Canadiens are heading to the second round of the NHL playoffs after going through a rebuild
TAMPA, Fla. — Martin St. Louis pounded his chest in the locker room, Jakub Dobes received a shaving cream pie in the face from his fellow goalies and the Montreal Canadiens celebrated a long-awaited series victory.
“We’re not leaving,” St. Louis told his players, quoting Leonardo DiCaprio from “The Wolf of Wall Street” movie. Indeed, the Canadiens are heading to Buffalo for a second-round series after eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 2-1 victory in Game 7.
It’s the first time Montreal has advanced since losing the Stanley Cup Finals to Tampa Bay in 2021. Game 1 against the Sabres is in Buffalo. Before shifting attention to the next series, the Canadiens enjoyed their victory following a hard-fought, evenly-contested series that featured seven games decided by one goal and four that went to overtime.
“I feel like you can’t take the player out of me, right? ” St. Louis said about his triumphant speech.
“I don’t try to be in the locker room a lot. To me, this is their space. It’s their team.