Positive Vibes, Positive Vibes, Positive Vibes

When I was a kid, I had a pair of those one-piece pajamas with the rubber feet, with a Montreal Canadiens logo on the chest. This was 1980 or thereabouts, and I point to this outfit as proof that I have been a fan for life and not some '93 bandwagon-jumper. I don't know where these PJs came from, but I'm surprised I still have a positive association with the team after having my wiener caught in the zipper several dozen times...

When I started minor hockey, I wore a Habs jersey (see below), and tried to pick Montreal coloured helmet and gloves (even though our minor hockey association had Philly colours)...

When I was old enough to have a favourite player, it was Mats Naslund. Number 26. I remember him scoring an incredible breakaway goal from his knees...

After Mats retired, my new favourite player became Shayne Corson after seeing him block a half-dozen shots in front of a Roy-less net shortly before being beaten out of the playoffs by the Bruins (whatever year that was). I would stay up and watch these great playoff games on my greening hand-me-down television at the foot of my bed. Habs-Whalers. Habs-Sabres. Habs-Bruins. Every year. But I never did get to see the Habs win the Cup because they always seemed to do so on a school night...

I traveled to Montreal during the summer of Jose to see Game Three of the opening round. That was the game Boston's McLaren clotheslined Zednik and there was a near-riot in the stands as he was taken off on a stretcher. It was pandemonium. It was awesome. Cruddick winked at Gilmour, and he winked back (or something)...

I am typing this in front of Game Three of the opening round. Again, Montreal is playing Boston from the eighth seed. Unlike the Year of Jose however, an upset doesn't look to be in the cards. So take these positive vibes, o Gods of Hockey, and at the very least, help make a series of it. For my sake.

Thank you.