
For the first time since 1993, the storied Montreal Canadiens are four wins away from once again hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Artturi Lehkonen’s one-timer past goalie Robin Lehner just 1:39 into overtime clinched a 3-2 win over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of their semifinal series on Thursday at Bell Centre. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Montreal is the third team in the Expansion Era (since 1968) to reach the Stanley Cup Final with the worst record in the playoff field.
Former NHL player Jeremy Roenick joined The Zach Gelb Show on Friday to discuss Montreal's momentous win and magical run back to the Cup Final.
"It is unbelievable, isn't it, just to think about how little success Canadian teams have had not only winning the Stanley Cup, but going to the Stanley Cup Final," Roenick said. "I think it's like three or four times over the last 20 years that a Canadian team has been in the Stanley Cup Final. For Canada, this has been a long-awaited, very gratifying trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Even if it's the Montreal Canadiens -- who were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in '93 -- I think it's great for hockey.
"An Original Six team, I think it's a great story. A fourth seed, they snuck into the playoffs. And to me, it tells you why NHL hockey and playoff hockey is the best in all of sports, because you have no idea who's going to win from one day to the next. And Montreal -- being able to come back from a 3-1 deficit on Toronto, being able to just float right through Winnipeg, and then shock everybody by beating a team that was probably one of the best offensive teams in the league in the Knights -- I think it's special, really fun to watch...
"When you see this team playing, and the backbone of the team -- who I think is one of the best goaltenders I've ever seen -- in Carey Price, they're just a well-oiled machine with so much confidence right now. And everybody has bought in. Everybody has bought in. And like I said, this is why I love hockey. You just never know when you'll watch teams get on a roll and play like that. So many great storylines."
Montreal, representing the Western Conference in this season's playoff format, will face the winner of the other semifinal series between the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders.
Game 1 of the Cup Final is scheduled to take place Monday night in either Tampa or New York. And according to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Canadiens are currently listed at +160 to win their 25th Stanley Cup.
The entire NHL conversation between Roenick and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.