In the dimming light of spring, Montreal finds itself once again at that familiar crossroads of hope and heartbreak. The city’s relationship with its beloved Canadiens has always been complicated—passionate, demanding, occasionally turbulent, but eternally faithful.
The Bell Centre vibrated last night with an energy that felt both desperate and defiant. Down 3-1 in their series against Washington, our Habs delivered a performance that has rekindled memories of comebacks past, particularly the historic 2010 reversal against these same Capitals. The parallels are striking, almost eerie in their symmetry.
“There’s something special about this building when our backs are against the wall,” veteran defenseman David Savard told me after last night’s 3-2 victory. “The fans become this seventh player, and we feel it on the bench, on the ice—everywhere.”
The numbers tell a sobering story. Only 31 teams in NHL history have overcome a 3-1 series deficit. The Canadiens account for three of those comebacks, including the aforementioned 2010 series against Washington that still haunts Capitals fans. Montreal’s relationship with improbable playoff scenarios has become something of a trademark—for better or worse.
Coach Martin St. Louis, himself no stranger to overcoming long odds throughout his Hall of Fame career, maintains a measured optimism. “We’re not thinking about three games. We’re thinking about the next period, the next shift. That’s how comebacks happen—one moment at a time.”
What’s particularly compelling about this potential resurrection isn’t just the scoreline, but how the team’s identity seems to transform under pressure. The Canadiens we’ve witnessed in Games 4 and 5 bear little resemblance to the tentative group that stumbled through the first three contests.
The emergence of young Cole Caufield has been nothing short of revelatory. With four goals in the last two games, the diminutive winger embodies Montreal’s newfound confidence. “The kid plays like he’s been here before,” teammate Nick Suzuki remarked. “Nothing fazes him.”
On rue Sainte-Catherine and throughout the Quartier des Spectacles, the city’s mood has noticeably shifted. Café conversations have turned from resignation to possibility. Jerseys that had been tucked away in closets have reappeared. Montreal, ever the dramatic hockey town, is allowing itself to believe again.
According to Tourisme Montréal, playoff runs typically boost local restaurant and bar revenues by approximately 15-20%. The economic impact is substantial, but the emotional dividend pays even richer returns in a city where hockey transcends sport to become cultural identity.
Sports psychologist Dr. Isabelle Perreault of McGill University explained to me that these moments of collective hope serve an important social function. “These shared experiences—especially potential comebacks—create powerful community bonds. They give us permission to believe in impossible things together,” she said.
Game 6 returns to the Bell Centre tomorrow night, and tickets have become Montreal’s most precious commodity. The secondary market has seen prices increase by nearly 40% since yesterday’s win, according to StubHub data.
The Capitals, meanwhile, find themselves in an uncomfortably familiar position. Their coach Peter Laviolette was uncharacteristically terse in his post-game comments. “We’ll be better. That’s all I’m going to say.” The weight of history—and their own painful memories of 2010—seems to be creeping into their consciousness.
If the Canadiens can force a Game 7, it would mark only the second time in franchise history they’ve extended a series to its limit after trailing 3-1. The previous occasion? Yes, that magical 2010 run against these same Capitals.
For lifelong Habs supporter Richard Bergeron, 67, who hasn’t missed a playoff game since 1993, the emotion is
