Canadiens got hot at right time during playoff push

By Bud L. Ellis

The 88 points accumulated by the Montreal Canadiens in 2009-10 represented the franchise’s lowest total since 2002-03.

But as we’ve seen many times, if you can get into the playoffs, the slate gets wiped clean.

Montreal did just that in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, qualifying as the eighth seed, then turning the bracket inside-out. The Canadiens won Game 7’s on the road against the two top threats in the East, Washington and Pittsburgh, advancing to the conference finals before falling to Philadelphia in five games.

The Canadiens’ magic ride ended short of the Stanley Cup, but it’s again a testament to what can happen when a team gets hot at the right time. Montreal just squeaked into the playoffs as the final seed in the East, holding off four other teams fighting for a ticket to the postseason.

And maybe that’s part of the reason why the Habs were able to upend the Caps and Pens once the playoffs started. Having to fight for their lives for the final few weeks of the season gave Montreal an edge, and they hit the postseason accustomed to playing playoff-type games.

Of course, Montreal fell behind 3-1 to Washington in the opening round before finding a way to win three straight, including two wins at Washington. Wins in the final two games of the Pittsburgh series gave the Habs a 5-0 record in elimination games against the two giants of the East.

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Monday, June 21, 2010 at 11:11 am by bud

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