Halak's bliss

Snowstorm in Quebec's metropolis. Washington Capitals have been beaten here yesterday night. Sky rejoicing and laughing in the blizzard. The best team during the regular season in the National Hockey League can not find a way to beat those Montreal Canadians hanging hard on defense and being opportunistic with their few chances.

Although this was the result of an intense collective work, the main reason for this great achievement is named Iaroslav Halak, the prodigious goal tender who, by 53 saves, resisting all night long the storm the talented offensive team had put up against him, thus saving the day. The series is tied 3-3 and decision is coming tomorrow night, at Washington, with the seven and last match.

I think I will not attend my planned chess game tomorrow, for this game is more important to me. I want to see that with my close friends.

Can the marvelous goaler repeat this exceptional performance? We can not be sure of that. And we can count on Washington's Capitals to try something new to adjust and prevail with finesses and huge creative talents by some great individual players.

But in collective play, my team was way more cohesive. Puck control, fast skating, precise passing made the grade. Why not again tomorrow? We will see.

They (the enemy) will try to derange our pearl of a goaler, they will charge the net , trying to shake confidence, and referees will have important word to say on how this can be tolerated or not.

Powerplay goals can decide the fate in either side. Our powerplay is better than theirs, so they have to think twice before taking stupid penalties.

Now, this bliss. A goaltender when preparing to a very special game, he knew an almost impossible challenge, has to concentrate and visualize virtually all possible outcome. He prepares to react properly, according to global team game plan. They discussed the main strategy and how the goaler will do generally, the defense and defensive efforts from forward have to adjust and stick to game plan, no matter what happens out there. Plan "b" and even, sometimes, plan "c" are prepared to cope with less desirable turn of events. Success rely on mental team toughness.

But the goaler is a solitary person. He is the last rampart against defeat. He must settle into himself an immutable cell of certitude, ultimate confidence that he can perform to the best. More than mental toughness, he needs to meditate in order to attain zen-like state, when inner void can get rid of all worldly agitation, forcing virtually all events to fit in imposed set of mind : victory.

Halak began to build this bubble of confidence last game when he stopped almost everything they fired at him. And Canadians won the fifth game by the narrowest margin of 2 to 1. Yesterday, Halak had the chance to see his team mates to score three times before he finally had to give one goal, last in third period. Then they hold hard to defense and the final outcome, 4 to 1, with a final goal in empty net, permit every hopes. Because this team can play still better, and Halak can repeat exceptional performance. In this state of mind, he can become almost invincible.

During the game he was able to maintain complete and continuous awareness, with precise sensing in the present situation and more, accurate anticipation of what the other team can do, what this player is just about to execute, in trying to fool him. This complete focus to the game, coolness in attitude, uttermost precision in every gesture, catching the puck as mature fruit even from the hardest shot, big pads moving so swiftly, all this inspired greatly every player in the defending team, back to the wall, facing elimination with admirable courage.

Washington Capitals don't know what to do differently to win. They will try still harder to do what they always do : score a lot of goals, play most of the time in attacking, indeed the best defense, when you can afford this style. And sure they can, with all those individual all stars players. Now, at the ultimate turn, last decisive game, they can not change their style. They may try to do some odd things. Their first goal will be to shake this confidence in Halak's mind. To put him out of this invincible mental state. If officials do their job right, they will earn costly penalties in trying to charge the net and interfere with goalie. But I have seen often officials not doing their job right. This is my main question mark as a supporter of my team.