Key Highlights
- The Montreal Canadiens face a 3-1 deficit in the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.
- Martin St. Louis, a coach with experience from coming back from similar deficits, shared his insights with the team.
- The Canadiens are one of seven teams to have come back from a 3-1 deficit since 2000.
Montreal’s Road to Redemption
MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an unfamiliar position: trailing 3-1 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. But for a team that’s seen better days, this isn’t just another challenge; it’s a historic opportunity.
St. Louis Shares His Wisdom
Martin St. Louis, now a coach, is well-versed in coming back from deficits. He coached three teams that rallied to win series after trailing 3-1: the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and again with the Rangers.
“He just kind of explained how good the feeling is of getting that done,” said forward Cole Caufield. “Obviously, we’re excited for the challenge. It’s a lot of work ahead, but you’ve got to have that belief with our coach and everybody in the room just to get the job done one game at a time.”
Ancient History, Fresh Memories
Back in 2021, the Canadiens themselves were part of a historic comeback. Down 3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the North Division First Round, they rallied to win Game 5 and eventually made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
“They just preached (about) how hard it is to get to that spot,” said Caufield. “We were so lucky to be where we were. You don’t know the next time that you’ll get back to that, so just realizing that and giving everything you’ve got and just be ready for that moment.”
Montreal’s Resilience
While the odds are stacked against them, the Canadiens have shown resilience throughout the playoffs. They’ve won on the road in Games 1 and 2, despite an 11-day layoff after the second round.
“I feel like we’ve been the underdog every series,” said defenseman Alexandre Carrier. “It’s part of our team. I think we’re a team that competes, younger group, a fast-paced team. It’s important that we keep that and we stay desperate and when you do that, you see who’s going to step up and stuff like that tomorrow.”
Back then, veterans such as Eric Staal, Corey Perry, and Shea Weber provided guidance for the younger players in the Canadiens locker room.
The Task Ahead
To make history, the Canadiens need to win three more games against a team they’ve already faced in Game 2. Shaking off some rust from an 11-day layoff after the second round, the Hurricanes rebounded to win 3-2 in overtime.
But Caufield remains optimistic: “You’re not focused on (Game) 6 or 7. You’ve got to take care of (Game) 5. … You’re not out of it until you’re completely out of it, and that’s kind of our mindset. We’re just going to keep battling and try to flip it as fast as we can.”
