Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
The Ontario Hockey League is staging another draft today, this time it’s the Under 18 Priority Selection.
And not to downgrade the activity, can there be any doubt the biggest story in hockey is the remarkable ascent of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL Playoffs ?
Oh sure, I figured Montreal was toast going to Game 5 at Toronto in the opening round and yet here they are awaiting the winner of Colorado-Vegas for a Final 4 opponent.
As a result, I’ve had to change my viewpoint and now am fully convinced Montreal will win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.
I believe this because no hockey team in history has ever been able to take advantage of the swerves like Montreal.
For example, that last Montreal Stanley Cup in 93 was furnished by the Kerry Fraser non-call in the Leafs-LA semifinal. Everyone knows the Leafs would have won the Cup that year.
In 1986, had Edmonton’s Steve Smith not banked one into his own net against Calgary, I’m certain the Oilers, and not the Canadiens, would have won the Cup that year.
Then there’s the Montreal Cup winners of the late 70’s. If the Leafs in ’78 and the Rangers in ’79 hadn’t scored massive upset victories over the Islanders, no way would the Habs have won the Championship.
And now here we are in a condensed season with the Canadiens sitting in the catbird seat while the other survivors have been bashing their brains out head to head in an ongoing battle of attrition.
It’s my opinion that Montreal’s last legitimate Stanley Cup was in 1977 and now 44 years later, the stars are aligned and the Habs should score another curious Cup championship.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace.