The blackhawks hadn’t won the Stanley cup since 1961. My Leafs haven’t won the cup since 1967. Near the end of the playoffs, chants of “1967! 1967!” sounded off amongst blackhawks fans. For that, I offer a hearty thank you. The cup was won in 6, by the Hawks, apparently fairly easily. This gives us the longest current running stretch wherein we haven’t had our hands on the cup. And one more very good reason to turn this thing around. Now, if we can just get our hands on decent players without costing us draft picks. Hey, anyone want Caberle? I hear he’s going cheap. Congratulations, Chicago. Get a move on, Toronto.

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It only took until way, way too late, but Montreal went sideways at the hands of the Flyers last night. The joy in this apartment could have filled a stadium. Even more so after reading some of the headlines this morning. All I’ll say, and I’ll say it again, is it’s a very good thing one commenter on Mike’s blog, who was perhaps even more of a diehard fan than me if that were even possible, didn’t take the bet I’d proposed in the comments to an entry. I’d highlight the extent of her diehardness, but–well–that’s already been done. Happy trails, Montreal. We’ve got the course right next to ours reserved for ya.

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This is the perfect situation for a Montreal Canadians meltdown. They haven’t won the cup since 93. No team has come back from being down 3 games to none in a series since 1975. Prior to that, it was since 1942–the 1942 Maple Leafs, to be exact. Boston had a stranglehold on the series going into game 4, whereas the Penguins weren’t quite so fortunate against Montreal–I still have no idea how it is the Canadians pulled it off without cheating. In the last possible moment, Boston went from hero to zero in 60 minutes. And the Flyers managed to surprise the hell out of just about everyone who isn’t a diehard fan of the team. On Friday, in the seventh game of the series, boston was sent golfing. On Sunday, Flyers versus Canadians, game 1 will fill my living room television. And I will be toasting every Flyers goal between now and the end of the conference finals. Go Flyers go!

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In a twist that could only be carried out on TV–until this week, anyway–Vancouver gets tossed out on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Montreal puts the Penguins on ice. This after just about everyone pretty much ruled the latter out of the playoffs after, say, the last game of the season. The explanation is a simple one–Montreal cheated. Has to be it, really.

Starting this weekend, I will renew with much more effort my own participation in the No habs No campaign. For every goal scored against Montral in the conference finals, I will permit myself the enjoyment of one more vodka and coke through the duration of the particular game(s). By the end of the series, I will either be very drunk, or very disappointed. Or maybe both, if they end up dragging it out to seven games and winning again–bastards. Either way, it’ll be quite fun. Anyone wanna join me?

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Canada’s team got walked over on Tuesday. I mean, really walked over. In the clearest demonstration of the hockey gods’ hatred of us, Vancouver is now a member of the golfing elite. Yes, this means the only team north of the border still in the playoffs is those other people. I may be wrong, but I don’t think “No Habs No” is having quite the affect it was intended to have…

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Again, I’m late to the party. Again, I’ve been insanely busy. And again, Detroit doesn’t do a whole lot in the playoffs. Gone in the second round, at the hands of San Jose. Who, er, might get a shot at playing Chicago unless Vancouver picks up their socks. The fun never stops.

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Last Wednesday, Montreal somehow managed to survive long enough to give Washington the boot. That netted them a matchup against the Penguins this week–and they’re even in the series at a game a piece. Montreal. In the second round. And not staring at elimination yet. Um. What? Okay, I get that the hockey gods despise me right now. But must they be so overly cruel? Really? I know I’m kind of looking forward to an original team cup final… but… Montreal? I’d really rather not.

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Speaking of teams you don’t expect to see in the playoffs, enter Phoenix. Beginning of the year, they were pretty much losing money, and the only reason they weren’t sold to a Canadian owner and set up to move is the NHL’s apparent anti-Canada bias. End of the year, they’re still losing money, still probably going to end up being sold and/or moving, and now, they can count themselves among the playoffs’ casualties. Not that a Stanley cup final featuring Phoenix wouldn’t have been fun to watch, but… come on. It’s Phoenix. As in, Arizona. As in, desert country. What’s a hockey team even *doing* there? Besides golfing this week, I mean. Good try, Coyotes. Wanna move yet?

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File this under massive underestimations. I didn’t even think Nashville would manage to make it into the playoffs this year. They didn’t make it past the first round, mind you, but they beat my expectations. Now, if they can just knock San Jose around a little, we’ll be a step closer to an original conference final. SWeet would be an understatement.

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In my one-person household, we have a problem. It’s baseball season, and Toronto’s actually doing… well… decently. It’s alsp playoff season, and Montreal still needs to be shown the door–something I’d like to be able to watch. Unfortunately, while my multitasking ability is awesome, my TV’s isn’t. So I missed the playoff style drop kick handed to Buffalo thanks to Boston on Monday night. But, as I’ve shown previously, just because I missed it by 4 days doesn’t mean I can’t have my own little cellebration. So long, Sabres. You were good in the regular season–just not good enough for the postseason. I’d say I’ll miss ya, but well… no.

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The Kings won’t be doing much else hockey related ’til next year. Vancouver took care of that on Sunday, giving me something besides Montreal to cheer for. I never thought I’d say it–thank you so very much, Vancouver. You’ve made my year.

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I don’t get to stand in front of my TV screaming in victory yet–Montreal’s still in the playoffs. But, thank bloody God, Ottawa’s done. Their quest to choke in the Stanley cup finals died on Saturday. Yes, and I’m just now getting around to posting about it–I’ve been busy, okay?

In 2007, Ottawa sat tied at 3 games with the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks in the Stanley cup finals. The city was freaking insane, to put it nicely–Ottawa in the finals just doesn’t happen. I called in sick to work that night just so I could watch the seventh and final game, but not for the same reason nearly everyone else who could have gotten out of work did. While they were seated in front of their TV’s screaming for a Sens victory, for the first time in my life, I cheered for the Ducks. And, in the dying minutes of overtime, I wasn’t disappointed. It’s sad, but true. Like the song says, the Stanley cup will never go to Ottawa. But, think positive, boys. The Leafs have your usual course reserved already.

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I’ve been concentrating on other things besides hockey for the last several days, a trend that I think is gonna continue today–I have some employment resource thing to get to in a couple minutes. So it figures I miss seeing the Devils get their season handed to them along with their ass. I was kind of hoping Montreal would be the first on the golf course–my poor Leafs could use some lessons there. Ah well. At least I can take some comfort in the fact Ottawa’s gone. But, that gets its own post when I come back–if I don’t forget. I’m horrible for that these days.

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Is it such a bad thing that the only thing I can think of is “Hey, I can get home at a normal time on game night!”? I, personally, didn’t think so.

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Ducks win. Season is done. Sens are done. I’m fucking thrilled. Final score: 6 2. The cup will never go to Ottawa. Ducks, I promise you, I will never not cheer for you again. Unless Toronto’s playing. Then I hope you choke. But that’s just hockey. And hockey is good. The sens are done. So hockey is good.

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Yes, I know, I haven’t done nearly the hockey/NHL blogging as I’d previously threatened to–a problem that will be corrected next hockey season. But that being said… it’s now the end of the second period. Ottawa is losing 4 2. And I, yes me, am fucking extatic. I called in sick to work tonight–I actually *was* sick, so stuff your opinions–and am subsequently watching this game, in spite of the fact I vowed never, ever to subject myself to a Senators game in which Toronto wasn’t playing and/or kicking their ass. But… I made an exception for game 4 because there was beer on the line–you owe me by the way, you know who you are. I’m watching game 5 because, well, watching Ottawa lose in the playoffs is an awesome thing indeed. And I live in Ottawa… how messed up is that? Not that it should surprise those who know me–my Maple Leaf fandom is well documented. And would be better documented except, well, again I’ve been lazy on my hockey/NHL blogging. My early as hell new years resolution: correct that. After I finish watching Ottawa lose. Again, go Ducks go!

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