There's this beer commercial getting a lot of play (and eliciting plenty of yuks) in the long, often barren expanse between Victoria, British Columbia, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.: A Canadian guy is in a bar, see, drinking the sponsor's product, of course, minding his own business and seated next to a guy from the States and his buddies.

	Ottawa -- along with Montreal and Toronto -- have reason to celebrate so far in the playoffs.

"So, you're Canadian, eh?" guffaws the U.S. guy, winking at his cronies. "A Canuck, eh? Johnny Canuck, eh?"

Giggles all around. "So," the U.S. guy ploughs on, "where's your pet beaver?"

"Matter of fact," says the Canadian quietly, "he's right here." And he reaches down, pulls up this cuddly looking beaver, compiler of sticks, builder of dams and symbol of the nation, and places the little fella on the bar.

"Attack."

Cut to the suds, then cut back to the bar, where the beaver -- a la the Killer Rabbit from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" -- has the noisy guy by the throat and is gnawing away.

Well, we think it's funny.

And there's something oddly symbolic about that 30-second spot right about now. Because the beaver actually is biting back. Three Canadian teams -- the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs -- are included in the NHL's final eight. Ottawa knocked off the $55 million Philadelphia Flyers, the Habs silenced the Eastern Division's No. 1 seeds from Beantown and the Leafs emerged, scarred but triumphant, from a bitter battle against the New York Islanders.

Why, it's enough to make the buttons on that Hudson's Bay jacket pop with pride.

In the last seven years, only one team -- the Maple Leafs of '98-99 -- has inched its way as far as the conference finals. During that span, only once, in 1997-98, have three Canadian-based clubs burrowed their way into the second round. All three -- Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal -- were then dispatched in short order.

With the Leafs and Sens set to collide in one of the East semifinals, there'll be at least one Canadian club with a chance to play for Lord Stanley's old silver chalice. Granted, the power base is distinctly out West, where the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues reside. But the very possibility of, say, a blood-feud Toronto-Montreal East final or a Highway 417 series between the Habs and Senators for a trip to the big dance has galvanized a nation. Especially with two of the three teams -- Ottawa and Montreal -- underdog overachievers easy for the fence-sitting fan to embrace. It also provides the proof (illusion?) that franchises with relatively meager budgets can, with shrewd management and judicious spending, ice competitive teams alongside the monster money madness of major U.S. markets (the Leafs, of course, play on a different field than the cost-conscious Sens and Canadiens, but, please remember, it's been 35 years since Darling Buds carted off the Cup, and the desperation level in Toronto is palpable).

Never underestimate the pride factor involved with Canadians and hockey. In a turbulent economic time that threatens the existence of three, perhaps four, of the remaining six Canadian clubs, this postseason resurgence means much to not only the three teams involved but to the entire country.

"We often say, when the Canadiens win, people are smiling in the subways," Canadiens' president Pierre Boivin told the Montreal Gazette, "and when they lose, people are miserable.

A long playoff run can turn a loss into a break-even proposition or maybe a shade better. And it makes irritated ownership breathe just that much easier and instill the belief that, hey, maybe despite everything, this can still work.

"I'm not trying to be arrogant about it but as the Canadiens go in a lot of ways so goes the mood of Montrealers -- and certainly at playoff time. People have a bounce in their step, they're happy, they have re-engaged their relationship and their passion -- not just for the team, but for the game."

The Senators went out and royally POed their fans by bowing out in the first round the past three seasons, the most ignoble effort being swept last spring by the Leafs. This, after teasing the faithful with solid regular-seasons and the golden promise of playoff success. That led to a 5 percent drop in attendance this regular season, and a nonsellout for Game 3 of the Philadelphia series, the first Senators' playoff game in six years not to have a full house. Bet there won't be a seat to be had this round -- or, perhaps, beyond?

The other major factor in the equations here is financial. The Senators announced losses of around $7 million last season, which included two playoff home dates. Despite not adding to their $28 million (U.S.) payroll, they figured to drop about that much this year. That is, until the Sens shocked the fat-cat Flyboys.

In the space of five games, a little over a week, their bottom line improved immeasurably.

While no one is willing to give out with specific numbers, it's generally acknowledged that each first-round playoff home date is worth $500,000 to a team. With ticket price increases, push that up to $750,000 in the next two and upwards of $1 million per game for a Stanley Cup final turn. That ain't chump change to teams working on a 50-cent dollar. A long playoff run can turn a loss into a break-even proposition or maybe a shade better. And it makes irritated ownership breathe just that much easier and instill the belief that, hey, maybe despite everything, this can still work. For Ottawa and Montreal, everything gets easier. Peddling tickets, jerseys and stuffed bears holding sticks and wearing plastic helmets. Sidling up to the corporate community. Going back to their season-ticket holders in search of renewals.

"No one wants to be associated with a loser," Senators' president and CEO Ray Mlakar told the Ottawa Citizen. "Everybody likes success."

And success, naturally, is relative. But at least there's a buzz in the air in the country that counts the game as its own. Coming as this does on the heels of the Olympic men's and women's triumphs, there is a sense of pride, of hope, for the first time in a while.

As these three Canadian teams venture into the meat of the playoff run, looking to accomplish something that hasn't been done since 1993 in Montreal, this means more than mere civic pride or an improved bank account for some philanthropic millionaire.

The beaver is biting back.

Call it balm to a nation's tortured soul.

George Johnson of the Calgary Herald is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.