The Lightning have been too much for the Canadiens to handle through three games of this championship series, capitalizing on some early errors Friday and keeping the pedal to the floor during a 6-3 Game 3 victory.

Carey Price can’t truly be faulted for Blake Coleman's spectacular Game 2 goal, nor the 0-2 hole in this series his Canadiens head home with. But these weren’t just any two games in a Hall of Fame career.

Part of the reason why the Montreal Canadiens have managed to play into the summer is the life their young players have brought to the lineup, and the way they’ve been able to grow through challenges during this extended playoff run.

The NHL, NHLPA, IOC and IIHF remain fully engaged in discussions around the Beijing Olympics, and progress has been made. But with roughly two weeks for the remaining issues to be resolved, time is not on their side.

With two goals and an assist in Game 1 on Monday night, Nikita Kucherov has had multiple 30-point performances for consecutive years in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What’s more impressive, he’s doing it at something less than 100 per cent.

From Julien BriseBois to Jon Cooper's backroom staff, the connection to the Montreal Canadiens run deep within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. That's what makes this Stanley Cup Final extra special for several members of the team.

The Montreal Canadiens arrive in this Stanley Cup Final feeling like a team of destiny. But to complete the job, they’re going to have to derail the pursuit of history by the NHL’s gold-standard franchise.