NHL Update

While series favorites, Colorado (Avalanche),( vs Las Vegas) Boston (Bruins) (vs the Islanders) and lower seeded/defending champion Tampa Bay (Lightning) (vs Carolina) have (2-1) quarterfinal/division final series leads, the Montreal Canadiens have won 5 straight games, never trailing in any, and lead the Winnipeg Jets 2 games to none, in their “qtr.”

Montreal, which overcame a (3-1) series deficit vs arch rival Toronto, were upset Cup winners 50 years ago in “same calendar” 1971. They also have Six “increments of 5 /from 2021” titles (’46, ’56,’66, ’71,’76 and ’86). Additionally, and in esoteric fashion their last crown and for that matter, one for an NHL team based in Canada, was in “same calendar” 1993.

The Habs are still a long shot to win the title and in the likely, but far from certain event, they advance to the semis, would be big underdogs vs either Colorado or Las Vegas, a bigger one vs the top ranked Avalanche.