Is tonight’s Habs-Leafs tilt (Air Canada Centre, 7:00) the most significant between these historic franchises in a generation? For the purposes of a bit of fun and novel hype . . . yes. It’s the final game of the season for both teams, and the Habs and Leafs and the Islanders are in a fierce race to the finish for the Eastern conference’s final playoff berth. But as print media in both Canadian cities this morning point out, some of the allure here is tempered by the reality that neither club is a serious Stanley Cup threat.
This morning Montreal resides in 8th place in the East, with 90 points. Toronto is right behind them in 9th, at 89 points. And the Isles, who have two games remaining this weekend (a matinée with Philly today and one with the Devils tomorrow), are in 10th with 88 points. With a win tonight, Montreal is in. The Leafs, however, not only must win but get some help from either Philly or New Jersey to keep from being passed by the Isles.
The Globe and Mail this morning isn’t quite as enamored with the matchup as one south of the 49th might imagine: the two teams are akin to “average high-school students about to take their final exam.” Ouch!
The Toronto Sun on the other hand is embracing the novelty of this winner-almost-takes all showdown: “It’s like the hockey gods decided to give the fans a treat.”
The Montreal Gazette this morning is all over this game. Its home page bears a one-word headline above a photo of the Habs — “Showdown.” Gazette columnist Jack Todd, in his column “This is it, hockey fans — the night of nights,” argues that tonight’s is the biggest game between the teams “since the Toronto Maple Leafs won their last Stanley Cup by upsetting the Canadiens in 1967.”
Wow.
Todd does his part to fan the frenzy:
“Hockey Night in Canada’s ratings will be off the charts tonight, Don Cherry will be in full Maple Leaf drag and in pubs and offices from coast to coast, Leafs and Canadiens fans will taunt and insult one another to the point of fisticuffs.”
NHL.com reporter Evan Grossman points out that while tonight’s is the 682nd meeting of these historic franchises, it is the first to conclude a regular season for both teams in 64 years, and never has such a game between them decided a playoff fate.
Mother Nature is doing Her part to provide an appropriate backdrop. There are April snow showers in both cities, and for those of us here who’ll follow the proceedings via Center Ice, we awoke this morning to a white frosting of our trees and lawns for our Saturday morning joe. I love it.
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Watching the game now on Hockey Night in Canada. Leafs almost let it slip away, but now lead 6-5. Game has turned into a barnburner.
Though, it’s likely all for naught, as the Habs and Leafs will likely be quickly dispatched by the Swords. I think the Sabres would have a tougher go if they played the Islanders. That would be a fun series.
ps - Thanks for a great blog this year.
That game was so sloppy and bizarre and badly played…if the Leafs manage to squeak into the playoffs, they’d better hope the Sabres haven’t seen footage of that one. Or the game before that. Or the one before that.
Go Islanders.
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