Montréal Getting Trounced By Tampa Bay To This Point

Les Canadiens de Montréal

The Canadiens have had an undeniably incredibly exciting, even exhilarating, postseason this year.  

Right now, however, it is not looking good for them in the Stanley Cup Finals. 

Indeed, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they are showing why to this point. They have won all three games played thus far. More than just that, however, it is the way that the Lightning have beaten the Canadiens that has been the most discouraging. They crushed them in Game 1, 5-1. They beat them in Game 2, 3-1. Then last night, in a must win for Montréal, the Lightning instead scored a decisive win, 6-3.

Three games, three losses for the Canadiens. On average, they have lost by three goals, so they have not even been able to keep any of the games close to this point. Maybe that can change, but it is already very late in the series to start getting things done. I am not saying impossible, and do not want to give up hope at this point. However, there is a reason why only three teams in NHL history have managed to overcome an 0-3 series deficit to win a series. It might not be impossible, but it is obviously very, very difficult. Also, you kind of figure that a team that is good enough to win the first three games in a seven game series should be able to win one more to clinch the series, especially when they have dominated like the Lightning have dominated to this point.           

Montreal, however, is the most storied franchise in the NHL. If anyone can do it, they can. 

It just does not seem likely right now. It feels like Tampa Bay has just too much offense, too much firepower, and the Canadiens defense simply cannot stop them, or even slow them down much. They managed to some extent in Game 2, where they only allowed three goals. But the Lightning scored five goals in Game 1, and six goals in Game 3. Perhaps the Lightning have not scored at will, but they are next door to that. By contrast, the Canadiens have thus far managed to score a total of five goal in the three games played in the series thus far.  

Still, the Canadiens have pulled off some incredible wins in these playoffs, and I for one hope that they can do that again, grim as it may look right now. At least hopefully they can win the next one for their home fans, and generate some positive feeling, before heading back to Florida. 

So right now, the Canadiens should just focus on the next game, and really, just the next period, the next play. They have to start getting something going, and they are not going to do that by worrying about being down three games to none. Just win one, the next one, and take it from there. You never know what might happen. At the very least, give the fans something to feel good about in this series. 

Go Habs, Go!!!

Les Canadiens de Montréal