Reeking of yesteryear

I hate to get ahead of myself and seem like the typical bipolar Habs fan, but the Canadiens, as they're playing right now, are showing a lot of similarities to the way they were in 1986 and 1993, the club's last two Stanley Cup victories. They have a hot new goaltender, a good mix of energetic youngsters and talented veterans, and Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, and Doug Jarvis, albeit in different capacities, with the team.

Let's remember that those two Habs teams that won Cups were not expected to go very far in the playoffs, and, by comparing this year's Canadiens to those two teams, we are placing pretty lofty expectations on them which might end up being a distraction. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that the Canadiens have momentum, something a lot of other teams had at various points of the season but have since lost (see: Buffalo Sabres). We've seen the possibility of the Habs breaking down and collapsing, but, more recently, we've seen a team that is extremely talented and cohesive. That could be a huge factor should the Canadiens face the Ottawa Senators, who are hurting and, for the moment, inconsistent.

If Cristobal Huet continues his superhuman play, and if the Canadiens' offence can stay afloat, the Habs' playoff run this year will be very promising and exciting. First, though, they have to clinch a berth in the postseason; only then can we really begin talk about how many years (or months) until #25.