles guys, keep 'em coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 (edited) Sick article. I was there April 9th it was my Dad's birthday present and his most memorable birthday. What an amazing night my sister and I were two of the first patrons in the building and aided in the beginning of the "Saku" chant. My sister and I both also wore Koivu jerseys and we had pictures taken of us by a Finnish Reporter for a Finnish newspaper. Ahh what a night to remember the Habs clinched a playoff spot and I vividly remember Rivet skating right to the bench and embracing Koivu in a big hug after the Canadiens scored what turned out to be the winning goal I believe. Edited February 27, 2006 by JMMR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaos Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Good articles...thanks alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 What the Gainey article said about Pollock reminds me a little of Bobby Clarke. He doesn't always go with the "best available player", instead he goes with the guy he feels is going to give it all for him. Steve Downie should have never been a 1st round pick, but Clarke just loved his determination. Carter was picked quite a bit higher than projected. Richards was another great pick. Gagne. Pitkanen (well, he was a no-brainer). All of his picks (besides one goalie) in last year`s draft are gritty guys that have well over 1PIM per game. Love him or hate him, you gotta respect the man; he manages just like he played. Yet Clarke doesnt believe in getting a top-notch goalie, even though he owes his two Stanley Cup rings to the outstanding play of Bernard Parent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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