Here’s an excerpt from the NHL.com game preview of tomorrow’s game against the Florida Panthers:
As one of the most celebrated franchises in North American pro sports, the Montreal Canadiens are certainly enjoying an exciting start to their 100th season.
The Canadiens look to win their fifth straight game and achieve their best start in 26 years when they host the Florida Panthers on Monday.
Montreal (4-0-1) has a storied history, as an Original Six team and winner of an NHL record 24 Stanley Cups.
The Canadiens are now in the midst of a championship drought, as they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1992-93, but they’ve gotten off to a championship-caliber start to 2008-09.
After suffering a 2-1 shootout loss to Buffalo in its season opener Oct. 10, Montreal has outscored its opponents 19-8 to win its last four games.
The Canadiens, who haven’t won five in a row since March 17-27, 2007, also have a chance to open a season with five victories in six games for the first time since 1982-83.
“Winning is fun, and right now we’ve only lost that first one in the shootout in Buffalo so we’re still at the point where we need to rack up wins and move up in the standings,” said Alex Tanguay, who scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Phoenix. “Right now we’re certainly having fun.”