Big Win ... Perhaps More for the Habs?

I don't like making predictions when it comes to sports. Quite frankly, I don't have much faith in my ability to predict the future as evidenced by the fact that virtually every prediction I have ever made has been wrong. I distinctly remember saying to a good friend after Game 2 of the cup finals last year that "Pittsburgh is fucked". Sure enough, the Penguins came back and won it in seven games.

I'll admit it bugs me when people ask me who I think will win or who will score the first goal etc. because I will probably be wrong, and really, I don't care, I just want to enjoy the game. For the same reason I shy away from fantasy leagues and pools. I'm terrible at them and I don't care, I just want to enjoy the game(s). So when people ask me those kinds of questions, I come up with the most outlandish answers I can. Like the other day during the Penguins/Senators game when a friend asked me who I thought would score first, I responded without hesitation: "Marc-Andre Fleury". Needless to say, I was wrong about that one.

Even though it's only the end of the first round, I am going to make one, not because my extensive knowledge of the game tells me it is the most likely outcome, but because I'm getting a vibe, a vibe I have felt before while watching a team in the post-season.

I watched, with great interest, the Habs/Capitals series, not because I'm a fan of either team, but because I cannot stand the antics of Alexander Ovechkin and would have liked nothing more then to see him and the Capitals ousted in the first round. It wasn't looking good early on, but Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak almost singlehandedly turned the series and just minutes ago delivered a Game 7 victory (happy early birthday to me, right?).

Even though it's early, there is a feeling that Montreal could be this years Cinderella story. Much like the Flames of 2004 and especially the Oilers of 2006, I'm getting this feeling that the Canadiens, after barely squeaking into the playoffs, may just surprise a lot of people and ride Halak deep into the playoffs much like Calgary rode Miikka Kiprusoff and Edmonton rode Dwayne Roloson all the way to the Cup Finals.

Other things are going Montreal's way aside from the hot goaltender. Defensemen Hal Gill and Josh Gorges are playing out of their minds shutting down the other teams offense. They are finding a way to get that first goal of the game. And when it's all said and done, they found a way to win not once, but twice when facing elimination against the most potent offensive team in the NHL.

So now that I've made that bold prediction, it's very likely the Canadiens will be swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sorry Habs fans.

-matt