There was something oddly familiar about the Montreal Canadiens’ start to Game 6 on Thursday night.
In most cases, watching a rookie netminder allow three goals on three consecutive shots would generate a fair amount of concern.
But if the Habs have taught us one lesson during their expertly-executed rebuild, it’s that this team needs a certain amount of adversity before it can perform at its best.
Think of it as the hockey version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, if you want.
They only reveal their strongest form megazordOnce there their backs are against the wall.
A slightly less stupid metaphor would be the Incredible Hulk.
The longer he endures continuous punishment, the stronger he becomes.
Okay, that was just as silly, but you get my point.
It wouldn’t be Canadiens hockey if there wasn’t a point in the first period in which fans questioned whether the past four years were merely a fever dream.
And yet, despite seeing the Habs chase multiple leads in the first period, there was a shared sense of calm among fans Thursday night, which is rare in sports, even more so in Montreal.
It’s a testament to the shared conviction not only between the fans and the team, but also between the skaters and their rookie netminder, who has clearly been the team’s most valuable player through 12 playoff games.
#hubs Nick Suzuki on Jacob Dobbes today: “We never lost confidence in him; everybody was struggling in the first period…”
– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 15 May 2026
It’s all part of the learning process, and logic dictates that the Canadian will eventually be able to win a game, or motivate himself, without facing an uphill climb.
But as things stand, Habs has mastered the climb well enough to be considered a favorite in the upcoming Tour de France.
Hyperbole aside, this isn’t necessarily a recipe for success, at least not in the long term, but it has equipped the Canadiens with a very interesting and powerful weapon as they attempt to become the fourth and final team to qualify for the conference finals.
#Adversity #chaff #stirs #Canadiens #drink
