‘You feel the buzz:’ A new generation of Canadiens fans gets introduced to the Stanley Cup final

MONTREAL—It’s happening. A 28-year-wait comes to an end. A Stanley Cup final game will be played in Montreal, at the Bell Centre.

“It has been so long,” says Guy Carbonneau, the Hall of Famer who was captain and coach of the Montreal Canadiens. “The last one was 1993. Any time before that it’s never been more than seven years between trips to the Stanley Cup final. Twenty-eight years is a long wait.”

Let’s leave aside the 54 years and counting that long-suffering fans of the Maple Leafs have endured. Some Leafs fans certainly are rooting against Montreal, probably because misery loves company.

But in a year of COVID, Montreal’s run through the playoffs has been a largely uplifting experience. It’s a team that no one thought could win a round thumbing its nose at the experts.

“It’s not just for Quebec, but for Canada, to have another Canadian team in the final after everything we went through, and are still going through,” Carbonneau said. “People needed some cheering up. It brings us together a little bit more. It’s a lot of fun. You feel the buzz.”

Montreal is awash in the bleu-blanc-rouge of les Glorieux, the streets and patios filled with fans following every moment. This generation of young fans is finally getting to experience what their parents and grandparents experienced on a regular basis.

“That’s the buzz we see now,” said Carbonneau, who was part of Montreal’s last two championships, 1986 and 1993. He won another in 1999 with Dallas. “It’s 28 years, so if you’re not 30-something years old, you don’t have a memory of us winning the Cup. That’s a lot of people.

“You see it in the streets and in front of the Bell Centre, you talk to the younger generation and they’re really excited for the run. Now that they have a chance to see the Montreal Canadiens win the Cup — it’s not done, but just the feeling to be there — they’re pretty excited.

“It’s a new vibe for a lot of people.”

Not the least of which are the Canadiens themselves, eager to add a 25th Cup to the team’s lore and have their names etched in silver with the likes of Rocket Richard, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Bob Gainey and Patrick Roy.

“We’re‌ well‌ aware‌ of‌ the‌ history of‌ what‌ it‌ means‌ to‌ be‌ a‌ Montreal‌ Canadien,” alternate captain Brendan Gallagher said. “We‌ have‌ legends‌ all‌ around‌ our‌ team. ‌ (We’re) getting‌ the‌ chance‌ to‌ speak‌ to‌ them, ‌ talk to‌ them, ‌they‌ come‌ watch‌ us‌ play. ‌And‌ these‌ just‌ aren’t‌ names; ‌these‌ are‌ some‌ of‌ the‌ biggest‌ names‌ to‌ ever‌ play the‌ game. ‌And‌ you‌ don’t‌ need‌ anymore‌ inspiration than‌ just‌ looking‌ up‌ and‌ seeing‌ the‌ championship‌ banners. ‌So, every single‌ guy in‌ that‌ locker‌ room‌ has‌ an‌ understanding‌ of‌ what‌ it‌ means‌ to‌ be‌ a‌ Montreal‌ Canadien‌ and‌ how‌ special‌ and‌ how‌ great‌ of‌ an‌ opportunity‌ it‌ is.” ‌ ‌

Even the opposing side holds the Canadiens in high regard. Coach Jon Cooper grew up watching them on “Hockey Night in Canada.”

“I remember vividly the Cup runs they had and to think — you almost pinch yourself — that you have an opportunity to coach in that building and be a part of that environment and how much history and memories and books have been written about that franchise,” Cooper said. “I know the people in there won’t be cheering for us but I’m sure excited to be a part of it.”

He added that the Bell Centre was his favourite hockey building.

“Just the way the seats go up, how dark it is, the banners, the history, the presentation, the fans, the passion,” he said. “You feel like you’re part of something special and it’s a great environment.”

There will only be 3,500 fans in the building. The Canadiens had hoped the government would allow at least 10,000, but the request was denied.

One person who will be there is Dominique Ducharme, the Canadiens head coach sidelined two weeks ago by a positive COVID test. His return could have an effect on a team that needs some help, with the Canadiens having lost the first two games in Tampa.

If the Canadiens have anything on their side, it’s their history. It’s the stories they tell themselves about how the franchise is meant to win. It’s their motto, painted in their dressing room — “To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high” — the line from the John McCrae poem “In Flanders Fields.” It’s the ghosts from the old Forum who may have crossed over to the Bell Centre. Montreal might need those ghosts, Carbonneau said.

“I hope they crossed I think they’re going to need it for Games 3 and 4,” he said. “Montreal played well in Game 2, but you can’t take anything away from Tampa.

“It goes fast. So concentrate on what you have to do. At the same time, it’s exciting, especially the first time you go on that run. Every day is something new.”

Win or lose, Montreal is in for a terrific weekend, Carbonneau said.

“But it would be better if they won.”