Here's a slice of things that have happened, or how the world looked the last time the Habs had a road win on Dec 23.
It's been a little while since we last won a road game on the 23rd of December. Our last WIN on this date was at home to Pittsburg... in 1995.
I'll stick to the big ones, mostly related to hockey.
- The internet became widespread because of...
- Every powered computer ever developed was manufactured.
- The television gained widespread acceptance, switched to colour, and changed resolutions half a dozen times. It's moved from vaccuum-tube'd implementation with a cathode ray tube display to liquid crystal displays, plasma output screens, and OLED LCDs.
- As an addenum to that, the NHL went from being primarily radio-driven to being televised, with the addition of white ice
- The Montreal Canadiens won 20 more Stanley Cups, while the Leafs won 7.
- The NHL Expanded from 6 to 30 teams.
- Every major Rock, rap, and rnb star's career has occurred since that game.
- It occured during the first season that a player scored 50 goals in 50 games. That very player along with Elmer Lach lead the Habs to a win that night against the Bruins.
- Every retired number in the Bell Centre except Howie Morenz was retired after that game.
- Both Bob Gainey and Jaques Martin were not born when the game took place.
- Since that game only two playersi n the NHL have been goaltenders named captain of their team, Bill Durnan two years later, and Roberto Luongo 63 years later.
- Some players had not yet returned from the Second World War.
- Newfoundland became a Canadian province, Nunavut a Canadian Territory.
- Toronto overtook Montreal as the most populous Canadian city.
- Rosa Parks had not refused to stand, Martin Luther King had not had a dream, Malcolm X had not yet caused controversy, and the civil rights movement had not yet happened.
- The Berlin Wall had not yet fallen.. actually the Berlin Wall had not yet been built.
- Russia was run by Stalin, Spain by Franco, and Cuba by Ramón Grau (also known as "someone not named Castro")
- In the amount of time that has gone by, Hal Gill could complete four full laps around the rink.
1945 was a long, long time ago.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday Top Ten: Signs Your Team Might Be Falling Out of the Playoffs
Tuesday top ten time, and as we're halfway through the season, it's time to chronicle what might be signs that your team will be golfing at the end of April, so
Top ten signs your team might be falling out of the playoff race:
10: Your goaltender was reminded he is, in fact, Cam Ward
9: Hopes for your team rest at least partly on a goaltender aquired in December.
8: No one in Montreal wants your French-Canadian star centre.
7: Have been blown out this season by the Leafs
6: Contingancy plan on your star player getting injured is a player not good enough for the Leafs.
5: Your playmaking centre has had his size be a trending topic on twitter more times than points he's gotten this year.
4: You traded a former fourth-overall pick for a player you have healthy-scratched in the past week.
3: Your team is allowing Chris Osgood to actually face a few shots a game.
2: After spending $20 million this season on new free agents, the one bailing your team out the most is a $750 000 a year defensemen who injured his own goalie in the stanley cup finals.
1: The league is feeling too much pity to find a reason to suspend Chris Pronger.
Top ten signs your team might be falling out of the playoff race:
10: Your goaltender was reminded he is, in fact, Cam Ward
9: Hopes for your team rest at least partly on a goaltender aquired in December.
8: No one in Montreal wants your French-Canadian star centre.
7: Have been blown out this season by the Leafs
6: Contingancy plan on your star player getting injured is a player not good enough for the Leafs.
5: Your playmaking centre has had his size be a trending topic on twitter more times than points he's gotten this year.
4: You traded a former fourth-overall pick for a player you have healthy-scratched in the past week.
3: Your team is allowing Chris Osgood to actually face a few shots a game.
2: After spending $20 million this season on new free agents, the one bailing your team out the most is a $750 000 a year defensemen who injured his own goalie in the stanley cup finals.
1: The league is feeling too much pity to find a reason to suspend Chris Pronger.
I'm Back: The Favourite, part 1
My life has been a bit upside down for the past month-ish, and I haven't been posting as I should. I apologize and am now looking to get back in the swing of things.
We'll get started with what is going to be an eleven part feature The Favourite
Since we lost most of the familiar faces of the franchise this off-season, many people are clamoring to find a player to identify with, to like. Even halfway through the season, the amount of people on Twitter asking what jersey to buy supports this. I'm going to profile eleven players, and advocate all of them as potential 'favourites'. They may not all be the best, but they may have some aspects that just jump out and say "Yes, I'm proud to have his number. I'm proud to cheer for him. He's a favourite".
Favourite Hab: #46 - Andrei Kostitsyn
The Basics:
Andrei will always have a bit of a dark mark on him that's not his fault. We selected him over a few players who've gotten some press time, guys with the last names like Carter and Getslaf. He had an immensly rocky start to this season, and was viewed as nothing special last season (despite a respectable 23 goals), but most remember two seasons ago when he had 26 goals in 78 games. He's spent much of his time with the Habs as being touted as having immense talent we're waiting to have show up. He's got one of the best shots on the team (Cammalleri's is better, and while Bergeron's is certainly harder, Kostitsyn's is more accurate), and it's become clear he's moved out of Kovalev's shadow and works very well with Thomas Plekanec.
The Stats:
AK46 is a proven 20 goal scorer, which is naturally useful on a team with issues with secondary scoring, though since Gionta has gone down there's been nothing secondary about Andrei's role with the team. Andrei Kostitsyn, a six-foot tall winger has 10 goals and 12 assists this season (sitting at +2), putting him on pace for another 20+ goal season on paper, but its important to note he was held to only two goals in the first quarter of the season. He's producing at a much faster rate now and it will be interesting to see where he ends up this season.
Intangibles:
Despite what people may say about his occasional moments of under-performing, he's dealt with immense pressure surrounding him, be it unfair comparisons to Alexei Kovalev, controversy concerning shady Belorussian mobsters, or the drama surrounding his brother early this season. One of his biggest issues had been communications issues with the rest of the team, but since becoming closer talking with Plekanec, his production has ramped up this season. As he becomes more open with the team, we can expect the best out of him. He's also finally discovered exactly what he can do when he puts the puck on the net. Often ignored, while not a heavy hitter by any means, he isn't afraid to take the body at all.
Highlights:
All highlight videos are not my own creation.
We'll get started with what is going to be an eleven part feature The Favourite
Since we lost most of the familiar faces of the franchise this off-season, many people are clamoring to find a player to identify with, to like. Even halfway through the season, the amount of people on Twitter asking what jersey to buy supports this. I'm going to profile eleven players, and advocate all of them as potential 'favourites'. They may not all be the best, but they may have some aspects that just jump out and say "Yes, I'm proud to have his number. I'm proud to cheer for him. He's a favourite".
Favourite Hab: #46 - Andrei Kostitsyn
The Basics:
Andrei will always have a bit of a dark mark on him that's not his fault. We selected him over a few players who've gotten some press time, guys with the last names like Carter and Getslaf. He had an immensly rocky start to this season, and was viewed as nothing special last season (despite a respectable 23 goals), but most remember two seasons ago when he had 26 goals in 78 games. He's spent much of his time with the Habs as being touted as having immense talent we're waiting to have show up. He's got one of the best shots on the team (Cammalleri's is better, and while Bergeron's is certainly harder, Kostitsyn's is more accurate), and it's become clear he's moved out of Kovalev's shadow and works very well with Thomas Plekanec.
The Stats:
AK46 is a proven 20 goal scorer, which is naturally useful on a team with issues with secondary scoring, though since Gionta has gone down there's been nothing secondary about Andrei's role with the team. Andrei Kostitsyn, a six-foot tall winger has 10 goals and 12 assists this season (sitting at +2), putting him on pace for another 20+ goal season on paper, but its important to note he was held to only two goals in the first quarter of the season. He's producing at a much faster rate now and it will be interesting to see where he ends up this season.
Intangibles:
Despite what people may say about his occasional moments of under-performing, he's dealt with immense pressure surrounding him, be it unfair comparisons to Alexei Kovalev, controversy concerning shady Belorussian mobsters, or the drama surrounding his brother early this season. One of his biggest issues had been communications issues with the rest of the team, but since becoming closer talking with Plekanec, his production has ramped up this season. As he becomes more open with the team, we can expect the best out of him. He's also finally discovered exactly what he can do when he puts the puck on the net. Often ignored, while not a heavy hitter by any means, he isn't afraid to take the body at all.
Highlights:
All highlight videos are not my own creation.
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