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. 91裸聊视频淛ust one goal,91裸聊视频� was the cheer of the night.
Fan Vince Liburdi said there was no point in the game when he thought the team wasn91裸聊视频檛 going to win. Like the Canadiens fans who didn91裸聊视频檛 give up on their team, he credited the team91裸聊视频檚 playoff performance 91裸聊视频� and its first appearance in the Stanley Cup final since 1993 to heart.
91裸聊视频淗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,91裸聊视频� 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 team91裸聊视频檚 resurgence in the playoffs 91裸聊视频� and its comeback from a 3-1 deficit in its first round series against Toronto that made a comeback seem possible.
91裸聊视频淲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, we91裸聊视频檒l just keep the hope up tonight and I think we91裸聊视频檙e going to win,91裸聊视频� said fan Steve Abbott as he waited for the game to start at a bar in Montreal91裸聊视频檚 Plateau borough.
Many fans 91裸聊视频� including some who travelled long distances just to be in Montreal 91裸聊视频� 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 Montreal91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� from places like Toronto and Winnipeg 91裸聊视频� who had come to Montreal to cheer on the team that they91裸聊视频檝e chosen to support over their hometown hockey teams.
For some fans, the Habs playoff run was about more than hockey.
91裸聊视频淐ertainly, in these COVID times, I feel like it91裸聊视频檚 brought the city spirit up, something to look forward to, something to unite us again and just keep things exciting,91裸聊视频� 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 hockey91裸聊视频檚 holy grail 28 years ago, was a victory in and of itself.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e got mixed feelings,91裸聊视频� said fan Jeremy Climaco outside the Bell Centre after the game. 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
For some fans, the success of young players like Cole Caufield 91裸聊视频� who made his NHL debut on April 26 91裸聊视频� Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli, as well as the strong performance of veteran goaltender Carey Price gives them hope for next year.
91裸聊视频淒espite our season, we still got to the finals, I91裸聊视频檓 proud that we got there and I feel that next year we91裸聊视频檙e gonna come back and we91裸聊视频檙e gonna win it,91裸聊视频� said fan Aaron Faynshteyn.
While the team91裸聊视频檚 run was marked by celebrations, there were also occasional scenes of violence, as Montreal police used tear gas on celebrating fans outside the city91裸聊视频檚 arena on two separate occasions.
After an overtime win over Vegas on Quebec91裸聊视频檚 June 24 national holiday 91裸聊视频� which placed the team in the final 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频擩acob Serebrin, The Canadian Press
