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| Man, we sure did get a lot of mileage out of this pic... |
I have a trial starting in about a week. My stress levels have never been higher, I'm no longer sleeping well, I'm not motivated to work, I can't concentrate on anything and so the deadlines keep piling up, time feels like it's slipping away from me while I feel powerless to do anything about it. And so, the panic keeps getting worse and I don't know how to stop the cycle.
Even with all of that, I still wouldn't change places with ANY member of our beloved Canadiens de Montréal this morning.
They wish they could put a bag on their heads and forget about it, slinking away from the spotlight while nobody notices them. They don't have that luxury. So much credit to Squid, Gio and even Gomer for manning up and standing together to face the music (i.e. the reporters) last night after the Habs' 3rd consecutive shutout loss. Shit, Gomer even admitted that "it starts with me" and that he's part of the problem this year. Squid was apparently barely audible for parts of the interview and Gio was mumbling platitudes in his "Just because I'm the captain, don't expect me to say anything truly meaningful, ever" way.
And poor Carey Price kicked his shoes across the locker room in frustration 'cause, even though he's doing his best, short of skating up the ice himself, there is nothing he can reasonably do to stop the futility.
I don't know what the Habs need to do to get out of this. Martin finally went for the bag skate this morning, but I'm still not sure that's the answer, or, if it was at some point (say, after the Boston game), it certainly isn't anymore.
Maybe it is some form of collective PTSD (as discussed in my morning email chain with GG11) following all of the bullshit both on and off the ice following Patches' injury. All I know is that this isn't the team that I thought we had. These aren't the Montreal Canadiens that fought tooth and nail to get through some rough shit last year through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
They do, however, resemble the Habs that looked as though they had nothing left in the tank after game 3 vs. Philly.
Maybe, due to the shit luck they've had with injuries, the tank was emptied early this year.
I would be worried, but not panicked if there were more than 6 friggin' games left in the regular season. Fact is that there aren't. And that's the problem with psychological trouble and other shit that gets in your head and gives you a rising case of panic-induced-paralysis. Time is the only thing that can ever truly heal that feeling, and when you feel like time is running out... well... I think we've all been there at some point, so we know that it only makes things worse. Especially with the fact that they get to have 21,273 people booing them, yelling at them to get their shit together, and fast. While I don't blame the fans for booing, right now, that has got to be the least helpful thing we can do for our team.
This is the time when teams are supposed to be tuning up for the playoffs. Habs can't do that right now, because they're trying to shake a gorilla off their collective backs - one that is getting heavier by the second.
If they do manage to shake it off, there's a chance that they'll be stronger than ever and potentially even be in a good position for the playoffs. Kind of a "We've been down before - what you're giving us Philly/Boston/Whoever is NUTHIN' compared to that."
But, that's a pretty big if.
Until then, I can only imagine that the panic level among both players, coaches and staff is light years beyond anything that I feel right now.
And that, my friends? Scares the shit out of me way more than a 3rd consecutive shutout, because it doesn't bode well for avoiding a fourth... Or a fifth... Or a sixth...
*panic*
114 comments:
looking on the positive side:
The habs have averaged two goals a game over the last four games.
@Anon - Heh. Unfortunately, their GAA is higher than 2 for those 4 games, so I'm not sure it's that much of a bright side...
Like this "sober" view of this team. Just a remark, it's not the team who's got 3 consecutive losses. It's we. We're in this together.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Lawyergirl!
Cheers from a habs fan from Sweden
That'll be a collective $150 to lg for the therapy session. CHip in FHFers.
When all is down and out, that's when you turn to Max. Oh, Max is in Vancouver, with the other team that has a big C on its jersey? Playing for a former Montreal coach, who recommended him to the GM? Coached him in junior?
My read is the tank is dry, the emotion was spent when Patches almost lost his head. The subtle fear of going all out is preventing people from going all out.
So the bottom line is, your duty of zealous representation requires that you go all out in your trial. The team is relying on you providing the spark and telling them. Word verification= gatort lots of possiblities when soneone has a trial coming up, wrongful death in Atlanta is a gatort, as is negligent manufacture of high heels east of St. Denis in Montréal.
Chin up Hablets! If there is one thing I know from my many, many years of watching our former (now your) head coach it is that in no way will he allow current circumstance to change his overall coaching philosophy.
Wait...that doesn't help at all, does it?
SLC!! Welcome back!!
Can we start a "We Continued to Cheer for a Martin Team" support group?? Seriously, this is really starting to hurt my heart.
Absolutely, LG. 12 Steps To Controlling Your Addiction To The One-Man Forecheck.
p.s: Thanks. Never really went away, but just lurked. A lot.
At least CHocula's Habs won't be meeting the leaf in the playoffs.
Also, tsn, after a week of blood lust and literally amping up the stanchioned sound of PatCHes head being driven by the shaved gorilla are now headlining 'Its time for concern' about Marc Savard.
Talk about Jerkyll and Hide. Sick fucks. Almost as disgusting as Fuckface Milbury saying PleXXXe 'intended' on hitting a Bruin in the face. Jerk.
GYFHG!
I thought it was a great idea to make them skate it off today, because that's really all they needed to do : stop thinking about anything and physically shake off the numbness that had gotten hold of them. However I don't know about not even calling a team meeting on Monda, if that is what they mean by giving them the day off, because they need support and the move might backfire if the mental state of some players worsens during that day because of the lack of contact with the group.
You may think this is funny and reading in too much (and you might be right), but psychological dispositions have a far greater impact on the outcome of a game or even a season than the numbers that appear on any given player's paycheck.
OT Great schedule ahead! I love our last 6 games.
First, one week of playoff-intensity games against very beatable opponents. Get the feeling in without all quite all the bite to it. Terrific preparation. You get to make mistakes and learn from them without getting bounced, or to gain confidence by winning against a desperate opponent.
Then, a perfect last week to prepare : a prestige-playoff preparation game against Chicago to get a real taste of what's coming, followed by a "feel-good game" against Ottawa to get the confidence up and score a few goals here and there, and finally a game against the leaf to really get us MAD just before the playoffs and tap into the extra energy players derive from hate. (Hopefully we do well but suffer a frustrating loss so we can really get that sense of "we really want to win the next one" for game #1 v. whoever). It doesn't matter if we don't do well against Ottawa because that'll just piss us off and lead us to pummel Toronto and enter the playoffs riled up and ready to go.
Any way you look at it, and regardless of what happens in this coming week, the Habs will be ready come playoffs. That's got to be an encouraging thought.
Fly in your logic ointment there McPhee (Although, God, I would love to have your optimism): that assumes that the Habs will play well against inferior opponents. History shows that they often don't show up against so-called "shittier" teams.
I would rather play the Nucks or Red Wings. Seriously.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man *this is a telling line
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
There's a message in there to the entire Habs squad from Martin on down. Change. This team needs it. Obviously at this stage it isn't going to be a personnel change. It's gotta be a change in philosophy. A change in style. A change in desire. Jesus Christ, change your fucking game day meal if that's what it takes. Today I washed my Habs hoodie which I wear for every game, then hung it on the line for a fresh new start. Out with the old stench, in with a fresh breeze of optimism.
Anyway, I doubt we'll see change of monstrous proportions, but some small things are needed.
I've noticed Squid can only hit the net from a 70° angle or more, and of course goalies generally won't miss those. Alone in front of the net, he'll miss every time. I don't know if it's physical, mental or some combo, but he NEEDS to figure it out.
Gionta must lead by example. It's what a good captain does.
Kostitsyn, Eller, Pouliot, etc. Secondary scoring. Soon as we get some primary scoring, this will be essential.
Gomez. Sorry, Go-meh's. At this point I'll take no stupid penalties and fewer turnovers at the offensive blueline.
Defense. Can't believe it, but I miss Spacek.
I won't quit on this team. And this team better not fucking quit on it's fans. ghg.
I'm just gonna pretend this past week never happened. It's the only way I can stay sane. And alcohol. And drugs.
On another note, SLC!!! your appearance has cheered me up tremendously. your (accurate) assessment of JM has not
Every time I write something absoulty brilliant the vagries of this colliton blog not only dimisnh the potential they lose it. I am a communist that why when spell check does not work the first time I shoot the programmer.
I am a history a major. I chose not to be a lawyer. When my shtty marks and average LSAT, did not prevail, I refused to accept that big government.
What is pertinent to this discussion. Consular I present the Pony Blog, much derided and not they seek a coalition.
The defendants say "we are not worthy"
Well that works for me, no need for concern at all.
I understood everything Steve wrote. I need therapy (or an election). Time for CHange.
For those of you who could not understand, my last post.
I read it and I dont understand it as well.
What I was trying to say, is that LG pony post has been proven to be accurate. How we go forward, she nails today, with a fucking Vampire at our necks.
All you Steve haters that think I protest to much, stop reading and I am sorry for wasting an hour of your life that it took you to read these twenty words.
Thats was Steve Chara, the real Steve Steve Harper is only trying to warn you about coalitions taking your children and making them work on collective farms. Talented boys will be allowed to break up ocean going ships full of toxins. It a bramd new day.
No Steve haters except the flybynight Anon. Iggy all the way. I pirouPETte!
@moeman, I think Iggy is an awkward intellectual, he is worse than an awkward economist who when given a choice says hey I know a hen lays eggs, why make the world so complex.
For me Goverment is the referee. Harper is making all calls against me, I a solid journeyman AHL player, he loves superstars like big oil and banks, both to me in the Canadian context have been handed big contracts and do not deliver to Canada.
How long before I say that FHF is a Iggy Stripper and Habs website, working against women, and a NHL franchise in Quebec.
@GG that is the best Genesis album cover never published.
You're lawyers. Can't you find a loophole in the rules whereby a team can win without scoring any goals?
Post Peter Gabriel Genesis sucked, hard.
Harper is a leaf fan, hope his Spring is ruined in more ways than one.
I ran some numbers and they are astonishing. The FHF has 12 million casual viewers, and individual for individual commenter for the first time in web sit protacol they have said its 100.000 plus Steve.
'casual' = Pants!less?
I think the lack of Pants!cast is to blame for 2 of the 3 shutout losses. Time for a PatCHes!Cast!
@moeman were we separated at birth, and If Johnyy or Kenney has not done you, I would think about it. Not very long, its just my natre NTTWRT.
It might be of interest to you, because you have the stain of Ontario about you, that the classic Neil Young song Helpless referenced Ommee Ontario. That was what I learned today when I was not saying coalition.
Harper just promised the leaf will make the playoffs but turtled when asked about winning the Cup. He has two broken ankles but he does sign cbc/hnic cheques. NB - in true politician behaviour, he did not say what year.
No problem with CHocula skating his team hard on a Sunday but who is skating JM hard?
I understand a bag skate. Its symbolic, but it is a message. When you dont score a goal in three games, you might be better off at a video arcade, or with a new coach.
I haven't heard any news lately. What are the odds of seeing this guy before the playoffs or in the first round? April 2002 redux?
You know what I hate, I hate basketball and baseball and anything that detracts from what is pure Canadian Hockey. For example you fucking traitors, cultural backstabber and young girls swept away by candy.
I get the final four, it dont matter even if they dont look like me or anyone in my family, I can suport their advertisers. But when the Memorial cup comes to town, where are we?
I got a brother that looks like PFK and I love him.
Never liked the basketball and baseball is good when the two pitchers are stellar. Otherwise, who doesn't love Felipe Alou? Moisés Alou was a good cat but the man pisses on his bats? Might be an idea?
Steve - you're cuckoo for cocoa puffs, dude. I lof eet!
Need a boost?
Here's a Quicker. Picker. Upper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRJxZSHXFJ0
Althought I appreciate LG77's philosopical approach regarding the Habs scoring woes, it comes down a simple thing. They are what they are, a small fast skilled team who play a "System". When other coaches figure out the "System" and you refuse to adapt then it is easy for the big guys to beat the little guys. It's just phsyics.
Anyway, it seems every year lately something happens to derail this team, eg, Gainey's daughter's tragic death, Pacioretty getting his head smashed or excessive partying by young guys. Whatever.
I'm not getting bent out of shape anymore about what they do or don't do. If they flame out and fall out of the playoffs or get booted out of the first round, so be it. They are a mediocre team among many others in the National Parity league. It is Bettman's decree thus shall it be.
@moeman, we may cheer for the same hockey team but politically we're 180 degrees apart. I've got no love for Harper, but he is the best of a bad lot. A leaf fan? I thought he was from Alberta, so wouldn't Oilers or Flames be more his colours?
@Maritmer, my wife married me cause I was the best of a bad lot, and who is sorry now? For sure not the RCMP protection getting her carpet munched.
I was born and raised in Toronto, and one thing you know about people, is your first love is never forgotten, once a leaf loser forever lost.
And no opinion is better than another, and we all like to hear what people think, oh except me.
@the Maritimer, Harper was born at the CotU and is an avowed leaf fan. I also dislike him for his politics. GYFHG!
BTW, H = Habs!
People in this Great Land and for those outside Quebec in the borders of Canada, we are going to have a nasty fucking election, maybe based upon the case law of confederation, and what better blog to guide us through that nuance. I just want to say that anyone who would vote Conservative IMHO has been fooled, the party no longer exists, vote Reform, and lets see forget about reason and science. However, when the dust settles and the air eventually clears if I am not a poltical prisioner, lets pretend it never happened.
I haven't given up on the Habs, I still totally expect them to make the playoffs. And I have no idea what team we'll see on Tuesday. Really, it could be another shutout or it could be another 8-1 win. This is a large part of the problem.
I'm all for optimism, but let's not get into history revisionism. Did the incident cause Gomez to make errand nonsensical passes from day 1? Did the incident make JM play him 20+ mins/game with no results? Did the incident make Squid disappear since December? Did the incident make JM sit PK on the PP? Did the incident make Gio mumble and whimper after their third straight shut out instead of being forceful, angry and vocal? It's like Bart telling his parents that he failed a test because of their marital problems only for Marge to notice it being dated before she seperated from Homer, so Bart pulls out a fresh one to use the same excuse. And yes, everything can be related to a Simpson episode.
Losing sucks and every team goes through a slump. Getting shut out 3 straight games, 2 of which were supposed to be statement games, indicates something much bigger. I could almost (*almost*) understand being pre-occupied for the Boston game, but then to come out with 3 fucking shots in the 1st on home ice in the next game is beyond pathetic and embarrassing. Just for personal pride it's mind blowing that grown men would perform like that in any circumstance.
I'm not going to play the paycheque game, but everyone here works hard for their money with much less leeway in their jobs. I don't feel sorry for any of the Habs, except maybe Price. If they don't get paid to score goals, which they're not doing, then they can at least get paid to be booed for 20 minutes one night. Jesus Christ, I (as many of you I would think) put up with MUCH WORSE everyday and don't even think about it. I'm not saying this because they're millionaires, I'm saying it's part of the job. Frankly, if I performed as poorly as they have this week I would be fired immediately. No questions, no blogs crying over it, no one making excuses for me. People put up with much worse everyday than seeing a co-worker getting injured yet slag on. Because in the real world they have no choice.
In the end, hockey players are entertainers. And these entertainers and doing a terrible job right now. I don't feel sorry for them, I feel sorry for the people who work hard all week in shitty jobs they hate in order to pay outrageous prices for ticket to a game where these entertainers didn't perform. Again, in the real world that would warrant a refund and probably even an apology. In Montreal Canadiens world it results in some booing and people feeling sorry for the entertainers. And that's fine, but I'm not going to sit here and make more excuses for them.
And that is my treatise on the subject as I avoid finishing my goddamn IT project.
Well between two eloquent arguments I have to go with O Man, sorry McPhee I dont believe in the broken heart theory.
Lets enjoy the Joey Juneaus! ArCHade Fire bitCHes!
@moeman, I stand corrected, did not know Harper was born in CoTU.
Now that you mention it he seems to come off as Toronto bland. A westerner has way more style, like Maritimers ;)
Yeah, GYFHG, but I fear more pain and disappointment is inevitable starting this Tuesday. They could be in a position to be eliminated by the fucking leaf on April 9 like when Guy started Huet instead of Halak back in '07, I think. The key game win has to be in Carolina.
Just a gut feeling.
@Steve, I'd vote for you in a minute. Your political diatribe would be legendary.
I (still) blame 'Steve' Bégin for that loss vs. the leaf.
Also, Shania is simply beautiful.
A Fire!
I am totally against the JEWNO's like Lenard Cohen should not be welcome.
@b
Fuck Lapierre. He wanted out, he can fuck off for all I care. He didn't do what he promised all of us that he would do and then bitched when his ice time was affected.
Come on Steve, the Afro-Canadian kid host thanked his Jewish Mom. Wait, is Drake our own 29?
Oh man is Sarah M. sweet and sexy or what!?
@Maritimer, thanks for your support,
I have not fleshed out most of my positions, but I can tell you with out a lie, my platform would be the highest of any candidature.( and have the most spelling and gramme mistakes)
Candidate Steve, what is your favourite position?
Oh Sarah, yep for those of a certain age she is smoking. For the rest of you just wait.
I like a flat snoop doggy, and I am not opposed to a 3 party coalition on my own terms.
So Steve, you are suggesting that if Sarah and Shania showed up you wood too? Oh Canada, Steve stands on guard for thee!
More A Fire! Best band in the world.
@Moeman, that scenario would have the flag bursting with patriotism. In fact it just snowed here..
Hedly, not so much
Steve, we are lucky the gov't has no place in our bedrooms.
With glowing hearts we see Steve rise,
The True North strong and free!
Ol'Steve, don't knock live talent, this ain't the lip-synced Grammies.
Amen, LGG & orangeman!
Higgins was rolling today. Thinks he is Steve Shutt. Go CHanucks, make HNIC puke.
@moeman, point taken, his performace was in light of todays dishwater talent a triumph. I liked Hedley on Cdn Idol I just wish he had gone more punk than Maroon 5.
@Moeman, now that we have established they have no place in our bedrooms ( Jason and John giggle every time thats said) I want to keep them out of my legally connected to power and water grow closet as well.
The Orwellian Kenney and Baird should be renamed Mutt and Lang.
John&Jason, aka JJ are blinded to their sick, demented, unfair reality, hope they are affected by glaucoma and need medicinal marryjoowanna someday.
Shania loves ou Canadian bush! She just cost Harper a million votes.
Shania loves our bush and the feeling is mutual, she as Rosanne Cash famously said " puts the cunt back into Country"
Love you Shania
Steve, get your mind out of the gutter, oh, wait.
Tomorrow's TMS™ better have some Shania.
Am reading the back-and-forth between moe and Steve and am left both confused and deeply disturbed. Is it genius or the babble of two village idiots who have been able to craft a new language that only they can understand?
Either way, it's a fascinating sociological and anthropological experiment.
Carry on gentlemen!! ;)
(You know I keed 'cause I love, right? ;-) )
lg, half of it is genius.
Luv ya.
Steve is in Amsterdam.
The shape I am in is awesome:
Been workin' out Steve?
Mental gymnastics only, but that Juno tribute moved about 1000 kilos.
Yup, well done tune, plus Serena Ryder!
@moeman looking at your link, all I could think, is why dont they remake I dream of Genie with me and Shania.
Cuz you'd keep rubbin' da bottle.
At least the well-chinned Ben is self-effacing and not the arrogant wad (and criminal) his Dad was/is.
BTW, one of these days I will scan and post your faithful moeman showing the Muldoon kidz how to use their new Macs at 24 Sussex. I even sat at the formal table with Mila and had dinner with the gang. She was nice but her almost look-a-like sister was a much funner gal.
@moeman- defenseless laughing, I feel like Mex.
Steve, I bet you score more than GoMeh's.
Mila was/is hot, if I had not been married when I was 45 I would have sought out a 22 year old Eastern European virgin myself.
Will someone please mention The (fucking) Hip already?
Of those Picks I am waving flag, quite an achievement after all those appearances and Moemans web link to Shania.
One had/has to pay for those Euro gals in cash, in a brown envelope. NTTIAWWT. Mila 'struck' me as a dominatrix.
@moeman, nobody except the FHF wants to know what the poets are saying
Fuck, even the Junos says we need to CHange.
FHFers know how to keep it hidden, under their cap.
UNB shuts out McGill.
Prophetic?
Shirley to Dog Habs won't be shut out 4 times in a row?
Will they?
Pls tell me they won't.
I'm askeered.
@Moeman, fucking right I score more than the Mexican't and I balance more budgets than O'Flarhaty, and bring more peace to the world than a Nobel prize winner named Obama.
"Shirley to Dog" = LINE OF THE THREAD!!
I'm askeered too, sadhabsfan. *sadface*
Sure Steve but do you hustle like tony 'soprano' clement? That fucker has a huge piece of the action.
Tony dont swing, but he tweets like a bitch, and with that haircut and glasses he looks like an extra from the Who Tommy movie, so when he is not saving people from drowning, or tweeting or just being a condescending fuckface he is harmless.
I can promise Montreal one thing, if elected I will bring my erection to Montreal.
Good luck Steve, hope it is not a minority. Win big!
And they dont call it the big blue tent because the flagpole is to small. Still it does not explain why my photo op girl chews more carpet than stainmaster.
I just wanted to point out that we're thisclose to 100 comments... on a Sunday game review thread.
Dog bless the Junos.
That's all. Carry on.
Speaking of erections in Montreal, gotta love Iggy's Jack&Gilles comment today. Thing is Iggs needs to realize that repetition can be good but so can comedic timing and charisma. Thank God he has a bit more than Harpo.
They picked the Bieber over the Beaver, how Harpo of them.
Steve, find a modern flicker gal who is more into waxing hardwood floors.
leaf fan beiber just lost one million downloads. That or he doesn't know that his team is in perpetual 10th place. Why the arrogance Torontonians? Stop watching cherry already.
@lg77
your acknowledgement gave me chills.
I am not worthy.
It made me feel there will be better daze ahead for "our" Habs.
I can rest comfortably now.
Nite.
If I were Iggy I would come out tommorrw and say buy the time Beibers hair grows back he will be mainling, and Sarah will still be sweet, and thats the choice you gotta make, pre heroin or post heroine.
Lanois = fucking musical genius.
Old(er) white guys rule. Sorry 29.
Four shutouts, oh, my, no.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that moeman and Steve are the same person. Just like natural and m.....
I've said too much. Nevermind.
Nope 0-man. Steve and I are two solid dudes.
Neil we are not worthy, Rock on, I am a Child, I will not rust away.
Steve uses gun oil.
Montréal's Arcade Fire, pure rock art, pure musicianship, pure fucking cool.
Neil wins by surprise against massive odds and conventional wisdom, be inspired people, there is no Sugar Mountain, but a man does need a maid, and I think Iggy would know how Pocahontas felt in the morning.
GYGHG
Arcade Fire, I have to admit are newly discovered for moi, but they rocked like a post apocalyptic punk rock band when the first harvest that was not radioactive was consumed.
Arcade Fire=Habs
Love'em, Don't understand'em
McGill got shut out, but the Ladies won the Clarkson Cup 5-0! At least ONE Montreal team knows what it's doing!
Karma, why you not doing your job? Good for nothing Flyers let that pissant Marchand score the winner. Apparently the Bruins have the same amount of regulation loses to ALL the top 4 Eastern teams as they do against the Habs. Yawns.
More Fire!
If you haven't already, go, have fun;
http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/
Fuck I feel great about being Canadian tonite, great Junos Kudos
I want Arcade Fire to do a cover of Catch a Fire
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