I went to the Bell Centre and a hockey game broke out

Last night I went to the Bell Centre. For...hockey? I think it was hockey. I mean there's no other reason for Terry Koharski to referee with his eyes closed. Unless he really does enjoy walking around with a blindfold on.

Firstly, memo to fans. The Baton Rouge next to the Bell Centre? While the food is delicious, it's really expensive and the menu is completely different from the usual Baton Rouge. OK mostly I'm still annoyed the Scores on St-Catherine's disappeared!

Anyway, the hockey game. Yup. A bunch of fresh-from-Junior kids vs the Calder champions went how I thought it would. But I can't say the Lightning kids weren't anything special. Mostly just a good system, good practice on that system, and better on-ice organization. I can say that if the Bulldogs could snipe the way Quailer did for his first goal of the season, they'd have made it a game. Dustin Tokarski literally sits on his knees the minute the puck is over his blue line. And when you're not Jason Missiaen size, that's not a good idea for a goalie...

Praise be Robert Mayer and his scrambly scramble. He kept the Dogs in the game until I think he just got tired and overwhelmed. The best players not in pads for the Dogs would be Quailer and Gallagher. Those guys can FLY. But with Blake Geoffrion sent to hospital before the first period I don't think there was much else the team could do. Especially when already down one Louis Leblanc.

The other highlight of the night was Jarred Tinordi pummeling some guy who decided to pick on the most unassuming player in the world in Michael Bournival. Tinordi is a beaaaaaaast.

Habs 1, Whalercanes 2 (SO): Staal-ed

Everyone wants to tank. But really, I HATE ERIC STAAL. And I hate it that he scored the only goal in the shootout after Jokinen missed on his usual move, and after Cole hit the post.

ANNOYING. Go find some eyebrows, Staal.

Anyway, no matter where they end up in the draft I don't see Galchenyuk going 1st or 2nd so there's a pretty good chance Habs will be able to get him. He's a big center. He looked good after coming back from his injury. I like him because he has that Erik Cole net drive. And we can always use more Erik Coles.

Hey Blake "BamBam" Geoffrion scored on a wicked wraparound. And Gabriel Dumont knocked a guy into the Pierre McGuire Area. Actually his line (with Staubitz and Palushaj) were pretty wonderful. They could have had at least 3 goals if they had more ability to do so. But anyway, I love Dumont. Maybe next season he can stay and Bourque can go to Hamilton...

Toaster is stuck. But comfy.

Habs 4, Canucks 1: The best kind of victory

Oh stunned Vancouver fans. You're so stunningly fun to look at. And when the Green Men mock your team with terrible research, well, it makes victory so much sweeter.

Apparently Gomez is the captain of the Habs?

Habs played their hearts out. For the first time in a long time it really looked like they were trying very hard to give Price a well deserved win, especially in his "hometown". And they did even better than the one last season too. They looked like they were having so much fun, and it was refreshing to see. Even at the end, Weber was jostling with Burrows in front of the net and Burrows gave Weber a hard slash. Price simply walked over and tossed Burrows away earning a meaningless roughing penalty after the game ended which was hilarious. The victory hugs after all that was fantastic with Weber being the first to give his goalie a big happy hug. So many smiles, so much happiness...

However the happiness started hours before the game even starter! Why? MARKOV CAME BACK! I even cancelled all plans to see John Carter of Mars (will see it Wednesday instead) just so I wouldn't miss this game! Oh of all the games to return to play in he boldly chose the Canucks. Was is to show us he can take the physical challenge, the speed? Sure his rust showed twice, but that was expected. I noticed ONE play though. Markov went to the corner to retrieve the puck with a guy coming at him. And in classic Markovian fashion, he ducked around to avoid any collision. Naturally the real "homecoming" was his assist on PK's 5-on-3 goal after the Canucks threw the puck out of the rink twice. That was probably the happiest goal celebration I have seen from Markov ever. And he's had his fair share of happy celebrations... You have to feel for the guy, how not being able to play was just eating away at him all this time. Wonder if Brian Wilde had a lovely breakfast of hot crow this morning...

Vancouver Habs fans were LOUD and oléing
- Inconsistent reffing or were they just not sure if the Canucks were diving? The Canucks did fling themselves around dramatically. But not calling maddening things like Eller skating up the ice with a stick up his ass, or Patches getting held up on a partial breakaway... Only consistency officiating has is inconsistency. Had no choice but to call the puck out of the rink ones though.
- Louis LeBoardBattle set up Blake Geoffrion for his first goal with the Habs. Blake can now officially trash talk his dad, who never scored for the Habs.
- Erik Cole. Have I mentioned how much I love you? Got Luuuuuuuuuuu on his weak side which is pretty much every side.
- Price and his new mask: played like his hair was on fire, which is probably what the mask is all about.
- Sorry folks but Gomez is playing well and makes this team better right now.
- White and Eller: my brother was correct. They make an awesome pair.
- Staubitz smacked Kassian around. Another day at the office.
- After the game, mediot to Markov: "How's your knee?" Markov answers dryly "Still there" and grins. LOVE IT!
- WHY is there daylight savings?!
- I think the Green Men need to fix their signs.

Oh of course it was the Canucks playing like crap. And CBC lamented the fact the game was far more exciting than it should have been. Guess they were expecting an easy shellacking similar to when the Canucks destroyed the Leafs...

Toaster's first Habs game: Slept through the whole thing. Took a pee during 2nd intermission. Win!