Habs 4, Ducks 1: Koivu

This is all we need here.

A fitting tribute by the fans, and a kind gesture by Boudreau to put him out on the ice for the final shift (where he lined up by the new number 11, Gallagher). Chants of "SAKU! SAKU! SAKU!" echoed around the rink. L'Antichambre we gracious enough to put their bias aside and nominate him the third star of the game so the fans could properly send him off with another ovation and a solo skate.

As for the rest of the game, total team effort.

- Everything  they did wrong against the Oilers they did right tonight.
- Early 2-0 lead made us all dubious regardless.
- Plekanec was a beast all game.
- Corey Perry had his usual shit fit and attempted to take out PK.
- Gionta takes a high stick to the face and no one argued it was because he was short. An actual 5-on-3! Proceeded to take 4 swings at the net. Fourth one was a goal.
- Can you believe Chris Lee called a better game than the shitshow we saw for the two previous games?
- The only real blemish was the terrible attempt by Diaz on a 2-on-1. Markov and PK need to help him with that... He's just really bad at it.
- When was the last time a Maroon scored on the Habs? In the 1930s?
- Bourque accepting a stretch pass by PK for what seems like the 3rd game in a row now.
- But it was his backhand that finally worked.
- I find Hiller really not as good as he used to be...
- Things must be good when they're winning 4-1 like they were before.
- Still gave up over 30 shots though.
- Bouncy shots too.
- SAKU! SAKU! SAKU!

Seriously. All the feels.

Habs 3, Ducks 4 (SO): So long Saku

On the opening faceoff, Scott Gomez asked Saku Koivu if he wanted to win it. Unfortunately Koivu didn't hear him and Gomez won it.

It was tough for him, and understandingly so considering the emotional attachment between Koivu and the Habs and Montreal in general. He started his NHL career here and wished they could have won it all. He started a family here. He battled the beast called cancer, returned strong, and one game against Carolina nearly ended his career here. He got crapped on by insignificantly loud insects in the French media and some tool named Jack Todd. In all the emotion, he took 3 penalties of which Pacioretty tied the game twice on. The game was weird. Emotionally the Habs seemed trapped in neutral for most of the game, victimized by terrible decisions by the officials, but eventually realized that the points are important. The team he faced was vastly different from the one he last lead. Only Price, Hamr, Pleky, Kostitsyn, Weber and Pacioretty (though usually during an injury spell) actually played regular season games under his charge. Many of the rookies were by his side in training camps only.

The much anticipated return aside, it was still a regular season game. You never really like seeing your team coast to a loss but the Habs made a game of it in the 3rd rallying with 23 shots and earning the important OT point a mere 24 hours after lambasting the Sens. In fact, Plekanec had the game on his stick when his shot in OT missed the net by a hair. And it wasn't the best shootout I've seen either. Jacques Martin sent out a questionable trio in the attempt, while Randy Carlyle AGAIN failed to send out Saku Koivu. So it was Bobby Ryan who scored the only goal in the skills competition and stole the first star we all tried to give to Saku. Still, he came out to give us one last farewell and graciously saluted his former home.

Saku, our Saku. We thank you for everything. The two points to your former team would have been lovely though ;)

Put this in your notebook, Jacques:
- Shocking but Martin actually called the ref over and gave him a stern talking to when PK was victimized on one of many bad calls after his stick was being held by Bobby Ryan and slingshot into McMillan's face. This right after McMillan ran Price.
- Hamr and Spacek have been on the penalty kill pretty much every time the other team scores on it. I think I've said this before...
- Pacioretty should bruise more ribs.
- I giggled when Desharnais "checked" Parros. He was about the height of his leg.
- Telegraph those shots any more and the Habs will need a secretary.

To my brave little captain

I didn't want to write anything until I knew for sure where he was going. And while I'll be more serious here than I was with Kovy's farewell, I find I'm at a loss for words. How can one describe the departure of the only captain I can truly put a face to? Yes I was around through Carbo (and Chelibot), Muller, Keane, Turgeon, Damphousse, hell I was around when Gainey was captain. And while each man were definitely something special, I think Saku Koivu was a little more.

Nothing but class and a huge part of our city. While fans rant and rave, he dutifully held his head high and expressed his appreciation for all he accomplished in our city, with our team, and how it shaped him into the very man, husband, and father that he is. I wish to return this in true Koivu form and thank the little big man from the bottom of my heart and I wish him nothing but good health and success as he tears the NHL a new one with his best friend Selanne over in Anaheim. I thank him for bringing us our first PET scanner. I thank him for all the wonderful work he has done with the children. I thank him for putting me on the edge of my seat every game and for making me jump in the air when he potted the winner in many an overtime or shootout. I thank him for the courage and inspiration he has shown, and for calming a rampaging Sergei Kostitsyn after witnessing his brother being brained onto the glass with no consequence on the player at fault. And after finally obtaining Kovy and Tanguay on his wings and finally playing on a proper line, I thank him for giving us that glimmer of hope after a season that was only half-fun to watch. It's too bad the line wasn't allowed to be together any longer than it was, what with the injuries and all. But as he moves on to greater pastures, and looks back on all the records he crushed and chased, as a fan and admirer of the great little captain I can say this: A great man and a great player passed here.

You will be missed, Saku Koivu. Long may you run.