Fans old and new react to the underdog Montreal Canadiens’ loss, some hopeful for the future of the team
Montreal Canadiens fans react as they watch Game 5 Stanley Cup finals action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on a big screen outside of the Bell Centre in Montreal, Wednesday, July 7, 2021.As the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted their second consecutive Stanley Cup, and the clock struck midnight for the Montreal Canadiens, Habs fans walked home in despair from downtown viewing parties late Wednesday night.
“The Habs are Canada’s team. If you weren’t cheering for them at this point, you’re silly,” said Jada Nahas, a fan who drove to Montreal from her home in Halifax for Game 3, and then decided to stay for the remainder of the series.Before their Cinderella cup run, the Canadiens had divided observers into supporters and opponents for most of their history.
Opinions about the Habs, however, rarely came up in casual conversation until they started winning playoff games. With each win they stole from higher-ranked teams, they strengthened their bid to become known as Canada’s team. Still, that honorary title was met with hesitancy - the hashtag of #OuiLeNord, a French spin on “WeTheNorth poked its head on Twitter at times, but failed to trend.
In a rare moment in front of the Bell Centre on Wednesday, public opinions about the Canadiens merged. Those newly won over blended with lifelong fans to form a sea of red too mesmerized by the big screens to roughhouse or riot. One fan wore a Toronto jersey with a printed photo of a Canadiens logo duct-taped on top of the Leafs crest. Another waved a 12-foot-high Canada flag with stripes of blue duct tape flanking the Maple Leaf.