What the Puck: Canadiens lift spirits of entire city of Montreal with overtime win

Something is happening here and it’s about much more than hockey.

I was just outside the steel-fenced-in fan-jam area beside the Bell Centre Friday night, standing around with thousands of fans watching Game 3 of the Montreal Canadiens-Tampa Bay Lightning playoff series. It had been a beautiful sunny spring day, but it was pretty darn chilly by the time the two teams went into overtime for the third straight game.

A little nip in the air was the least of our concerns. We were focused on transmitting good vibes to the team to make sure they didn’t end up losing this crucial game and going down 2-1 in the series. Then out came “Super Lane Hutson” as they were calling him on TVA Sports and he blasted a slapshot from the blue line that beat Tampa netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. Boom. There it was. A dramatic 3-2 win for the Good Guys, and it was the Habs who went home up 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup.

A Canadiens fan jumps for joy while crossing the street following Friday night’s overtime victory over the Lightning at the Bell Centre. Evan Buhler

Everyone went absolutely nuts when Hutson scored the winner. People were jumping up and down, screaming at the top of their lungs, singing Olé Olé, and dozens of folks were pushing hard on both sides of the steel fence, until that is a slew of cops ran in and pushed the rather overenthused fans away from the structure.

Smoke bombs went off. So did fireworks. Beers were thrown in the air. People hugged each other. Videographer John Kenney and I were trying to shoot my intro to our What the Puck video and every time I picked up the microphone, I was literally mobbed by the fans nearby who just wanted their enthusiasm to be captured on camera.

The worst thing that happened is a few of us had beer poured on our heads and maybe got jostled a little. There wasn’t a bad vibe in sight. People were just happy. Imagine that. In 2026. Thousands of people out on the street celebrating a sports team they love and which they feel represents their city.

Canadiens fans celebrate the team’s overtime win against Lightning Friday night. Evan Buhler

Let’s not beat around the bush. There are so many crappy things going on in the world. A bunch of nasty old dudes are starting wars left, right and centre. The economy is shaky. Inflation is out of hand. Our jobs stress us out.

Here in Montreal, we often kind of feel under the siege. We have had a provincial government in place for years that makes no secret of its hostility towards our city. Just as bad, the next government might well be the one with the guy who says we’re going to have a referendum as soon as he can draw up a question.

The entire downtown is a construction site and it feels like that’s been the case for several years. It’s depressing.

A jubilant Habs fan waves a jersey outside his car while driving away from the game Friday night in downtown Montreal. Evan Buhler

But on Friday night, we for took a break from grumbling and came together to celebrate the one thing that unites all Montrealers — le bleu-blanc-rouge. There were thousands outside the Bell Centre, and a little over 21,000 inside the barn, but there were also smaller gatherings in hundreds of bars across the city and the province. And in each of those bars, I can assure you there were nothing but positive vibrations.

Before joining the party by the Bell Centre, I dropped into Maison Publique McLean’s and the atmosphere was electric. Everyone in the pub stood for Oh Canada at the start of the game, with most of us belting out the lyrics in both of Canada’s official languages.

A friend texted after the game to say Montreal was winning the series because, he said, “they’ve got the magic now.” And they do. The fans love the team and the players love each other. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. It’s a family. Many, including me, thought they should bench Kirby Dach because he messed up so badly in the last game, directly leading to Tampa’s overtime goal.

But coach Martin St. Louis stuck to his guns, kept Dach in the lineup, and he was the best player on the ice Friday, with a goal, an assist and a strong physical game. They stand up for each other. It’s really touching to see in these ugly times. What an inspiring message to deliver.

A throng of fans celebrate the Canadiens’ overtime win outside the Bell Centre. Evan Buhler

“I’m so happy we won, look at all these people,” said Pacchello Dumay, just minutes after the game ended. “This is literally bigger than everything. Montreal, we are very supportive of our team. (Even) if it’s cold, we’re still going to be outside for our team.”

Brian Carrier was wearing a Hutson jersey and he got real emotional when his favourite player scored the winner.

“I almost cried, I’m one of his biggest fans,” Carrier said. “He’s like one of the family.”

Jonathan Martin said it was crazy, people jumping into each other’s arms even though they didn’t know each other.

“It’s the best day of my life,” Martin said.

Roxanne Malenfant loved the positivity in the air outside the Bell Centre.

“The vibe, the people, everyone is happy so this is great,” Malenfant said. “All Montreal is just happy tonight so this is really fun.”

Something is indeed happening and it’s magic. Whether it lasts two weeks or two months, this kind of fun is just what the doctor ordered for Montreal.

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