After the Montreal Canadiens advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 on Thursday evening, there was a tendency to attach a mystic quality to their achievement, in lieu of exploring their unconventional, widely unexpected playoff run.
Montreal wasn't expected to beat Toronto, let alone sweep Winnipeg, before suffocating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games after finishing 18th overall in the regular season.
But the time to attribute the Canadiens' run to pure luck has long passed, as they've adapted parts of their identity at a dizzying pace. Labeling the Canadiens a "team of destiny" is to seek refuge from examining the quantifiable reasons behind their unlikely path to the Final.