YES, it happened. After coming back 3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal went into the 2nd round against the well rested Winnipeg Jets on a high. The Jets were waiting for the Canadiens back in Winnipeg after sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in their first round series, and I’m sure everyone knows the saying what goes around comes back around! Well, that’s exactly what happened to the Winnipeg Jets. After game 1, when Jets star player Mark Scheifele crushed Jake Evans and got suspended 4 games, Montreal decided instead of getting even and letting their emotions get the best of them, they put their sticks aside, and got brooms and SWEPT them. The Habs dominated the whole series, top to bottom, and now they go into the semi-final round(ideally conference final) on a huge high! The city’s buzzing, the team is united, and we have not seen this since 2014, the last time Montreal made it to the Conference Final against the New York Rangers, and lost to them in 6 games(curse you Chris Kreider!).
However, we need to pump the brakes. Yes, this is great news that the Habs get to rest for at least a week, and were the first team into the semi final round, but the job is not done yet. Montreal will be facing either the Colorado Avalanche or the Vegas Golden Knights. Whichever team it is, Montreal will have their hands full with either team. Montreal does not want it to happen to them like it happened for the Winnipeg Jets. Take a slice of humble pie and stay ready for whoever advances.
Both Colorado and Vegas respectively were the top 2 teams of the regular season this year. Both are fast, skilled, physical, and top to bottom Stanley Cup Contenders. No doubt, whoever it is, Montreal will be the underdog as usual, but they will need to stick with the status quo: One Game At A Time. No looking ahead, no “CA SENT LA COUPE”, just one game at a time. That’s the mentality that Montreal needs to have, keep playing the way they were after game 4 against the Leafs and on.
Now, which team will it be? Colorado or Vegas? The Golden Knights just took a 3-2 lead in the series, thanks to captain Mark Stone winning it in overtime. Now game 6 will be played in Vegas, with the Avalanche hoping to extend it to a game 7, or the Golden Knights taking it and moving on to face the Montreal Canadiens. Vegas are the bigger, physical team that rely on their forecheck to cause turnovers and not let their opponent get in a groove, similar to how the Canadiens play. Colorado are highly skilled and fast, where they rely on their speed and skill to open up space in the offensive zone and attack the net. Montreal will need to play the same way, and head coach Dominic Ducharme said it, “If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best”!
I want to reassure everyone again, no matter who it is we face in the upcoming semi final, take it one game a time! It’s going to be tough regardless, so expect a long series no matter the outcome!
JV Sports Blog 