By Canadian Press

Canadiens’ quest for the Cup faces toughest test yet in defending-champion Lightning

Jun 28, 2021 | 2:05 AM

TAMPA, Fla. — The Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup back in 1993.

Now they have the chance to end the nation’s lengthy NHL championship drought.

The Canadiens take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Montreal is looking to add to its impressive list of playoff upset victims. The Habs came from 3-1 down in their opening-round series against Toronto to stun the Maple Leafs in seven games, then swept the Winnipeg Jets and downed the favoured Vegas Golden Knights in six games.

The Lightning will represent the Canadiens’ toughest test in their quest for their 25th Stanley Cup.

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The Lightning are the defending Cup champions with a deep team and an elite goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy to match up against Montreal superstar Carey Price.

The first two games are in Tampa, Fla., before switching to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.

Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme, who has been isolating since Game 2 of the semifinals due to a positive COVID-19 test, is scheduled to return to the Habs bench for Game 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2021.

The Canadian Press