Agony of defeat gives way to thrill of playoffs

[Habsfan84]

Fifty weeks ago, Christopher Higgins stood in a dressing room in Toronto's Air Canada Centre, eyes swollen as he tried to grasp the idea that he'd not be lacing up his skates the following day, or for many days to come.
On Monday night, Higgins again looked a little pounded by emotion at his Bell Centre stall, but this time absorbing the concept that his team will be playing hockey deep into April, if not beyond.
The Habs had fallen 6-5 to the Toronto Maple Leafs last April 7 in the club's 82nd and final game of 2006-07, a loss that eliminated them from playoff contention.
It had been a remarkable season, a revelation of depth, promising young talent and career years. But it also had been one that skidded badly after an excellent start, spiralling into failed games, infighting and influenza before a spirited stretch-run rally fell short by one period and a single goal.
"Automatically, it's a disappointing and embarrassing season if you don't make it to the playoffs," Higgins finally managed that night.
"It's tough when you start out so well and you play so badly in the second half, then you realize you're only one game away and still lose the last game. ... I just can't believe we're not playing hockey until September."
Higgins had scored twice against the Leafs, giving him 22 in a season punctuated by 21 games on the sidelines. He had endured a badly shredded ankle, a gastro bug and a team-advertised upper-body injury which, in fact, was a broken clavicle he'd play with for the season's final 17 games.
"We were right there to the last game," said Higgins, who underwent arthroscopic surgery last June to repair collateral shoulder damage. "Most of the experts didn't have us in the playoffs, but we felt we should be. We felt we were good enough."
Nor did any of these same experts predict the Canadiens of 2007-08 would this week be leading the Eastern Conference, the first team in the East to earn a berth in the playoffs.
"Everyone has a chance to win (now)," Higgins said Monday, his voice a blend of relief for what's been accomplished and enthusiasm for what lays ahead. "We've claimed our berth and we have an opportunity to do something special.
"There are a lot of guys here from last year who realized the way we played last year wasn't the way to get us into the playoffs.
"Consistency this year has been a huge advantage for us. And staying healthy. A bunch of our key players have stayed healthy the whole year, knock on wood."
Higgins has played all 77 games, though he'll be the first to admit he's missed more than his share of chances with the puck at or near his stick.
Yet he heads into the Habs' final five scheduled games with 23 goals and 25 assists, equalling his career-high goal output of two seasons ago and with a lifetime best in points by nine. His plus-2 ranking also is a career high.
Higgins's last four goals, including one scored against the Senators on Monday, have come from within 10 feet of the net. A dozen this year have been from 14 feet or less, another four from inside 20.

He had been held goalless for nine games when head coach Guy Carbonneau gave him a DVD of his goals as a reminder that he does his best work from in close. That was 10 days ago. Higgins has scored twice - both nine-footers - in the four games since and been within a whisker of another few.
"This year it seems it's always been around the net for me, so I might as well go back there," he said of Monday's extra-effort, first-period goal. "Why not go with what works?"
The Canadiens head to Buffalo, Toronto and Ottawa before returning home to finish up the regular season against the Sabres on April 3 and the Maple Leafs two night later.
Against Toronto, the Canadiens will not be fighting for a life in the playoffs, but for their postseason seeding while fine-tuning their game.
"It's something you strive for every year - to finish first with home-ice (advantage)," Higgins said. "Whether or not that was a reality at the beginning of the year, we won't let you guys know that. But we're definitely happy with the way we played throughout this whole year."
In Toronto last April, the Canadiens could only consider what might have been. Now, they're pondering what could be.
Twelve months later, this team is enjoying an X-rated year, that X in the standings denoting "clinched playoff spot."
Twelve months later, Higgins is returning to the only season that matters, six games of playoff experience beneath his belt.
"It was painful last year to realize that we had nothing to play for," he said. "Now, we have the opportunity to play for the Stanley Cup, and there's nothing better than that.
"I can't wait," he said, laughing. "I can't wait."