Boisterous crowds celebrated the Habs’ series win against the Winnipeg Jets Monday night after the Montreal Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime win.
Hundreds of people gathered and cheered outside the Bell Centre to watch forward Tyler Toffoli score the winning goal to complete the four-game sweep in their second-round playoff series.
Both Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and Quebec Premier François Legault took to Twitter soon after the match to congratulate the team and highlight goalie Carey Price’s 14 saves as well as right wing Cole Caufield’s winning pass to Toffoli.
“What a beautiful month of June in Quebec,” Legault wrote.
Quebec City resident André Lavoie drove to Montreal with his son to watch the game at the Bell Centre. He told Global News he paid almost $5,000 for the tickets.
“I think because of COVID we realized we have only one life and I didn’t want to wait,” Lavoie said.
“I said let’s get to Montreal. We took a chance — a lot of money and a chance. I’m very excited, I think they’re going to win the cup.”
READ MORE: Call of the Wilde: Montreal Canadiens take 3-2 OT victory over Winnipeg Jets, sweep series
Lavoie said he wanted to relive the moment the Habs last won the Stanley Cup in 1993.
Toronto resident Mike Delson told Global News he found the two tickets he purchased for himself and his son last night at 10 p.m., “so we had to get a move on it,” he said.
“It’s a once in a lifetime chance, especially with these times. We had like our own private arena here,” Delson said.
READ MORE: Montreal Canadiens’ fans on Cloud 9 after Game 3 win over Winnipeg Jets
Montreal now awaits the winner between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, who are tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Tuesday in Denver.
Montreal’s seven-game playoff winning streak is the franchise’s longest since Patrick Roy backstopped the Canadiens to 11 consecutive victories on the way to capturing Canada’s last Cup in 1993.
–with files from the Canadian Press and Gloria Henriquez, Global News