Montreal watches as Canadiens lose to Tampa Bay Lighting in Game 5 of Stanley Cup final
The Canadiens were unable to make it past the finish line after defying the odds by making it into the Finals, winning just one game in the series before their loss in Game 5.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup champions for the second year in a row.
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The Lightning downed the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 on Wednesday night to take the best-of-seven final in five games.
Montrealers rallied across the city to watch the Habs play Game 5 in hopes that the team could win a second consecutive game in the series as it continued its historic Stanley Cup run.
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Fans gather to watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final outside the Bell Centre in Montreal hoping the Habs could win a second consecutive game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gloria Henriquez/Global News
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Fans gather to watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final outside the Bell Centre in Montreal hoping the Habs could win a second consecutive game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gloria Henriquez/Global News
View full screen
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Thousands of people gathered inside the Bell Centre to watch the game on the stadium’s big screens while several hundreds of fans gathered outside.
“[It’s] the worst feeling in the world,” Canadiens fan Vincent Barakatt told Global News. “[It] feels horrible, but we came a long way.”
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also showed her support for her city’s team earlier in the evening, tweeting pictures of her watching outdoors alongside her neighbours.
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Meanwhile, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé was seen in a Habs jersey outside the Olympic stadium, where public screenings of the games have been taking place.
The Canadiens arrived in Tampa, FL., on Tuesday after a 3-2 overtime win at home in Game 4.
The team knew they had a mountain to climb to win their 25th Cup title after Tampa swept the Habs in the first three games of the series.