At several points last year, it appeared the Canadiens' year would end with the final regular-season game.

The club was devastated by injuries and, worst of all, their captain Saku Koivu had been diagnosed with abdominal cancer. But with spring came a remarkable and inspiring recovery by Koivu, a reconnection between center Doug Gilmour and his game and a return from injury of midseason acquisition Donald Audette -- all in time to spark the team's playoff run.

Most instrumental of all, goaltender Jose Theodore kept the Canadiens in the hunt down the stretch and made sure they landed a postseason berth. Although they just squeaked in, they proved to be the mouse that roared, knocking off the No. 1 seeded Bruins. Theodore couldn't take them any farther, but his season -- which earned him the Hart and Vezina Trophies as the league MVP and best goaltender, respectively -- showed he could be a force to be reckoned with for a long time to come.