Weise: 'That's one I'll never forget'

TAMPA - On April 16, 2014, Dale Weise made Habs fans across the globe jump for joy.

It was Game 1 of the Canadiens' Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Weise's game-winning tally at the 18:08 mark of overtime secured a key road victory that sparked an extended playoff run.
While nearly five years have passed since the 30-year-old gritty forward buried the puck behind Anders Lindback courtesy of a perfect feed from Daniel Briere, Weise still recalls everything about the moments leading up to his first NHL postseason goal.
"I just remember being so excited. First time in the playoffs with Montreal, coming in on the road. I just remember our line had a really, really good night. Sitting beside Danny B, he was like - 'I don't know how many shifts we're going to get in overtime, but just be ready. We can make a difference.' And then we went out there and he makes a heck of a play to find me," said Weise, who beat Lindback top shelf with a laser-quick release from the slot. "To come up with a big win like that in Game 1, that's one I'll never forget."

Of the six playoff goals Weise has scored over the course of his career, five of which have come in a Canadiens uniform, he continues to rank this memorable marker among his favorites.
"That's got to be right up there. That's 1-1A," said Weise, before singling out a few others that stand out in his mind. "I think the Ottawa one was really big, the OT winner that put us up 3-0 [in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in 2015], and then the goal in Game 7 [of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2014] in Boston was probably No. 3. Those are all right up there as the top ones to me."
Needless to say, that goal in the Sunshine State will always hold a special place in the Winnipeg native's heart.
"It was amazing. You want to define yourself as a hockey player, you look at how you do in the hard moments. That's the playoffs, that's the biggest stage," explained Weise. "When you're on the road, and you have a fourth line come in and score an OT winner, lots of times it is your depth guys. Obviously, the top guys kind of cancel each other out because it's so tight-checking. That's what keeps my excitement going here as we move towards the playoffs. It's the best time to play hockey."

After putting the puck home, Weise remembers his cell phone blowing up with congratulatory texts and calls. People were reaching out to him from everywhere.
"It was wild. I had people texting me that I hadn't heard from in years. Random people I didn't even know had my number," said Weise with a laugh. "It was insane, obviously the biggest goal of my career up to that moment. Playoffs, Hockey Night in Canada, everyone in Canada was watching, all of my buddies. It was just a great moment."
Back in the building
Skating at Amalie Arena always brings back memories of the goal for Weise.
He believes it made him more comfortable playing road games in Tampa, which will hopefully help the Canadiens' cause on Saturday night when they square off against the League's top team.
"I always feel like I have success in this building. Since then, you just feel like you score a goal like that and you always kind of have confidence in the building," mentioned Weise. "I feel like for some reason I just always play well here and I think it comes from that goal."
Even sitting in the visitors' locker room is a cool reminder of the moment he handed the Lightning a big loss in their own barn.
"It's gotten a little bit of a facelift. It doesn't have the old blue stalls, so it looks a little different," cracked Weise, on the Canadiens' digs at the rink. "But when you get out there, the rink's still the same and you kind of get the same feeling every time you step out there."