Montreal Canadiens Never Say Die

By Lissa Albert @LissaRantSports on October 22, 2014

Another game, another late-period burst of goal-scoring adrenaline, another heroic win. The Montreal Canadiens are establishing a familiar rhythm to each game so far this season.

The Detroit Red Wings are a phenomenal team, and have been winning tough games too. Before this game started, it was already known it would become a battle of the goalies: Carey Price vs. Jimmy Howard, two elite, skilled, confident goaltenders. It’s well-known that the Habs are a tenacious team. In past seasons, they demonstrated this without a doubt. They’ve been known as the “little team that could” — a reference to their smaller players.

And even though larger players are now in the lineup, the smaller ones continue to impress and they continue to be key factors in the success of the team.

The Habs have been known to hang on, come back, win games in which they’d been discounted by fans, analysts and commentators. This game against Detroit showed that trend. The Habs continued to fight against a very successful Detroit defense, just as they have fought to hang on — and win — against the other five teams they have beaten this season so far.

So what is it that gives these Canadiens the edge to come back and score last-minute game-winners when the rest of the hockey world has already written up the apparent loss?

Character. There were no flukes; the Habs have a core group of players who play their team’s game as coached, adjust to the elements on the ice, and fight till the end. It isn’t just one player, though Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher rise to the top as consistently persistent. It is a team effort, something we are seeing this season more than ever. Lars Eller, whose year thus far could stand to improve, was physically cut on two separate occasions in this game but never missed a beat.

We’re also seeing leadership on all fronts. Every player is stepping up, every player is putting in constant effort, and there isn’t one player who is this year’s scapegoat as in previous years. Social media would name two or three and has, but at this point in the season, I believe it is too early to start putting the weight of the team on one person’s shoulders as the cause of difficulties.

First, because it’s only been seven games. Second, because whatever the team is doing, it is working, and that just doesn’t happen when there is a glaring problem on or off the ice.

The Canadiens have a reputation of likeability in the dressing room and throughout the league. There seems to be true camaraderie between the players. This can only translate to success on the ice, and from what we are seeing, there’s no doubt it is a major contributor.

As the season progresses, other teams will “figure out” the Habs and their systems, and that might make it harder to sneak up on a win. By the same token, the Habs will figure out other teams as well. Going forward, it is only going to get more challenging as the Habs face other successful teams, encounter road games and road fatigue, back-to-back games, and other unforeseen elements that always affect any hockey team as a whole.

It would be nice to see the team achieve and hold onto a lead throughout a game. It can be disheartening to feel the pressure of the clock ticking down in the third period when the team is running out of time to catch up to their opponents, and there will be that loss which will eventually shatter the explosive start to this season.

But I have to say, as a fan, it is with pride that the team I support continues to show the kind of resolve it does, as well as gain the growing respect of so many who are taking note of the Canadiens. The thrill of those last-minute bursts is second only to the triumph of another game in the “win” column.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google.