MONTREAL — I consider myself a loyal person, but rarely do I have any compunction about adopting the home team for a night in a new city. Even if that team used to employ Patrick Roy. When I fulfilled a long-idle hockey dream on Saturday by going to see Leafs-Habs, in Montreal, in an unfamiliarly close seat, I went full method actress. As a result, I got to experience firsthand just how frustrating it is to root for this particular version of the Canadiens, who have a past to reminisce on and a potentially bright future to anticipate, but no present to speak of.
I was undercover. I’m pretty this was the first time I’ve ever worn my too-big, possibly bootleg 1987 Canada Cup Mario Lemieux jersey outside in public (the nameplate says “MLEMIEUX” on the back, with no space). It wasn’t a Guy Lafleur sweater, exactly, but it did the did the trick, honoring one of the greatest amateur players in Quebec’s history. Some knowledge I’ve gleaned from my time spent loving the Red Wings is this: a long jersey rouge, leggings noir, and knee-high boots marron work pretty much anywhere, except maybe Toronto. I think a guy gave me a detailed compliment on it as I was heading to the arena, but all I’m able to repeat is what I said in return: “Oh! Merci!”
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