/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-tor.buminteractif.com%2F2025%2F05%2F01124009%2FKucherov-1-1.jpg)
A few days ago, when the Habs won Game 3 of their series against the Washington Capitals, the club's fans celebrated in the streets as if the Habs had won the Stanley Cup.
And in the end, it was the only victory in the series to celebrate, as the CH had just lost in five games.
It reminded me of the time when Nikita Kucherov, on the sidelines of the Lightning's Stanley Cup win in 2021, criticized the fact that Habs fans celebrated the one-game victory in the final as if it were the Stanley Cup.
Their final was the round before. – Nikita Kucherov
In a legendary outburst (for good or bad reasons) after winning the final, he showed all his class by criticizing the Quebec team, a province in which he once lived.
Here it is again, just for the record.
“The fans in Montreal acted like they won the Stanley Cup last game. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? Their final was last round.”
Just an incredible press conference from Nikita Kucherov here.#ItsOn | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/rmaNrCQVHB
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 8, 2021
Intense celebration of a one-game victory happened with the only win in the 2021 finals, and it happened a few days ago, too, when the Habs won their only playoff game against the big Capitals.
He's basically right: it's intense.
But Kucherov plays in Tampa Bay, a place where even a Stanley Cup title isn't celebrated. It wasn't crazy in 2021, around the arena, after the Bolts had won…
Do I intend to throw the first stone at fans who celebrated an emotional win (game #3 a few days ago was intense, we'll remember) after years of lean times? No.
The same goes for the 2021 celebration, when the CH won its first finals game in 28 years and Quebec was in the midst of restrictive measures against COVID-19.
Washington and Tampa Bay have everything to envy Montreal in terms of fans. People's passion for the Flanelle is what has made Montreal the city it has been for years.
“Welcome to the Jungle”: HFTV and Habs fans react to winning Game 3 vs Capitals
pic.twitter.com/JCgqrJ3sLf
– HFTV (@HFTVSports) April 26, 2025
Because let's face it: the Habs have things to work on going forward… but the fans who were at the Bell Centre (inside or out) for both games of the series have nothing to work on.
In my opinion, the players, who were simply trying to be #InTheMix this year, loved the fans' passion and ran on it. And in my opinion, if Kucherov were in Montreal, he'd love to feed off that passion.
gusty news
– It remains to be seen what will happen with the Flames' 16th pick. Barring a lottery catastrophe, the CH will have two picks in a row at 16th and 17th.
Correction.
The 4th rounder should be 108th, not 101st, as the Canadiens get the lower of Detroit's two 4th-round picks from the Jeff Petry trade.
– Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) May 1, 2025
– Playoff beefs.
Playoff beefs from the first round:
– Winnipeg's coach called out St. Louis' coach
– Tampa Bay's mocked Florida's coach
– Hagel injured Barkov with a late hit, got suspended
– Ekblad injured Hagel with a high hit, got suspended
– bench brawl between Montreal and Washington
-… pic.twitter.com/SpzRhXqBQi– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) May 1, 2025
– Will they rise again?
With Avs on the ropes, the pressure rises on a championship core. No front office was more aggressive re-tooling its roster. It's their deepest team since the '22 Cup. How will they respond facing elimination tonight?
My latest for@TheAthletichttps://t.co/pmKpuobf8j
– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 1, 2025
– Goals and a win for CF Montreal. [RDS]
– Enjoy.
