Hi everyone! This week, we bring you a new article from January 1978 which describes a game in which the Barons mounted a failed comeback against the Montreal Canadiens. The fact the Barons even scored was enough of an accomplishment as the team never really had much success against Montreal. The Barons had gone on a pretty successful 4-1 stretch in early January to vault them back into playoff contention, and what was surprising about this was that they actually played four games in four nights. Then Pittsburgh came along on night number four to bring the Barons back to earth. The Barons then got three days off before Montreal came to Ohio. Maybe the Barons were a little loopy from all the games in a row, or perhaps from the three-day layoff, but Montreal came storming out to an insurmountable lead before the Barons made their comeback. Despite a few clunkers in January and early February, the Barons went 8-6-1 at one point and stayed within striking distance of the last “wild-card” spot. Yes, the 1977-78 season was one of the few back then which featured wild-card teams in the playoffs. Anyone who finished first or second was automatically accepted into the playoffs, while the other four playoff spots went to the next best third-and-fourth place teams. It was a good idea in that it allowed strong teams buried in the basement of a tough division to qualify for the playoffs. This short-lived playoff format provided a little excitement for Cleveland fans in what would prove to be the Barons’ last season in the NHL.

Also new to the site this week is a classic Joe Nieuwendyk card from the 1991-92 Topps Stadium Club. Sometimes, even the best of us has trouble tying our skates, but most of the time, when that happens, we don’t have a professional photographer capturing the moment for generations of hockey fans to enjoy in the comfort of their own home. Unless you count all those moments when strangers find us in the middle of awkward situations and start snapping away on their cell phones, in which case, you probably know exactly how Joe Nieuwendyk feels about this card. Or maybe not, since he’s currently sitting on a lifetime of hockey earnings and probably couldn’t care less about a card everyone’s has forgotten about. Everyone except me, that is, and you too very shortly.

For any of you who are going to be in the Ottawa area this Sunday, October 14, I will be at the Capital Trade Show, which is basically a sports card, memorabilia, and comic book show. I will be there from 10am to 3pm selling and signing copies of my book. The event will be taking place at Walkley Arena in the Jim Durrell Complex (1265 Walkley Road).

Until next time, stay gold!