Logic has dictated that the Montreal Canadiens should have been out of contention so many times this season.
It could have been when they were 31st in the league on December 1. It could have been when they lost eight out of nine games heading into the 4 Nations break. It could have been when they lost five straight at the end of March. Even when they were on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, they couldn’t escape it until the final game of the season.
It could have been when they were down 2-0 to the Washington Capitals after two periods on Monday night.
The Canadiens walked away from Game 1 with an overtime loss that doesn’t give them anything more tangible than if they limped into the final buzzer of regulation. There aren’t any bonus points in the playoffs, after all.
But they didn’t. They scored a power play goal that gave them life, and tied it a few minutes later.
Logic should have dictated none of what happened in the third period, but this team constantly defies logic. Maybe it’s just a coincidence their coach is an eternal optimist. It probably isn’t. This team has taken their coach’s personality through the entire second half of this season. It’s probably what caused Nick Suzuki to tell Kent Hughes to stand pat at the trade deadline.
The Canadiens are still guaranteed at least 180 minutes of hockey. Logic dictates that they will likely not defeat the Eastern Conference’s top seed, but until they lose four games, there’s still story left to be written.
Logic hasn’t dictated any part of this team’s season. Why let it start now?
