MONTREAL — You`ve got to believe.
And the Montreal Canadiens do believe. It`s one of the main reasons they survived the first period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, keeping their hopes alive for a sixth consecutive win and extending their lead over their pursuers in the second wild-card spot to eight points.
Samuel Montembeault was another key factor. The Canadiens` goalie stopped 23 of 24 shots in the first 20 minutes, while his teammates were trying to recover from playing their fifth game in eight nights—against a Red Wings team that was playing with their season practically on the line.
Montembeault steadied them.
Then the Canadiens rallied, outshooting the Wings 17-13 and outscoring them 4-0 in the remaining 40 minutes.
