There were tears on the streets of downtown Montreal Wednesday night, as the Canadiens ended their Stanley Cup run with a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
For the fans outside the Bell Centre, where large crowds have gathered during games, there was still hope until the last second. B次元官网网址淛ust one goal,B次元官网网址� was the cheer of the night.
Fan Vince Liburdi said there was no point in the game when he thought the team wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to win. Like the Canadiens fans who didnB次元官网网址檛 give up on their team, he credited the teamB次元官网网址檚 playoff performance B次元官网网址� and its first appearance in the Stanley Cup final since 1993 to heart.
B次元官网网址淗eart, 100 per cent heart, no matter which way you look at it, skill only gets you so far, in playoffs it has to do with heart,B次元官网网址� he said.
It was an improbable run from the beginning for the Canadiens. The team ended the NHL regular season ranked 18th in the league and was the fourth and final seed in the North Division that they would go on to win.
For many fans it was the teamB次元官网网址檚 resurgence in the playoffs B次元官网网址� and its comeback from a 3-1 deficit in its first round series against Toronto that made a comeback seem possible.
B次元官网网址淲e took Toronto after being down 3-1 and we swept Winnipeg in four, which was a pretty strong team, they beat Edmonton. And Vegas, I mean, these guys are monsters and we managed to get by them too, so you know what, weB次元官网网址檒l just keep the hope up tonight and I think weB次元官网网址檙e going to win,B次元官网网址� said fan Steve Abbott as he waited for the game to start at a bar in MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Plateau borough.
Many fans B次元官网网址� including some who travelled long distances just to be in Montreal B次元官网网址� described seeing the team make the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 28 years as a once in a lifetime experience.
Among the fans at a public game viewing event in MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Place des festivals on Monday night was a family who had travelled from Edmonton to cheer on the team. In the arena, there were also fans B次元官网网址� from places like Toronto and Winnipeg B次元官网网址� who had come to Montreal to cheer on the team that theyB次元官网网址檝e chosen to support over their hometown hockey teams.
For some fans, the Habs playoff run was about more than hockey.
B次元官网网址淐ertainly, in these COVID times, I feel like itB次元官网网址檚 brought the city spirit up, something to look forward to, something to unite us again and just keep things exciting,B次元官网网址� said fan Tara Chevrier as she headed to watch the game.
Despite the defeat, for many fans, the Canadiens first appearance in a Stanley Cup final since the team won hockeyB次元官网网址檚 holy grail 28 years ago, was a victory in and of itself.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got mixed feelings,B次元官网网址� said fan Jeremy Climaco outside the Bell Centre after the game. B次元官网网址淲e made it, we made it this far, in a tough year, after whatever happened globally, this is the best moment that I got to live as a Montrealer.B次元官网网址�
For some fans, the success of young players like Cole Caufield B次元官网网址� who made his NHL debut on April 26 B次元官网网址� Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli, as well as the strong performance of veteran goaltender Carey Price gives them hope for next year.
B次元官网网址淒espite our season, we still got to the finals, IB次元官网网址檓 proud that we got there and I feel that next year weB次元官网网址檙e gonna come back and weB次元官网网址檙e gonna win it,B次元官网网址� said fan Aaron Faynshteyn.
While the teamB次元官网网址檚 run was marked by celebrations, there were also occasional scenes of violence, as Montreal police used tear gas on celebrating fans outside the cityB次元官网网址檚 arena on two separate occasions.
After an overtime win over Vegas on QuebecB次元官网网址檚 June 24 national holiday B次元官网网址� which placed the team in the final B次元官网网址� fans celebrated outside the arena with fireworks and, in some cases, vandalism. Eight police cars were vandalized that night and more than a dozen people were arrested. There were also four arrests on Monday night.
There were no fireworks outside the Bell Centre on Wednesday night.
B次元官网网址擩acob Serebrin, The Canadian Press
