Glengarry Glen Claude….

Imagine, if you will, the Habs are protecting a lead of 2-1, or 2-0. Imagine they are playing a team like say San Jose, Florida, or Buffalo. In fact, don’t imagine, actually look at the last 15 minutes of those recent contests.

What happened?

The Habs lost the lead in all of them. Against San Jose and Buffalo, they lost the lead and then the damn game. Why? Because their opponents roared back with their best efforts in the 3rd period. They were aggressive, they sustained their play, they willed themselves to the win.

They showed killer instinct.

The Habs? I can only think of one recent game, against Anaheim, where the Habs forced themselves into the W column after falling behind. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good games where les boys jump out ahead and are dominant. But when challenged late in the game? When the outcome is in doubt, when its close, the Habs just can’t beat their enemy.

Doesn’t matter if they are down 2-1 or ahead, the Habs aren’t nasty and they ain’t tough.

They DO NOT have killer instinct.

We saw it again tonight against Carolina. After taking a 1-0 lead in the 1st period, they fell behind 2-1 in the 2nd period and came out like zombies in the 3rd period. Can you imagine guys like Claude Lemieux or Bob Gainey or… Mike Keane for heaven’s sake, letting this happen over and over again?

Not on your life. And not on Paul Maurice’s or Eric Cole’s either, apparently. You can tell Carolina’s been to the playoffs. They know what it takes to win at this point in the season. Not just fights and body checks. Team toughness. Aggression.

Or like David Mamet wrote: BRASS BALLS.

I don’t now if it’s injuries, lack of size, or defensive-crouch coaching. But if the Habs want to make the playoffs, and actually be a factor in them, well, they should trade in their Maxim Lapierre tin heart for some of that Alec Baldwin rage in Glengarry Glen Ross.