| We remember the ghosts that lived in the Old | | | | the hell got |
| Forum. They | | | | |
| | | | into you? Good job."Even Peetie wondered. |
| had migrated from the previous one into the | | | | "Lucky shot" he murmurs to himself. |
| newer modern | | | | |
| | | | He goes down to tighten his skate. As Peetie |
| version. They were carrying a torch of | | | | looks up he |
| formidability for | | | | |
| | | | sees something flash by. He nudges his |
| posterity. It was a place where legends were | | | | teammate. "Did |
| born and | | | | |
| | | | you see that?" The team mate responds "See |
| majestic teams ruled in the spirit of what | | | | what?" Peetie |
| was the grandeur | | | | |
| | | | could have sworn he saw #7 fly by.The Habs |
| of Rome. Effortlessly, artistically and | | | | are playing uncharacteristically with marvel |
| powerfully they dazzled | | | | and |
| | | | |
| not only their fans and opponents alike but | | | | style. Their skating reminds some in the |
| themselves too.The ghosts made their presence | | | | stands of the old |
| felt one last time in a | | | | |
| | | | Habs. One fan shouts, "Who do you guys think |
| game between the great Montreal Canadiens, | | | | you are? The |
| Les | | | | |
| | | | Second Coming of '56 and '78?" Jean-Paul, at |
| Habitants, Nos Glorieux, and Toronto Maple | | | | that moment, |
| Leafs in what | | | | |
| | | | breaks between two Leaf defensemen and |
| was the last year before they tore down the | | | | scores. They |
| old rink. One | | | | |
| | | | look back haplessly and amazement as they |
| gets the sense that the ghosts were hanging | | | | look at each |
| around on this | | | | |
| | | | other realizing that assigning blame was |
| somber day. It is as if they had no | | | | futile. 4-3 with 4 |
| intentions of moving | | | | |
| | | | minutes to go. Jean-Paul shakes his head at |
| again. They did not like what they foresaw | | | | an image he |
| down the road. | | | | |
| | | | thinks he just saw. "#9? Nah."No one ever |
| Some were fixing the banners of all those | | | | thought that Mario would be the next one to |
| Stanley Cups, | | | | tie |
| | | | |
| others were playing around on the ice | | | | this game up. He did. 4-4. He could have |
| chasing each other, | | | | sworn he saw #2 |
| | | | |
| still others sat back and listened to the | | | | flash before he scored. The energy in the |
| play-by-play of a | | | | Forum is electric. |
| | | | |
| game between the Red Wings and Bruins | | | | If one could read body language, the Leafs |
| broadcast on the | | | | had resigned |
| | | | |
| radio. "Hey, do you think Terry Sawchuk, | | | | themselves to defeat. One player remarked |
| Eddie Shore, and | | | | later "It was as if |
| | | | |
| Dit Clapper are at the Gardens tonight?" | | | | the ghosts came down and played the game."In |
| shouted Bill | | | | the broadcast booth Danny Gallivan the sweet |
| | | | voice of |
| Durnan a standout goalie for the Habs. "Nah" | | | | |
| joked Aurel | | | | Montreal Canadiens radio play-by-play calls |
| | | | the game as he |
| Joliat; "They want to stay here! Same forThe | | | | |
| present Habs were a mere shadow of their | | | | winks to Dick Irvin who somehow was able to |
| former | | | | see him. |
| | | | |
| selves. They were a team that was mismanaged | | | | Behind the bench stands a stoic Toe Blake. |
| and with it | | | | He glances |
| | | | |
| its tradition of excellence. Vision was lost | | | | over the coach and his notes and ensures |
| to designers of | | | | what will work |
| | | | |
| this once majestic franchise. No one is | | | | and what will not. The ghosts have |
| really sure how this | | | | arrived.The game is not won. There are 33 |
| | | | seconds left in this |
| was allowed to happen. Some believe that the | | | | |
| Habs will | | | | critical game. Peetie bolts down the wing |
| | | | taking whacks and |
| rise again one day. After all, the dynasties | | | | |
| of the New York | | | | pushing off opponents and out of the corner |
| | | | of his eye he |
| Yankees and Green Bay Packers were able to | | | | |
| do it. Why | | | | sees all past Montreal Canadien legends |
| | | | around him, he |
| shouldn't Les Canadiens complete the | | | | |
| Triumvirate? Maybe | | | | let's a ferocious slap shot go. He scores! |
| | | | Habs lead 5-4. |
| one day the Boston Celtics will join in. It | | | | |
| will be a return to a | | | | Doug Harvey taps Peetie's knees with his |
| | | | stick. Peetie was |
| Golden Age.On this typically cold night, | | | | |
| Montreal is losing 4-1 heading | | | | too much in the moment and did not realize |
| | | | what had just |
| into the third period to their archrivals | | | | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs. | | | | happened. He felt the tap and figured it was |
| | | | his linemate |
| "Where are these fricken ghosts" one player | | | | |
| on the bench | | | | Mario.The proud Toronto Maple Leafs, |
| | | | however, will not leave |
| asks. Peetie, a strong and effective player | | | | |
| for the Habs, tells | | | | without a fight. One of their fine players |
| | | | fakes the goalie with |
| him there are no ghosts. "Get a grip and | | | | |
| play hard" he | | | | 3 seconds to go...What a save! Habs win! |
| | | | Behind the net, |
| continues. "Just get the puck to J-P."In the | | | | |
| stands, a young fan feels like his life is | | | | one could have sworn Vezina and Plante were |
| coming apart. | | | | chuckling.With the arena emptying out the |
| | | | young boy and his father in |
| "Will the ghosts come through, Dad?" he | | | | |
| asks. "They always | | | | the stands wait a little while longer |
| | | | absorbing the victory. |
| do son." The father unconvincingly tells his | | | | |
| son.Howie Morenz, the Stratford Streak, | | | | "Dad" asks the young boy. "Yes, Steve" the |
| Montreal's first legend, | | | | father replies. |
| | | | |
| overhears the conversation on the bench. He | | | | "Dad, look on the ice." The father looks |
| had spent | | | | down and squints |
| | | | |
| most of the game taping his hockey sticks | | | | lightly. Father and son, together they got a |
| and wasn't much | | | | glimpse of the |
| | | | |
| interested in the game. Suddenly he wasn't | | | | ghosts whom were congratulating each other. |
| so indifferent. | | | | While they |
| | | | |
| He summons the lads for one more round of | | | | sat and watched in utter amazement, one of |
| magic."What do you say boys?" Morenz | | | | the ghosts, in a |
| proposes. Out of the clear, | | | | |
| | | | tuque and a woolen Habs jersey, winks, |
| The Rocket passes by and tells them about | | | | smiles, skates |
| the boy who | | | | |
| | | | away and vanishes.Incredible. Later, as the |
| believed in them. "I'm in" he decides. The | | | | lights were shutting down, the |
| others followed.On his next shift, Peetie | | | | |
| gets off the bench and scores an | | | | ghosts hugged one another and skated off the |
| | | | ice for the |
| incredible goal. 4-2. He came sweeping in | | | | |
| from the left side | | | | last time. They were tired. They swore they |
| | | | would come |
| and lifted a backhand shot with deadly | | | | |
| accuracy into the top | | | | back one day. Maybe #23 could pick up and |
| | | | assemble |
| of the net. Peetie was a hustler not known | | | | |
| for such flair. | | | | together the fragmented pieces fallen to the |
| | | | ground that was |
| Even the French players were impressed. "If | | | | |
| Peetie could | | | | once a symbol of excellence that transcended |
| | | | sports. The |
| score like dis evry game, hostie we'd beat | | | | |
| all de teams all | | | | illustrious 'C' may indeed shine one day |
| | | | like the beacon |
| de time" quipped Jean-Paul with an ear to | | | | |
| ear smile, their | | | | Dante saw when he left the Inferno with |
| | | | Virgil. |
| leading scorer. The coach comes over "What | | | | |