MONTREAL -- The soft thud hit 1250 de la Gauchetiere W. in Canada's second largest city just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Unmistakably, it was the return to reality of the Montreal Canadiens' fanatical following.
Oh, the 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre did not kill the spirit of those who proudly bleed bleu, blanc et rouge. But after the Habs pulled off a miraculous upset of the Stanley Cup-favourite Capitals in Round 1 -- then stole home-ice advantage from the defending champions in the second game of Round 2 with an eerily similar performance to that which buried Washington -- it at least tempered their enthusiasm.
Suddenly, a cloud of uncertainty hovered over plans for their first Ste-Catherine St. Stanley Cup parade since 1993.
"They need to shoot more," says Emily Rill, a 19 (or so)- year-old cutie who is wearing a white Habs shirt, a red Habs toque and has "Go Habs" painted on her right cheek.
Where else do they have to get better? Sounds like you might be one of them experts.
"Actually, I'm not," Emily continues, giggling. "But I really think they should pass more and shoot more ... I don't know, maybe communication. I'm not really sure. Whatever it is, they need to change it because we need to win more."
Are you still confident they can bump off the Penguins?
"Hopefully," she hedges.
"Positively," she insists.
"I don't want to bet money on it," she wavers.
Clearly. Today's Habs fans can whoop it up good, all right. They can guzzle beer and scream and shout and throw rally parties better than the best of them.
But they've also lost a lot of their swagger. Long gone, understandably, is the absolute faith in a franchise that has won 24 Cups. Having trust in the Canadiens is so yesteryear.
"It's a new generation, eh?" says Andre Savard, an NHL centre for 12 seasons whose post-playing career has included a stint (2000-03) as the Habs GM. "They don't remember the '50s, '60s or '70s. They don't know."
Maybe that explains why Habs fans have also been known to get carried away with only modest playoff success. Whereas the streets of Montreal were dead shortly after the Game 3 loss, bar owners were prepared for a heavy flow of customers had the result been different, even though it was a Tuesday night.
The craziness wasn't expected to reach the lows of celebration that accompanied the seven-game, opening-round series victory over Boston two springs ago. The rioting after that win included the looting of a Ste-Catherine St. Reebok store that carries plenty of Habs jerseys and souvenirs.
City on fire
"We had bartenders putting out police cars with our extinguishers," remembers Rod Appleby, the manager of Hurley's Irish Pub on Crescent St. "When that's happening, you know the city is on fire (for the Canadiens)."
Appleby calls the series win over Washington -- the first time a No. 8 seed has come back from a 3-1 series deficit against a No. 1 seed -- one of the great triumphs in the team's history.
"I hugged people I didn't even know," he says.
And he was not at all disillusioned by the loss that put his team down 2-1 in a best-of-seven with Sidney Crosby's Penguins.
"Montreal played well, we're in this series," says Appleby. "Sunday's (3-1 win in Pittsburgh) was not a fluke. I don't think anyone left the building too disappointed. They came out pumped. I think the crowd really pumped them up. It was soooo loud.
"We kept the shots down ... limiting the Penguins to three in the first period. The possibilities are there."
The ultimate for the faithful, of course, would be a return to the glory years. When the Habs took regular gulps from the coveted mug.
"I remember years ago when they asked Mayor (Jean) Drapeau where the Stanley Cup parade would be, and his answer was, 'the usual route,' " says Appleby. "That was great. The usual route. If we win it this year, I hope (current) Mayor (Gerald) Tremblay says the parade will be held on the usual route."
Ah yes, the dream still lives in some. Not only would a Habs' Cup victory in 2010 mark the greatest run in the franchise's storied history, but it would also have to be considered the most impressive post-season surge the NHL has seen, considering they barely squeaked into the playoffs and the mountains that stand in their way of a 25th championship this spring.
"I'd like to see the Cup come back to Canada," says Bruno Bonazza, a visitor from Toronto who was unable to score tickets to Game 3. "It didn't go (the Habs') way this time, but they'll come back (Thursday)."
And for that to happen?
"(Jaroslav) Halak has got to stand on his head again," says Bruno's buddy, Ian Quinn.
If he does and Montreal evens this series, you can be sure of a loud explosion at 1250 de la Gauchetiere W.
It would be the sound of the Habs bandwagon firing back up on all cylinders.
don.brennan@sunmedia.ca
