About Last Night: Oui the North! Habs escape division with Jets sweep

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The Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team standing. The Habs swept the Winnipeg Jets with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 Monday night at the Bell Centre to take North Division supremacy in its first and likely only year of existence. They’ll move on to the conference finals to face an American team for the first time this season: either the Colorado Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights.

Here’s the winning goal at 1:39 by Tyler Toffoli from a pass by Cole Caufield:

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Here’s the handshake line. I haven’t shaken a hand in over a year.

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How about some love from the Montreal faithful outside the Bell Centre:

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And of course, the Man in Red:

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Prior to the game, it was announced Jeff Petry wouldn’t play after getting his hand caught in the camera hole in the boards in Game 3. His replacement was none other than rookie Alexander Romanov, making his NHL playoff debut. He was stoked, as were the Liveblog faithful:

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The Canadiens stormed out of the gate, looking like the same team that scored the opening goal in the first three games of the series. Jesperi Kotkaniemi took a high-stick from Andrew Copp behind the Jets net, only the referee in front kept his whistle down. It was the zebra at the far end who sent Copp to the box. The Habs power play responded. After Toffoli sneakily swiped the puck from former Hab Nate Thompson as he attempted to exit the zone, Erik Gustafsson faked a one-timer, found an open shooting lane with Thompson flat-footed and wristed the puck off the post and in. The Habs once again opened the scoring.

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After the Jets and Habs traded unsuccessful power plays, Artturi Lehkonen gave his squad a 2-0 advantage with under a minute in the first period. Following a strong forecheck by the Habs forwards, blue-liner Brett Kulak flicked a point shot on net that Lehkonen tipped over Connor Hellebuyck. The goal came at 19:09 in the first, if you believe in ghosts.

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The Jets needed someone, anyone, to be a hero in the second period as they fought for their playoff lives. Enter 6-foot-7 defenceman Logan Stanley, who scored a solitary goal in his rookie campaign in Winnipeg. At 1:40 of the second, Stanley ripped a slingshot with massive torque that seemingly caught Carey Price, and just about everyone else in the hockey world, by surprise.

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Then at 5:29 in the second, Stanley did it again. This time the recipient of a Kyle Connor pass, he was able to blast a one-timer past Price.

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The Jets were tied after two periods, but the Habs’ streak of not trailing in a game continued past the 400-minute mark. The Canadiens led in shots 25-11 after 40 minutes, with Hellebuyck keeping his team in the hunt. In the third period, Hellebuyck showed why he’s the reigning Vézina Trophy winner, making another 14 saves to push his team to overtime. Habs outshot the Jets 39-16 in regulation.

Overtime was quick, with Toffoli sending the Jets packing. Caufield’s pass will only propel the legend of Bilbo Baggins further, while Nick Suzuki was a tenacious forechecker. Paul Maurice’s team now has the summer to contemplate how things might’ve been different had their star centre not removed himself from the series via suspension. The Habs were the last team to clinch a berth in the second round, and now they’re the first team to seal a trip to the third. With the Avalanche and Golden Knights series tied 2-2, the Habs could have some extra time to rest, not that it did the Jets any favours after they swept the Oilers. At the very least, Jeff Petry and perhaps even Jake Evans will get a chance to recover.

As for Mark Scheifele, his punishment isn’t over.

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Here’s how the Liveblog commenters celebrated:

3. “You think that Jake Evans didn’t play a part in this ending. So happy for the Boys and so happy that they never lost after that hit. They made Schiefele pay. There was a lot of talk of our team was built for the playoffs. Well that was a pretty dominating sweep. That was a pretty great follow up to an incredible comeback from down 3-1 to the Leafs. This team is built for the playoffs. Congratulations to Marc Bergevin and the Montreal Canadiens on a great playoff effort to here. Embrace it fans….Go Habs Go!!!!!” -Charles Patrick

2. “So who is the best team in Canada this year. It’s the team that went the farthest in these playoffs, Montreal canadiens. I don’t want this magic season to end anytime soon” -Ryan Katz

1. “Seeing how happy MB is for the team and players and his work….WELL DESERVED MARK. How can you dislike this guy? Caufield with the great pass. Tofolli with the goal, so fitting. Conference Finals. Best team in Canada. Go Habs go.” -Joseph Barrie