Canadiens Draw Heat as NHL Cracks Down During Playoff Buzz

The Canadiens are suddenly under the microscope, and the reaction around the playoff numbers shows just how fast pressure can turn public in this league. Montreal fans rarely miss a chance to read the tea leaves, and when the NHL hands down a heavy penalty, the noise travels quickly. The only thing louder than the criticism is the sense that this story is now part discipline, part playoff theater, and all of it matters in a market that lives and dies with the team.