WASHINGTON — “The towel tradition always gives me goosebumps,” Mike Matheson admitted.
Growing up in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, a short drive from the Bell Centre, he witnessed firsthand the electric atmosphere of Canadiens playoff games, fueled by roaring fans and waving towels.
Back then, if someone had told Matheson that a lengthy rebuild was necessary, forcing fans to wait for that playoff excitement, he would have been skeptical.
“I wouldn’t have thought it possible,” he said. “The passion around this team has always been so intense; it was hard to imagine fans accepting a rebuild.”
Matheson, now 31, felt the weight of history when he joined the Canadiens at the start of a significant rebuild – just months after fans celebrated a Stanley Cup Final appearance, their first in 28 years.
He was understandably apprehensive about how fans would react to the inevitable losing that comes with such a process.
However, as the Canadiens prepared for their first playoff series since the rebuild began, Matheson reflected on the surprising support from the fanbase.
“They had come so close in 2021, and then things drastically declined,” he noted. “That’s a tough time to be a fan, when there’s little hope and you’re spending money to watch your team struggle. Parking, tickets, food, drinks – it all adds up when your team is often getting blown out. But what was incredible over the last three years was even when we were down 4-0, fans would erupt in the third period, trying to rally us and do their part.”
“It really highlights how much the Canadiens mean to this city and these fans, and their unwavering love for the team.”
What does it mean to Matheson to repay this patience and support?
“Being part of this turnaround and giving them something to genuinely cheer about this year feels amazing,” he expressed, anticipating even greater excitement this spring. Canadiens fans are ready to display their flags, create traffic jams downtown en route to the Bell Centre, and enthusiastically wave those iconic playoff towels.
Matheson recognizes that most fans didn`t expect this playoff berth so soon. The emergence of young stars like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook, Kaiden Guhle, and Lane Hutson has ignited hope that this series against the Capitals is just the beginning.
This core, considered one of the NHL`s most promising, with future prospects like Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, and Jacob Fowler, and with Suzuki as the highest-paid among them at a reasonable $7.87 million cap hit, signals a new dawn for the Canadiens.
It`s more than just excitement; it`s a validation of belief.
Suzuki’s impressive 30-goal, 89-point season further fuels optimism. His contract, relatively modest compared to other elite players as the salary cap is set to rise, gives fans even more reason to believe in the future and savor the playoff experience this young team will gain.
Fans appreciated the journey to reach the playoffs this season, viewing this series as an unexpected and welcome bonus.
Coach Martin St. Louis, also a Montreal native, shares the sentiment of giving back to the fans.
“This market lives and breathes hockey, especially playoff hockey. Fans crave this every year, and as players and coaches, we want to deliver that,” he said before heading to Washington. “Growing up here, I eagerly awaited spring and playoff hockey. We understand the playoff atmosphere is integral to this market, and we’re thrilled to bring it back this year.”
However, complacency isn`t an option.
St. Louis aims to push further, instilling confidence in the Canadiens, with Suzuki stating after clinching a playoff spot, “I like our chances against anyone.”
He acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Capitals, who were consistently among the top teams in the Eastern Conference throughout the regular season.
