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