Habs believe they can rally back

— -- BROSSARD, Quebec -- The locals are restless.

Their Montreal Canadiens are one loss away from having their underdog spring run strike midnight, at the hands of the New York Rangers, which explains perhaps some of the lunacy from local radio callers Monday.

One caller to TSN690, the city's English all-sports radio station, first lamented that Canadiens assistant coach Gerard Gallant for some reason wasn't interested in acting on the suggestions emailed to him to improve the power play.

Imagine that.

The same radio caller also believed it would make sense to move veteran defenseman Francis Bouillon to center.

Generally, Habs fans are smart, educated students of the game; after all, they make up what is universally regarded as the heart of hockey, as passionate a marketplace as there is on this planet. But when your team is on the precipice, it invites irrational thought.

We bring you back now to the real world. The challenge is indeed daunting: Montreal has to beat 

Play with the lead. Score on the power play. Beat Lundqvist. The checklist is ready. Now the Habs have to prove it's a list born out of reality, not fiction.