Toffoli, Canadiens ignoring doubters: 'Feels like nobody believes in us'
Tyler Toffoli and the Montreal Canadiens are perfectly content ignoring the detractors of their unlikely playoff run as they await their Round 3 opponent.
"It kind of feels like nobody believes in us," Toffoli said Monday after Montreal completed a second-round sweep of the Winnipeg Jets, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "The only people we have are ourselves and our fans, which clearly - with the small amount of fans in the building it sounded a lot more than what it was - are behind us, and our friends and family.
"We're sticking together. We're playing as one, and we're winning games and having fun."
Toffoli, 29, scored the overtime winner in Game 4 to send the Canadiens to a semifinal series against either the Colorado Avalanche or the Vegas Golden Knights. The electrifying tally cemented a seventh consecutive playoff win for a Montreal team that hasn't trailed for 437:34 - an impressive streak that dates back to Game 4 of the Canadiens' first-round versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"These guys are playing as well as any team has ever played," said Montreal goaltender Carey Price.
The Canadiens thoroughly dominated the Jets in Round 2, outscoring them 14-6 while controlling 52.69% of shot attempts, 58.37% of scoring chances, and 63.74% of expected goals in all situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Montreal will be making its first Round 3 appearance since 2014.