Buffalo missed the playoffs the past 14 seasons, vaulting from seventh in the Atlantic Division last season to first this year under coach Lindy Ruff; the youthful, smartly rebuilt Canadiens, under coach Martin St. Louis, played one playoff round last season and show great promise not just for the future, but the present.
Gionta is especially impressed by the play of veteran Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher, who arrived in Montreal in 2012-13, Gionta’s fourth season. A healthy scratch the first four games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round this postseason, Gallagher dressed for Game 5 and scored on his first shift.
“I love the passion that ‘Gally’ still brings to the game,” Gionta said. “I was cheering in my living room when I saw him score once he got the chance. You know he’s the ultimate competitor, the ultimate teammate.
“You know it was eating him alive not being in the fight with everybody. When Gally got that chance and scored in his first shift, that summed him up. I’ve obviously got a huge soft spot for the kid. He came in super young and reminded me of myself when I was young, just a lot of parallels. I’ll root for that guy all day long.”
