by Erica, Staff Writer and Fundraising Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine

MONTREAL, QC. — We recently received a promo package in the mail, from the Montreal Casino – a care package to help us deal with our playoff fever. It’s all part of their “We’re Betting On the Habs” promotion. The good folks at the Montreal Casino have entended an invitation to Habs fans to join Canadiens legend Yvon Lambert to watch playoff hockey.

Now, real sports fans know that playoff fever definitely exists and is a serious affliction that requires treatment. Now, the best treatment for playoff fever is obvious: more hockey. But this care package, presented as a first aid kit, definitely helped. Here’s what I found in the Playoff Fever First Aid Kit I was sent:

A first aid kit bag. Because, from the outside, everyone must know how qualified I am to treat this disease.
A “prescription” for the best possible treatments for playoff fever, telling us all about the Casino’s sports bars and playoff entertainment. No mention of whether I can still find my favourite casino game, with the tiny plastic horses racing around a covered track.
A packet of throat lozenges, sure to come in handy when I get hoarse from cheering too loud. I learned the hard way during the 2011 playoffs that booing the opposing team causes less vocal strain than cheering the Habs, so if you finish all of these lozenges, keep that in mind.
Lip balm, to help soothe the dry mouth that comes with a sore throat and a sodium-only playoff diet. Also because I’m bound to lose something while rifling through my pockets and purse looking for cash to tip a bartender, and the thing I lose will most likely be lip balm.
A hot water bottle, to help treat a very real playoff fever. I don’t think that I should be trusted around containers of hot liquid during such a tense time of year.
A thermometer. For obvious reasons. Yes, I do plan on tricking out this thermometer with bleu-blanc-rouge glitter, thank you for asking.
A puck autographed by Yvon Lambert, who will be taking part in festivities at the Casino. As a fan of both the Montreal Canadiens and classic mustaches, I wholeheartedly approve.

Here’s what I plan on adding to this Playoff Fever First Aid Kit:

Face paint, to get my game face on. And to help the uninitiated get into playoff mode.
A mini bottle of whisky. You know, for emergencies. Like overtime. (For adults only, obviously.)
A Tide to Go pen, because I’m quite sure that at some point I’ll drop ketchup or something on my jersey, and that would be a travesty.
Some ibuprofen, to treat fevers, hangovers, and the headaches that inevitably come with handling most Ottawa Senators fans.
A lunch for the day after a game, because who has time to make lunches during the playoffs?
A portable cell phone charger, so that I can tweet to my heart’s content. #gohabsgo
A framed picture of Elise Beliveau, our hero and inspiration.

So, readers, what would you put in your first aid kit?