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The Montreal Canadiens’ riveting playoff run has come to an end.
The Habs lost in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final, coming up three wins short of the Stanley Cup final.
In the end, they were no match for the Hurricanes.
But make no mistake: this team, led by a nucleus of established and emerging young stars like captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Juraf Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and goaltender Jakub Dobeš, has many Habs fans feeling hopeful about the future.
It electrified the city and sparked hope that the franchise’s 25th Stanley Cup would come sooner rather than later.
Here’s a look at how Habs fever in Montreal — and beyond — appeared to reach a level unseen in years.
Watch parties everywhere — and we mean everywhere
Habs fans found unlikely spots to watch the games, from churches to fire stations.
And that’s without mentioning the packed crowds in the fan zone outside the Bell Centre during home games and the team opening the Bell Centre on occasion for watch parties.
There were also watch parties at the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City.
A group based in Gatineau, Que., tried to host a watch party at a local arena there, but the National Hockey League squashed that plan due to an issue over territorial rights involving the Ottawa Senators.
That led to a petition.
Eventually, MNAs at Quebec’s National Assembly voted unanimously in favour of a motion to denounce the NHL’s decision.
So yes, watch parties for the Habs were a thing this spring — and even the source of controversy.
As the Habs push forward through the NHL playoff series, Montrealers are proving they can cheer on their favourite team from anywhere.
Hard-fought, 7-game series win vs. Lightning
Seven games. All of them decided by a single goal. Four of them went to overtime.
During the first round, the young Habs showed they had what it took to win games by the slimmest of margins against a veteran squad like the Tampa Bay Lightning.
WATCH | Lane Hutson’s Game 3 overtime winner vs. Lightning:
This spring, few goals blew the lid off the Bell Centre like Hutson’s overtime blast in Game 3, which gave the Canadiens a 2-1 series lead at the time.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what the vibe was like that night both inside and outside the Bell Centre.
Does the ‘loudest barn in the league’ live up to its reputation? We take you to the home of the Montreal Canadiens to see what it’s like inside and outside when the Habs secure a win.
With the series’ seventh and deciding game taking place in Tampa Bay, thousands of fans packed into the Bell Centre for a watch party.
The atmosphere was electric. Many fans said it was as if the Habs were in the building.
Alex Newhook scored the game-winning goal, while CBC reporter Kwabena Oduro was on air.
The crowd went wild.
(This won’t be the last time we bring up Newhook, who became a fan favourite in Montreal and his home province of Newfoundland.)
The CBC’s Kwabena Oduro was on the scene as the Bell Centre exploded in cheers following Alex Newhook’s goal at the 11:07 mark of the third period in Game 7, giving the Montreal Canadiens a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The goal would prove to be the game winner.
On to Buffalo
After beating the Lightning, the Habs were on to Buffalo.
Fans in that city had a lot of pent up energy, with their team back in the playoffs after a 14-year drought.
They also had a lot of opinions about who they don’t like on the Habs. Hint: A lot of them singled out Newhook.
As the Montreal Canadiens gained the upperhand in their best-of-seven playoff series with a 6-3 win over Buffalo, Sabres fans shared which Habs players are getting under their skin the most — Alex Newhook is currently a popular pick.
The matchup with the Sabres was a high-scoring rollercoaster — that also went to seven games.
In the final game, Montreal jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Buffalo stormed back in the third period to force overtime.
Dobeš made 37 saves, setting the stage for Newhook to be the hero again, scoring the winner in the extra period to seal a 3-2 victory.
Habs fans celebrated in the Bell Centre after Alex Newhook scored in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres, lifting the Canadiens to a 3-2 Game 7 victory and sending Montreal to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2021.
Love affair with Dobeš
The city’s love affair with Dobeš grew as the playoff run went on.
The Dobeš stop signs became a common sight.
Montrealers’ affection toward their new favourite goalie was also on display when he celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday.
Montreal Canadiens fans hope the 25th birthday of the fan-favourite goaltender is a good omen as the Habs look to tie up the NHL’s Eastern Conference final against the Hurricanes during a hunt for a 25th Stanley Cup.
It wasn’t quite enough, though, with the Habs managing a meagre number of shots versus the Hurricanes, leading to a crushing 4-0 loss that set up Friday’s elimination game.
Despite the Habs’ season coming to an end, fans are surely optimistic that this team can be a force for years to come.
And maybe, they’ll take that next step and win their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
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