Montreal Canadiens fans were as active as ever taking in the events of the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery, and the reactions were just as fun.
Saturday night was fun right? The Vegas Golden Knights got an early two-goal lead over the San Jose Sharks, but the latter fought back to tie the game. Just kidding. As exciting as a game it was between the two Pacific Division teams, nothing had hockey Twitter talking more than the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery. It was especially a fun night for the Montreal Canadiens, and its fans and Marc Bergevin appeared to be wearing a lucky tie of some sort.
The waiting game wasn’t fun, but in all the waves of patience, Habs fans voiced their thoughts and opinions. It started with the moments beforehand.
Before the Lottery
I'm legit nervous right now......
— Father of three (@CJ_Casselman) April 28, 2018
Such a horrible season could be so easily forgotten if the Habs somehow land a top 3 pick this evening. Please! Please!! Please!!!#GHG #Habs
Tension started to build as Bill Daly revealed each card one by one as we waited for a discrepancy in the rankings. And then with the New York Islanders coming up at pick eleven, the connection was made that the Montreal Canadiens would finish in the top three.
After Winning One of the Lotteries
#Habs have won a lottery pick!!!
— Dan Kramer (@DanKramerHabs) April 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/SteveinKW/status/990377484985171968
Bergevin when he found out the #Habs made the Top 3 in the #NHLDraftLottery pic.twitter.com/jwbdXdCROF
— John (@TheEagleDares) April 28, 2018
Yahoo! Top 3 is incredible! Anything now is a huge bonus! #Habs #GHG
— Father of three (@CJ_Casselman) April 28, 2018
BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON #HABS
— Justin (@jdivvy94) April 28, 2018
#Habs pic.twitter.com/hqYRt0uKd9
— MVP77 (@PerinoMike) April 28, 2018
Let’s goooooooooo #habs #DraftLottery
— Chris Cordella (@Chris_Cordella) April 28, 2018
Yes yes yes #DraftLottery come on #Habs #GoHabsGo
— Darryl D (@darryldowning_d) April 28, 2018
I'm not wearing any clothes until the 2nd intermission.#Habs #GoHabsGo #NHLDraftLottery
— Alex (@AbsCoverage) April 28, 2018
TOP 3 BABYYYYYYYYTYY !!!!! #NHLDraftLottery #habs
— Meghan (@meghankf09) April 28, 2018
This the best thing I have seen in years following the #MontrealCanadiens. #habs #allinfordahlin #christmasinmay #sorryarizona. pic.twitter.com/s40nkujFYL
— Jason Moore (@jasonmooremtl) April 29, 2018
I’m shaking right now... #habs #top3 #dahlin
— Peter Corio (@Petercorio) April 28, 2018
After that, the decision not to have the final three picks announced until the second intermission was the worst for Habs fans. It also didn’t help that Vegas and San Joses were starting to show more emotion to the series taking more and more penalties with scrums happening after most of the whistles. When Marc-Andre Fleury forced a faceoff with less than two seconds left in the period, tables were being flipped all across the country.
But the clock finally struck 0:00 and it was time to see who goes home with the ‘try not to smile but I really want to smile’ face.
Waiting for the Second Intermission
RT FOR A PRAYER #HABS #NHLDraftLottery #DAHLIN pic.twitter.com/tpwyv8qqaL
— gabrielle - (@dropshotvolleys) April 29, 2018
It feels like time has stopped... #NHLDraftLottery #TOP3 #Habs pic.twitter.com/VFSuk48hPG
— Evan (@heelEvan) April 29, 2018
Well one period down, one to go. #Habs
— John G KBO 🇺🇦🇨🇦 (@madhi19) April 29, 2018
I deserve this. https://t.co/od57eTJb2P
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) April 29, 2018
I hope there are no whistles at all in the VGK/SJ game.
— Patrick Tallon (@PatrickETallon) April 29, 2018
Longest period of hockey ever. #Habs #DraftLottery
— Lori Bennett (@lori10habs) April 29, 2018
Habs fans were excited to see the event carry on, but not to see the logo revealed on Daly’s next card. The Montreal Canadiens won the third lottery missing out on the chance to select Rasmus Dahlin at the draft. It was disappointing for sure, but the Habs are guaranteed to get a good player.
The Results
https://twitter.com/jeremie213/status/990414677623623681
Here go the conspiracy theories now. No, this wasn't rigged. #DraftLottery #Habs
— (((𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖆))) (@lissa77) April 29, 2018
#Habs finished 4th. They pick 3rd. I'll take it!!#ThinkPositive
— Rick's (@RixRixx) April 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/montrealdesign/status/990414423780134919
Ah well. Will still get a good player. #Habs pic.twitter.com/IqlwKVNTJW
— Kamal Rehman (@kamalrehman10) April 29, 2018
Order up those Zadina jerseys! #habs
— hockeywithballs (@Trapps99) April 29, 2018
Next: News Lost in Friday's Buzz
It was a plus to see Montreal move up a spot even though there was a greater chance to fall. The promotion wasn’t as high as many would’ve liked, but there are a lot of options for Trevor Timmis to explore in the next few weeks.