AT LAST, THE SEASON BEGINS!

It seems like an eternity since the hockey season ended but today the 2010/11 season begins. For the hockey fanatic it's the day we've marked on our calendar and made sure that there are no other commitments (family, dog, friends, work ) to impede our watching the first regular season game.

This year I purposely avoided reading any season predictions by the great hockey know-it -alls and that also included not watching the pre-season hockey shows on the Toronto Sports Network and Toronto Sportsnet channels as well as the doom and gloom from the Montreal media. The truth is these people may have hockey  knowledge, insights and availability to teams and players that the average fan doesn't but when it comes right down to it, their predictions are guesses just like the rest of us. On the first game of the season every team starts off the same, with another opportunity to forge their own destiny. 

In all sports there are too many unknown factors that can change the outcome of a game, a team and season.  The best team on paper doesn't always win and sometimes the worst team doesn't lose. Injuries also play a key factor in a teams success, so pouring over statistics may be an interesting exercise but statistics don't tell the whole story of everything that happens on the ice and off the ice.  It's not statistics that will be lacing up their skates today, it's hockey players. The only thing you can really predict about the 2010/11 season is that it will be unpredictable.

There will be 82 games played and the Habs will win some and lose some. As fans we hope that they will be on the winning side more than not.  It would be great to not squeak into the playoffs but to actually have a spot before the last game of the regular season.

And why is that the Habs always play the Toronto  bozos in their first and last games of the season? Thanks Bettman and Company. It's not that I  believe that Montreal can't beat the Leafs but this match up scares the hell out me, mainly  because the Habs always seem to have bad luck of injuries when they play them.  Just think about Andrei Markov (and thankfully he won't be in the line up ) and the freak injuries he's sustained against Burke's Bullies.  It might not be a bad thing that   Mike Cammalleri will be out serving his one game suspension. We don't need him or Plekanec and Gionta getting a leg slash or knee injury.   I shudder to think about. it.  You know that Komistupid will be flying around the ice like the tasmanian devil hitting everyone in sight to show what a loss he is to the Habs. (Not!) Let's hope that tomorrow we're not bemoaning that Ryan White or Alex Henry was sent to the Bulldogs.

Maybe tonight  will reveal the reawakening of AK46 and Bennie P? Perhaps with his pain-in the ass brother playing in Nashville (and I'm assuming it's with the Predators but with Sergei it might be the Grand Ole Opry)Andrei Kostitsyn will show more consistently the skill, skill and more skill that he possesses. No one really knows what causes him to go into that fog of invisibility each year. When he's in the zone, he's a joy to watch and a force to be reckoned with. As for Benoit Pouliot here's another player with a big body and plenty of talent but inconsistency continues to plague him. It began in Minnesota and carried over with the Canadiens. Here's hoping this season will truly show why he was touted as a top prospect in the league when he was drafted.

There are questions, questions, and more questions and some may not be answered, well at least not tonight.
Will Carey Price or Alex Auld be in net tonight and when will Price  prove to be the worthy franchise goaltender and the fans and media will cut him a little slack as the Halak chant fades? Will Ryan O'Byrne stay out of Martin's doghouse?  Will Scott Gomez ever get  forgiveness and absolution for his large salary?

Will Jacques Martin  be seen smiling or yelling or breathing behind the bench? Will anyone on the CBC be able to say the Habs win without gagging?

Despite all the questions around our beloved team, it's time to get excited. The season begins at last!  Hockey is back!   Can't wait to see the guys in bleu, blanc, rouge.

GO HABS, GO!