The NHL is on a heater.

The TV ratings are on a heater.

The hockey fans across the USA are on a heater.

The Montreal Canadiens are on a heater.

For those of us who have grown up following hockey, this is something special we are seeing.

For those of us who remember the Montreal Canadiens of the Jean Beliveau-Henri Rocket Richard era on TV, this is unique.

For those who sat and watched Guy LaFleur, Ken Dryden, Yvan Cournoyer, Larry Robinson and others, this is unique.  

The Flying Frenchmen of decades ago has been brought alive.  What young head coach Marty St Louis has built is fascinating.  A combo of speed, size, amazing skill, coupled with size on the blueline and a no-fear beast of a goaltender between the pipes.

This team is more than the 51-goal scorer Cole Caufield or his running mate Nick Suzuki.  Is it also the young Russians led by Devidov and Slavkovsky.  It’s the crusty veterans like a Phillip Danault.  It’s role players like Alex Newhook.  

It’s a cross section of solid blueliners paced by 2nd year star Lane Hutson.

And then there is Jakub Dobes, the European import who played in the USHL in Omaha, then went to Ohio State.  He has arrived at age 24-big, fast, physical, an East-West goalie, and a tough guy with traffic infront of his own net.

Here’s a Carolina Hurricane team, having gone (8-0) in playoffs, and having 11-days off, jumping out to a lead (;33) into the game and getting ambushed by team speed.

Here’s Montreal responding (:27) later, and then reeling off 3-goals in 8-minutes, and finishing the opening period (4-1) in the lead.

Hard to believe how wild the game began.

Montreal never gives up.  They entered Thursday night having gone (6-2) on the road.  A team that was outshot (30-9) and won in Tampa Bay.

A Habs team that won twice on Buffalo ice.  Won two Game 7’s on the road.  They deserve to be here still playing.

Not saying this is a Stanley Cup finals team, but as young as they are, with 11-players in the playoffs for the first time, this team has no fear.

Legendary coach Toe Blake, looking down from heaven, would be impressed.

And you take this Habs team, add in what the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo did going deep into the playoffs, and you can understand why I used the word ‘heater’.

TV ratings for the first round were up (26%).  The second round TV ratings rocketed up (76%), with an all time high (2.2M) viewers per game regardless of who was playing or what time zone the game was in.

No Gordy Howe hat tricks, goal-assist-fighting major.

No Great Gretzky setting up shop behind the net.

No McDavid-Draisaitl greatness on a power play

But a (6-2) Montreal win…a (4-0) record this year vs Carolina..and a Canadiens road record this postseason (7-2).

As they say in Quebec, ‘Bloody Hell’, what a performance.

But something those of us who broadcast the game, covered the game, watch the games now will say.

Hockey on a heater.  So is Montreal.

===================