Montreal Canadiens: Three Reasons We Are Sad to See 2021-22 Season End

The Montreal Canadiens ended the 2020-21 season with a lengthy playoff run and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 28 years.

The 2021-22 season ended with some fireworks, but it was due to one wild game at the end of a long and arduous regular season. The Habs knew long ago they wouldn’t be in the playoffs, and were aware heading into their final game that they would finish in last place no matter what happened.

So, they scored ten goals against the Florida Panthers and won 10-2.

It was the biggest win in a season of losses for the Canadiens franchise. They started the year with five straight losses and would only win eight of their first 45 games before head coach Dominique Ducharme was fired. They eventually went on a nice run for about a month under Martin St. Louis but fell back into their losing ways throughout most of April.

It was tough to watch as at times as Habs fans. The complete disconnect in the defensive zone for most of the first half of the season. The constant injuries that kept top players off the ice for most, if not all, of the season. The Covid outbreak that put most of the team on the sidelines but they were forced to play through anyway.

It led to some mediocre lineups, a lot of goals against, and many losses.

However, we are hockey fans and we will still be sad to see the season end. There were some bright spots on a dark season that we wished could have continued.

Let’s take a look at the top three reasons why us Habs fans are sad to see the worst seasons in franchise history come to a close.

We just like to watch the Canadiens

While the Montreal Canadiens season was difficult to watch at times, it was a lot better having a team to watch and follow on a daily basis than no team at all.

One thing that the pandemic taught hockey fans was that when sports were taken away from us, we missed it even more than we could have imagined. We are so wired to be checking scores from the late night games first thing in the morning and setting up our evening around the fact that we would be sitting in our favourite chair at 7:00 PM EST because “the game is on.”

Even in a bad season, we find ourselves tuning in on a nightly basis. All 82 games are appointment viewing and you know before that game ends when the next game is and you know you’ll be right back in your favourite chair just in time to catch the drop of the puck that night as well.

Anything can happen in a hockey game, even if it is Game 82 of a miserable season. You never know, that super rookie you have been excited about for years might score his first career hat trick. That defenceman you’ve been hearing about who might sign or might not could score his first career goal.

Unfortunately, there will be no games to watch for the next five months. While the 2021-22 version of the Canadiens is not one we will remember fondly, having a game to watch is always better than just having other teams to watch or no hockey at all.

Carey Price was finally back

One of the biggest storylines throughout the 2021-22 season as the absence of Carey Price.

His offseason surgery was supposed to be repaired and have him good as new just in time for the start of the regular season. Maybe shortly after, but Jake Allen could hold down the fort for a few games if Price needed to get ready.

Then there was one setback after another and suddenly the calendar flipped to April and Price still had not played a single game. He was finally able to make his season debut on April 15th and stopped 17 of 19 shots in that contest. He would play three more games before taking a step back to go meet with his surgeon.

Somewhat miraculously, Price was able to play the final game of the regular season, and looked quite good in doing so. Maybe not as good as the skaters in front of him who scored an incredible 10 goals, but Price stopped 37 of 39 shots fired his way and appeared comfortable and confident in net.

It was a nice way to put a bow on an otherwise ugly season, but it also makes you wish there were just a few more weeks left so we could see if Price could get himself right and on a hot streak to close out the year.