The season for the Montreal Canadiens has officially come to a close, as they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Washington Capitals.
Their 4-1 defeat at Capital One Arena brought an end to a campaign that didn’t begin with much expectation, but instead provided plenty of excitement and growth of young players who now have valuable experience to take with them moving forward.
It also marked the final NHL game of defenseman David Savard, who announced earlier in the season that he intended to retire.
Canadiens Fans Looked Forward To The Future After Their Season-Ending Loss
Immediately after the final horn blew and the handshakes commenced at center ice, there were reactions of gratitude from fans of the Canadiens knowing they won’t see their team play again until September.
This fan said that they defied expectations: “What a season. Beyond expectations.”
Another fan is looking forward to the future, saying, “Only getting started, the hard work begins to improve the team for next season.”
Keeping in that theme, this fan said, “The team made all of us proud this year. Exceeded expectations and got some great playoff experience for everyone. It’s been an absolute pleasure to cheer for these guys and can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store.”
Another fan expressed hope while asking for a particular reinforcement, saying, “Honestly, thank you for this season guys. You are hell of a team with a bright future. I am a die hard habs fan and couldn’t be more proud of it. You made me cry of joy and I can’t wait for October, go get a strong 6 foot + 2nd center please.”
Finally, this fan expressed thanks and good luck to David Savard, saying, “Despite the lost, I’m still glad for what this team has achieved this season. The future looks bright for this young core. And I wish Savard a happy retirement.”
Canadiens Coach Martin St. Louis Said He Was Proud
Despite the disappointing loss that closed their season, coach Martin St. Louis expressed pride in how his group performed.
“The season’s finished, but I’m proud of the group,” St. Louis said. “They saw a hard-working team that doesn’t give up. You saw it again tonight. We had a good push in the third. When teams give us a little bit of space we were very dangerous. If we introduced ourselves to the rest of the league through these playoffs, especially being the youngest team — we can walk out with our head held high. We didn’t leave any stone unturned.”
The Canadiens won’t hit the ice again until September in preseason action.