By Rookie, AllHabs.net

MONTREAL, QC. — The new year seems to be shaping up pretty nicely for the Montreal Canadiens.

Like me, they decided to bid good riddance to the year that was 2011 and start fresh. They most definitely did.

Tensions have been running high among Habs fans for a while now, and for good reason. The team hasn’t been performing as well as we all know they could. Our dedication as fans, which is usually so intense it’s scary, had waned, and many fans had all but jumped ship. Tonight, that changed. The Winnipeg Jets scored the first goal of the night, and the Habs suddenly turned into the team we all love: the greatest team in NHL history. It was the kind of win that we’re not used to seeing anymore, but that feels awfully good to revisit. It has restored my faith in this team.

Cammalleri is slowly regaining his stride. Josh Gorges is reminding us of why he got that six-year extension. Andrei Kostitsyn has been turned back on. Lars Eller is looking better and better, scoring a hat trick plus one as if he were used to it.

The grumpiest of fans have been silenced, at least for now. They’ll surely be back soon enough, dissatisfied that the Habs can’t pump out hat tricks every night. However, we as fans have to realize that this win means something: the Canadiens may not be the best team in the NHL right now, but they haven’t given up. They’re going to play good games, bad games, awful games, and spectacular games. All we can do, as fans, is cheer, no matter how many goals are scored in a game.

Happy New Year, Habs fans. Our team looks like it has some resolve.