Whether the Leafs win or lose, if there's one thing I enjoy on a Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada telecast, it's the pre-game montages. To me, the reason the thing, among all else, U.S. telecasts lack in comparison to their Canadian counterparts are the sheer passion for the game. And there is nothing like HNIC montages to reflect that passion; when coupled with the right clips and the perfect song choice, the best montages can blow you away.
And I've picked five, since the lockout, that do just that.
First, off, however, I've selected two that should be worthy of honourable mention: one doesn't make the cut because it's pre-lockout, but is my favourite Leafs playoff clip. Also, not included was a variation of HNIC's post-Cup montage in 2008; the original song was Diana Ross, but someone remade it with the Linkin Park song from Transformers 2; It fits better. But, since it wasn't an original HNIC montage, I felt putting it in the list wouldn't count.
Without, further adue, the list itself:
5) Penguins vs. Capitals, 2009 Eastern Semi-Finals, Game 7
Song: Silversun Pickups, "Lazy Eye".
Why It's awesome: I think the lyrics say it best when they say: "I've been waiting for this moment all my life." Since 2005, the Crosby-Ovechkin showdown has been the biggest side story in the NHL. Four seasons and two rebuilt franchises later, the playoff matchup everyone had one day hoped would happen finally did happen. And, in the end, it all came down to this 7th game. The two most marketable players in the NHL, and it came down to a single elimination game. Find the perfect song choice, as they did here, and you just can't beat that.
4) 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs Tribute
Song: Smashing Pumpkins, "Tonight, Tonight".
Why It's Awesome: From 1995 to 2001, CBC used the same song for all its end-of-year montages. Since then, they've used a number of different songs. Of all the ones I've seen so far, this song choice somehow does the best at matching the mellow, contemplative nature of a review of the playoffs, with a more up-tempo feeling. Plus, well, I was just generally a fan of the Blackhawks' Cup run, and thought the Chicago-Philadelphia series was the best Finals since the lockout. But, that's just my bias; however, the only Final that comes close in my mind is covered in #3 on my list.
3) Oilers vs. Hurricanes, 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7
Song: Nickelback, "Savin' Me".
Why It's Awesome: Despite the use of Nickelback, which will turn many people off to this immediately, HNIC somehow just made this work. Every lyric was perfectly matched with a clip. Even better is the context; the last standing Canadian team, the West's 8th seed, clawing back from a 3-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals to force a Game 7. With this backdrop, it makes the sounds of the crowd mixed in with the Oilers' goal horn during the chorus *that* much better. Also, if the sound of 20,000 Canadian hockey fans (Montreal/Ottawa excepted) chanting "We want the Cup!" doesn't give you chills down your spine, I don't know what to tell you; you're not a real hockey fan.
2) Penguins vs. Red Wings, 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 1
Song: Coldplay, "The Scientist".
Why It's Awesome: For the second year in a row, Detroit and Pittsburgh would be facing off in the Stanley Cup Finals. The start of the series just called for this 'introspective, travel-back-in-time to last year' moment. And they not only picked the right song to do it, but imitated it's meaning and video in just about the best way possible. There's not much more I can say about this video; there isn't much that needs to be said about it.
1) Canadiens vs. Flyers, 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 1
Song: Unknown (but nonetheless amazing).
Why It's Awesome: I think the fact that I dislike/hate both these teams and still selected this #1 tells you enough about it. The fact is there are two reasons that this is amazing: 1) It has the 'movie trailer' feel of intensity and anticipation to it; 2) It reflects a vast wealth of history and heritage in which few sports can compare to hockey. It seems if there's one thing sometimes lacking in hockey, it's looking fondly upon the past. And this historic look shows an intense rivalry between who were then the last two teams standing in the Eastern Conference.
Think of it this way: if you replaced either team with the Leafs, this video would blow your mind. Also, the bits of 'God Bless America' subtly churned into the song was pretty much perfect.
P.S. If you noticed the one common factor in all five of these videos is that Bob Cole's voice makes an appearance somewhere in it, bonus points for you.
(H/T to HockeyWebCaster for providing me with all these video links. In damn good quality, no less.)
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