When Montreal Canadiens’ legend Jean Beliveau walked towards the Bell Centre ice with the franchise’s torch held high, the sell-out crowd stood tall and cheered at what they were witnessing. The first Canadiens’ home game of the 2011 NHL playoffs, and with 24 Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters a reminder of all that has been accomplished and all that can be this postseason. Montreal came close to reaching the big one before falling short in the Eastern conference finals a year ago, but after taking the first two games of their opening round series against the division rival Boston Bruins, the optimism in the city is alive. The Canadiens would lose game three to their Original Six opponents, but even after winning the first two few thought they would sweep the series.Montreal’s focus now turns to game four, and with every intention on embarking on another long run as the Kentucky derby betting approaches.
The Canadiens have shown early on that they have the speed and skill to compete with the best in the conference. Goaltender Carey Price has been the team’s most valuable player all season, and that has continued into the opening round. With Price keeping Montreal in every game, their systemic approach and opportunistic style has allowed them to show how dangerous they can be. The Canadiens have gotten scoring from all three lines in the postseason, just enough to compliment the play of Price in the first two games. If they can continue to move with that magic, there is no reason to think that hockey’s proudest franchise can’t make it over that sports betting hump and go all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2011.
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