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MONTREAL — Rowdy fans outside the Bell Centre were already celebrating — cheering and launching fireworks — before the Montreal Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights to advance to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993 on Thursday.

Here are five things to watch in Canadian sports this weekend SEVENTH HEAVEN: Montreal Canadiens fans will have their eyes fixed on Friday night's Tampa Bay Lightning-New York Islanders game.

MONTREAL — The Stanley Cup dream — this crazy, improbable dream — is alive and well for the Montreal Canadiens. And, quite frankly, on some level it makes perfect sense in a year like no other.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his first grand slam in a six-run first inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks say their decision to release a player suspended by the Canadian Football League club after Toronto Police launched an investigation into a possible hate crime earlier this month was based on roster size.

TORONTO — Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak and world champions Kylie Masse and Maggie Mac Neil headline Canada's 26-swimmer team for the Tokyo Olympics.

VANCOUVER — Canadian basketball player Kim Gaucher says she's being "forced to decide between being a breastfeeding mom or an Olympic athlete." The 37-year-old from Mission, B.C.

The pandemic literally hit home for Toronto FC's Quentin Westberg during the pre-season. The 35-year-old goalkeeper was one of the club members to contact COVID-19. And it spread through his wife and four children.

As the designated team leader of the Israel Start-Up Nation entry at the Tour de France, Canadian Michael Woods doesn't plan to waste any time making his mark.

Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson and Ontario's horse racing fans will have a lot to celebrate Canada Day. Both Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ont.