TORONTO | Even today, the images are imbued with emotion. Shea Weber, in tears, receives hugs from his teammates while, at the other end of the ice, the Lightning players celebrate.
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The Canadian then just lost the Stanley Cup final. Even if no one expected to see the Montreal team reach this stage, the captain is inconsolable.
Archive Photo, Ben Pelosse
“I knew it was my last chance,” he told reporters at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“For young people like [Nick] Suzuki et al [Cole] Caufield, the emotion was not the same since this final came early in their career. Besides, I warned them later. You never know when you’re going to come back.”
Weber is proof of this. The British Columbian took 16 years to reach this final round.
An unforgettable journey
The former Predators and Canadiens saw the dream of seeing his name engraved on the Stanley Cup disappear just three victories from the goal. A bitter disappointment if ever there was one. Except that the Habs surprised so many people by getting this far that Weber’s face lights up with a smile when he thinks back to these two months.
“I am very proud of what we accomplished. I have good memories of this journey. I would have liked so much that it could have been done in a normal context with the arena full, he mentioned. I played other playoff games in Montreal earlier in my career. I can only imagine the electricity and magic that would have been in the Bell Center for a Stanley Cup final.
We will remember that before joining the Lightning in the final, the Canadian had created a first surprise by eliminating the Maple Leafs, in seven games, during the first round.
With the exception of the second game, lost 5 to 1, the Montrealers had limited the Torontonians to 13 goals in six games. Led by Carey Price, in net, and Weber, at the blue line, the Canadian’s defensive brigade relied on veterans Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson, Jeff Petry and Brett Kulak.
“We were difficult to face. We had a lot of fun because we took to heart the challenge of muzzle this energetic attack. It snowballed and set the table for the future.”
Weber will have the chance to reconnect with the Bell Center (full this time) on Saturday when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit. The Canadian will take advantage of this match to honor the career of his former captain.
Thank you, mom
But until then, Weber will officially enter the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday evening. His speech is already ready. And he expects to shed a few tears. In fact, his eyes became moist when he spoke about his mother, who died a few years ago.
“I wouldn’t be here without her and my dad. I know she sees me, but it’s a strange feeling. I know she’s probably very proud,” he said.
Some former teammates, including Carey Price, are expected in Toronto to attend the evening. Moreover, there is no doubt in Weber’s mind that Price will be the next Canadiens player to enter this pantheon.
“He will definitely be there. No doubt about it.”
If Weber earned his ticket in his first year of eligibility, we can expect the same for Price.
That is to say, from next year.
