It wasn't because the Canadiens were ahead in this game, or because Carey Price seemed to be on top of things, it was because I felt I finally had a new favorite player on the team.

I know this feeling and remember it well because I start to feel excitement at every shift. It's like, "Oh good, he's on the ice!", or even, "I think he's coming on next, what's gonna happen now?"

I enjoy that feeling tremendously and I've felt it building for a few games now. The good news about that is that it is making me feel like the fan I want to feel like again.

The player, my new fave, is Tomas Plekanec.

I know what some of you will be thinking. Last year I was a little rough on him. Then again, he was rough on himself. Nodoby's kidding anyone when saying his off year was really a downer.

Now, I'm starting to realize that maybe I was simply critiquing Plekanec as much as I was bemoaning the fact that he'd become a shadow of himself.

It hurt to watch him go at times last season, and his wounds (if he had any) could almost be felt by his fans as he sunk.

Coming into this season, Bob Gainey awarded him a hefty contract increase at a time when many felt he might even be expendable. There was serious concern that he might not rebound from that woeful campaign.

It did not take long this season to erase those concerns. Plekanec has been more than his old self, dutifully going about reinstating all that he has been as a player through his Canadiens career, but he actually seems to have taken on more responsability. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why I see this, but he seems to me to be a player that plays for his teammates.

Against Phoenix last night, he was simply awesome. He did it all, setting up three goals with great passes and inspriring his troops to victory. The manner in which he found the open mates at precisely the right moment was not instinct nor luck - he was simply tuned in.

It was beautiful to watch in fact.

How good has Plekanec been?

He leads team in assists despite not having regular line mates. When it is mentioned that the team lacks secondary scoring, it's hardly Pleks' fault, he's set just about everyone thus far. Despite inconsistent linemates, he's been the team's most consistent element.

From everyone bemoaning his play last season, as well as his new contract, to today, great leaps have been made by the player. He knew he had a bad season and has gone about seeing that it does not reoccur.

In his "About Last Night..." column, Mike Boone rightfully pointed out what needs to be done in regards to Plekanec. Boone was succinct:　

Far be it from me to tell Bob Gainey how to do his job.But I swear to God, if the Canadiens general manager lets Tomas Plekanec go the way of Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit, I'm becoming a curling blogger.

Has Pleks, with a succession of linemates, played a bad shift since the season began?

Not that I can remember.

Three assists last night – and 200 points in his career. Excellent on the power play and shorthanded.....I know: Team policy is no negotiating during the season. That policy was fine when there was no free agency, Bob. There were no player agents (any Tweets about Carey Price tonight, Walsh?), and the Canadiens' had Flying Frenchmen who flew for $25,000 a season....Sign him, Bob. Three to five years, for decent bread. Maybe the fiddles and pedal steels, twanging dobros and heartbreaking ballads (of Nashville) ....will persuade Bob not to take any chances on losing a guy who no longer plays like a girl.