Montreal, the most successful franchise in the National Hockey League, is only one win from gaining the Stanley Cup finals

The advance notice before the National Hockey League playoffs began was that it could be time for a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1993.

It pointed to the Western Conference’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets to deliver, but no mention of the 4th-seeded Montreal Canadiens.

But if you now see the most successful NHL Montreal Franchise in the Western  Conference semifinals and up 3-2 against the top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights after Tuesday night‘s 4-1 Habs’ win in Las Vegas, they just happen to be the surprising north of the border threat.

One more victory and they are in the Stanley Cup final against the Eastern winner, and it’s not Toronto, Edmonton or Winnipeg. Not only that, but these Canadiens are playing Thursday before their faithful at the historic Bell Centre in Montreal.

They have been quite a team in knocking off the Maple Leafs and the Oilers, and now are in quest of a record 25th Stanley Cup, the most prestigious prize on the ice. This latest one was the 11th consecutive playoff triumph, the most since it won its last Stanley Cup in ’93, its 34th Cup appearance.

There were an announced turnout of 17,699 that was left stunned by their Golden Knights now on the brink of elimination.

And Montreal’s forwards did most of the damage, with all four goals scored by them. Vegas, in turn, has tallied 11 goals but only four from its forwards.

In the Eastern Conference, the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning are up 3-2 over the New York Islanders, with game six at the Nassau Coliseum Wednesday nightin what could be the Isles final game there as its sparkling new arena at Belmont Park in Elmont is said to be finished in October.