`Crazy' Canadiens familiar with staring down adversity

Posted July 06, 2021 7:00 am

By JOHN WAWROW

Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) slides on the ice as he celebrates his winning goal alongside teammates Jeff Petry (26) and Alexander Romanov (27) during overtime of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) - During a season that has been anything but normal for Dominique Ducharme, the Montreal Canadiens interim coach finds it somehow apt his team is flying into a potential hurricane for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

'œIt's no surprise anymore,'ť Ducharme said Tuesday before the Canadiens boarded a flight for Tampa, Florida, which just happens to be in the projected path for Elsa, the tropical storm and former hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico.

'œIt's been crazy,'ť he added. 'œBut we're a crazy bunch of guys in here, and we're going to take that challenge.'ť

Canada's Olympic men's ski team, which included the likes of 'œJungle'ť Jim Hunter, Steve Podborski and Ken Read, in the 1970s and early '80s was once billed as the 'œCrazy Canucks'ť because of the risks they'd take in order to win on the slopes.

Now come the crazy Canadiens, who face a steep battle to keep the Tampa Bay Lightning from winning the Stanley Cup. Montreal is attempting to achieve the NHL improbable in becoming just the fifth team - and second in the final - to overcome a 3-0 series playoff deficit.

'œIt's probably part of our destiny,'ť Ducharme said, looking ahead to Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Canadiens are still playing after Ducharme's lineup changes paid off with Josh Anderson - playing alongside new linemates Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield - scoring twice, including the overtime goal in a 3-2 win to avoid being swept.

As for destiny, what adversities haven't the Canadiens overcome with Montreal enjoying the organization's deepest playoff run since winning its 24th Cup title in 1993?

They closed the season with injuries to key players, including goalie Carey Price and alternate captain Brendan Gallagher, who missed the final six weeks with a broken left thumb. Defenseman Jeff Petry missed two playoff games after catching his fingers in a photographer's hole in the glass.

Then there was COVID-19. Aside from having a team-wide outbreak in April, Montreal was down to its third coach in assistant Luke Richardson after Ducharme tested positive and was forced to miss two weeks of the playoffs before returning for Game 3 of the final. Ducharme, of course, took over after Claude Julien was abruptly fired in February.

Don't forget the on-ice challenges the Canadiens have stared down, such as rallying from a 3-1 first-round series deficit against Toronto.

The Quebec government hasn't given the home team a break, with health officials limiting the home crowd to 3,500 at the Bell Centre, which has a capacity of 21,300.

'œThis whole season has been kind of chaotic, kind of hectic," veteran forward Corey Perry said. "We've kind of gone through everything,'ť

Rather than worry, Perry said the focus should remain on enjoying the moment.

'œDom is right: We're a crazy bunch of people. This is fun to do here in Montreal,'ť he added. 'œBe prepared to work, but at the end of the day, it's just hockey and have fun.'ť

Crazy as it might sound, as Anderson put it on Sunday: 'œWe've got nothing to lose.'ť

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Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) celebrates with right wing Cole Caufield (22) after scoring the winning goal during overtime of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) skates off the ice as members of the Montreal Canadiens celebrate a goal by Josh Anderson during overtime of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final in Montreal, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Montreal Canadiens' Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates a goal by teammate Alexander Romanov (not shown) as Tampa Bay Lightning's Erik Cernak (81) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) look on during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final in Montreal, Monday, July 5, 2021. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

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