Darren Dreger: Expect more compete and more energy when Vegas and Montreal face off
Third round, conference finals, semi-finals, whatever name one decides to use, it all means the same thing: win four games and you're playing for the Stanley Cup.
In the unique and never-before-seen 2021 NHL season, long-suffering Habs fans and short-suffering Knights fans get to see the never-before-seen, zero history, no baggage contest between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The bleu-blanc-rouge versus the matte black-gold-red.
The former captain (no. 67) versus the former semi-regular third-line defenceman (if Jon Merrill even gets a call).
One of Quebec's finest goalies of the past almost two decades versus the finest goalie BC has ever produced.
TSN 690 analyst Darren Dreger, and anyone who watched the Knights storm back from two down to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in the last round, knows things are about to get very different for Montreal, but he is not buying the American hockey fanbase and media that are calling for a stars and stripes decked out steamroller to take out Canada's lone representative in the final four with little effort.
"I have a lot of time for the Vegas Golden Knights, I have since the start of the season, but they're playing in the same league," said Dreger. "Of course the environment is different. Vegas home games are going to be absolutely electric, but why can't the Habs feed off that too."
When it comes down to hockey, Dreger sees the Habs' balance as up to the task against Vegas' depth.
"I think the Vegas Golden Knights perhaps have more depth up front, but I've seen enough from the young guys and the balance between the 30 somethings and 20 somethings to know that they're simply not going to roll over," he said. "I think it's going to be a heck of a series."
Dreger gives Vegas the edge, but thinks the series will go six or seven games.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
At least 13 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least 13 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.