Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993 TAG: 9305220067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: UNIONDALE, N.Y. LENGTH: Short
Now the Canadiens have a chance to add to their own record when they play the Islanders in Game 4 of the Wales Conference final tonight.
"The series is not over, but we have given ourselves a good cushion," Montreal coach Jacques Demers said as the Canadiens prepared for what could be the clincher. "We said it was better to be 3-0 than 2-1."
A victory would put the Canadiens into the Stanley Cup finals for the 29th time. They have won 23 Cups, the most league championships of any professional team in North America.
They also could break the playoffs winning streak mark today. Thursday night's 2-1 overtime triumph over the Islanders was their 11th straight, tying the single-season playoff record of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks last year.
Thursday night was their second straight overtime victory over the Islanders, emphasizing a trend in this year's fiercely competitive playoffs.
There have been 23 overtime games so far - seven more than the previous record established in the 1982 playoffs. The Canadiens have been involved in eight overtime games, winning a record seven so far.
"That just shows you how much parity there is in the league," said Montreal's Kirk Muller. "There are no games you can win if you're not ready."
The Isles face the longest odds of all in the playoffs. Only two teams have come back from 3-0 deficits in NHL playoff history - the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and 1975 Islanders.
by CNB