Even though some Maple Leafs fans are chuckling over the demise of the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs, the truth of the matter, is that it is a jealous sigh of relief, that the Canadiens wont be winning the Stanley Cup this year. That is a Leafs fan’s worst nightmare. This is especially the case with Toronto not having been in the Stanley Cup playoffs since the 2004 season, and their drought since 1967, of not winning the Cup. This embarrassing benchmark for the Maple Leafs and their fans, has left their followers desperately clinging to anything, that diverts them from thinking about the horrible run the once proud franchise has been on. The Toronto fans are also dreading the NHL draft, where Toronto’s pick, the second overall, likely a franchise quality player, is owned by the Boston Bruins, as part of the trade for Phil Kessel. So when the Habs lose a hard fought series with the Philadelphia Flyers, there is an escapist type joy. It’s as though the Toronto fans, are thinking there is some shame in this loss against Philadelphia. In fact the opposite is true. Outside of Montreal’s Stanley Cup championships, the upsets of the Washington Capitals, the President’s Trophy winners who led the series 3 –1, and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, who led the series 3-2, are one of the best chapters in Montreal’s proud hockey history.
Jaroslav Halak’s goalkeeping was absolutely spectacular, and only the physical presence of the skillful Flyers,the surprising shut down goalkeeping of Michael Leighton, to go along with Philly’s gritty play near and around the net, was enough to shut down the Cinderella Canadiens, and Halak’s heroics. It seems clear that Montreal needs to add some size to their roster. It would be difficult to imagine Carey Price remaining with the Canadiens. Perhaps they can trade him, for those needed dimensions that the Habs have to acquire. Mike Cammalleri was limited by Philadelphia, but that doesn’t take away from his superb work in the first two rounds of the playoffs. P.K. ( Pernell Karl ) Subban was a solid addition for Montreal, and he appears to have a bright future ahead with the Canadiens, not only with his skating and other skills, but also his take charge style of play that everyone observed .
The Flyers story is as spectacular as the Canadiens, and was engineered by Michael Leighton’s surprisingly superb goalkeeping, with his three series shut outs, and the never say die tenacity and take no prisoners style of play of captain Mike Richards, to go along with the intimidating presence of Chris Pronger. The return of Simon Gagne, and Jeff Carter to the Flyer roster, has completed the Philadelphia puzzle. Their Stanley Cup clash with the Chicago Blackhawks, could be a classic confrontation.