The REAL Christmas road trip

I think the real road trip that will give us an indication about where
the team is headed this year is the one that starts tonight. The
Christmas trip this year was really two trips of three games, split up
with a stint at home for practices and the holidays. There was so
much hype about the miserable holiday trips in the past that they
buckled down and fought the traditional malaise to pull out a
respectable 8 of 12 points. However, THIS trip is four games over a
fairly long eight or nine days away from home. Boston should be a
gimme, but if Thomas is hot it could be a challenge. Then, the Rags
and Isles who always play the Habs tough, and Atlanta who's beaten
them in shootouts twice already. On paper, the Habs *should* win
three of four, with a good chance to compete in the fourth as well.
Eight points are in reach. If the team comes out on this trip, plays
every period hard and gives itself a chance to win every game, I'd
expect at least six points of eight. And if that happens, I'll rest a
lot easier about this being a playoff team with a chance of home ice
advantage. On the other hand, if they come out soft and blow a couple
of these games out of laziness, I'll fear a repeat of last year. This
week will tell us something about this team.

J.T.

Boston a gimmee!! I don't think so. They're only 4 points behind us with
games in hand and, if anything, they're due for a good game against us. I
for one am quite nervous about tonights tilt.

"J.T." <HuetSaves.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:5e19be3c-5221-4775-89b5-b0ab616dae16@l6g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
>I think the real road trip that will give us an indication about where
> the team is headed this year is the one that starts tonight. The
> Christmas trip this year was really two trips of three games, split up
> with a stint at home for practices and the holidays. There was so
> much hype about the miserable holiday trips in the past that they
> buckled down and fought the traditional malaise to pull out a
> respectable 8 of 12 points. However, THIS trip is four games over a
> fairly long eight or nine days away from home. Boston should be a
> gimme, but if Thomas is hot it could be a challenge. Then, the Rags
> and Isles who always play the Habs tough, and Atlanta who's beaten
> them in shootouts twice already. On paper, the Habs *should* win
> three of four, with a good chance to compete in the fourth as well.
> Eight points are in reach. If the team comes out on this trip, plays
> every period hard and gives itself a chance to win every game, I'd
> expect at least six points of eight. And if that happens, I'll rest a
> lot easier about this being a playoff team with a chance of home ice
> advantage. On the other hand, if they come out soft and blow a couple
> of these games out of laziness, I'll fear a repeat of last year. This
> week will tell us something about this team.
>
> J.T.