A Winning Habit
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The road to the playoffs or Alexis Lafreniere for the Montreal Canadiens

By Omar L

HAMILTON, ON - JANUARY 16: Captain Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White speaks with the media following the final whistle of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team Red at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, ON - JANUARY 16: Captain Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White speaks with the media following the final whistle of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team Red at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens start their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, which will either lead them to the playoffs or a 12.5% shot at Alexis Lafreniere.

The calendars have changed from July to August, and it feels like it’s turned from March to April (or September to October depending on who you ask). We’ve gone through training camp and exhibition games to the real deal. Now every game matters, and for the Montreal Canadiens, they can point to one of two paths.

Path number one leads to the realm of the upset. Many are of the belief that a lot has to go right for the Habs to beat the Penguins. Either Carey Price reverts to his 2015 self, or some kind of X-Factors kicks in, but it would be some feat to see Montreal take out Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Path number two leads to the second draft lottery to be held on August 10th. If the Montreal Canadiens end up here, they’ll have a 12.5% chance at winning and having the opportunity to draft Alexis Lafreniere. Price has been the franchise for years, but it’s been a long time since the Canadiens had a generational franchise player. And to make things even better, he’s french.

But each path leads to a chance at victory. Upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins gets the Montreal Canadiens into the playoffs as they become 1/16 teams fighting for a Stanley Cup. Losing and being in the draft lottery makes them 1/8 teams who could win it.

Which will it be? The countdown clock is almost at 0:00.

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