from Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette,

There will be a savage hockey hangover in Montreal on Wednesday, and anywhere the Canadiens are cheered, a pounding in the temples and an emptiness in the heart.

There will be other emotions, too, covering pretty much the full spectrum.

This is how it is when the Habs’ playoff journey hits a screeching halt, as it did Tuesday in Amalie Arena.

The Tampa Bay Lightning was full value for its 4-1 victory, eliminating the Canadiens with a dominant effort in Game 6 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

Now, 94 games after it began, the Habs are done. They have been knocked out by the clinical performance of the Bolts, who advance to the Eastern final to face the winner of Wednesday’s Rangers-Capitals sudden-death match.

“Um … disappointed. That’s about it,” Canadiens goaltender Carey Price said in the first blush of elimination.

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