For the first time since 1993, the Montreal Canadiens have a chance to hoist Lord Stanley’s cup. With an overtime victory over the Knights in Game 6, the Canadiens clinched a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup. An Atturi Lehkonen one-timer off a cross-ice feed sealed the victory for Montreal.
The Canadiens are the last Canadian team to claim victory in the Stanley Cup final; since then, every team north of the border that has reached the final plateau over the past 28 years has failed to defeat their opponent. Ironically, the Canadiens had the worst regular-season record of any playoff team, and yet they are the first team to clinch a spot in the final round.
Interim head coach Luke Richardson noted the excitement of his players at this opportunity. “It’s hard to put into words how proud we are of them, but they deserve it and they’re not done yet,” he said. “Like, they still have fire in their eyes, they’re already talking about it.”
The victory held even greater significance as it was on the same day as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, one of Quebec’s most significant holidays.
The road to the Stanley Cup has been unique for the Canadiens. They overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Canucks in the first round, then swept a strong Winnipeg team. Montreal lost one of its top defensemen in the first game of the semifinals against the Knights, had limited fans due to COVID-19, and was without their head coach due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Captain Shea Weber, a longtime veteran of the league, will finally play in his first Stanley Cup Final. He will play in front of goaltender Carey Price, a shining star on the Canadiens during this playoff run. He has turned in a .934 save percentage, alongside a 12-5 record. Offensively, the Canadiens have a fantastic, young core of goalscorers, with 14 goals being scored by players on the team younger than 21.
The Canadiens await the winner of Game 7 in the series between the Lightning and the Islanders.
