What happened: The Montreal Canadiens have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending their postseason run. With Montreal out, no Canadian club remains in contention for this year's championship. The defeat closes the book on the last Canadian team standing in the bracket.
Why it matters: The result extends a drought that now stretches to 33 years: no Canadian NHL franchise has lifted the Stanley Cup since 1993. For a country that treats hockey as its national game, another spring without a homegrown champion deepens a long-running source of frustration across all seven Canadian markets.
By the numbers: The last Canadian team to win the Cup was the Montreal Canadiens themselves, in 1993 — making this elimination a pointed reminder of how long it has been. That gap now spans 33 years and counting.
What to watch: Attention turns to the Stanley Cup Final, where neither finalist is based in Canada, guaranteeing the drought will reach at least 34 years before next season.