A day to cheer for the Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks

The Montreal Canadiens can further establish a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Vancouver Canucks can help with that.

If you’re a fan of the Montreal Canadiens and want to see them in the playoffs this season, you’ll have to put on your dual allegiance hat on again. When I looked at the final stretch for the Habs, a couple of games stood out more than others. One of them is tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes where the Canadiens have a chance to tie things up in the standings.

Both teams played last night, and both teams got their respective victories. The Montreal Canadiens gave up the first goal of the night and let the Buffalo Sabres tie things up at three, but their offence came to play again leading the way to a 7-4 win.

Not only did the Habs beat Buffalo for the first time this year, their victory mathematically eliminated them, as well as the New York Rangers, from playoff contention. Hopefully karma doesn’t come back at any point. However, there is something empowering about being the team to take a team out of it completely, isn’t there?

Carolina had a big win as well, lighting up the Minnesota Wild for five goals while only allowing one. The game saw both Staal brothers find the scoreboard, but the Hurricanes’ depth generated and overwhelmed the Wild up until the final buzzer.

Last night was a must win for the Montreal Canadiens because of Buffalo’s position and expectations for the final set of games. This game is a must win because the playoffs are involved. Additionally, the Habs aren’t the only team the fanbase needs to cheer for.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are wrapping up their Canadian road trip with a game against the Vancouver Canucks. Their offence was dried up in Edmonton, and John Tortorella will surely, and in a calm manner, urge his team to dig in and respond.

The best case scenario is the Montreal Canadiens win while the Blue Jackets lose. That will further increase the lead the Habs have on them from three points to five. Even if the Canadiens drop this one, a Canucks victory can ease any frustration that can come out from that result.

So cheer your hardest for the Habs tonight as they head to Carolina on the second half of a back-to-back. And cheer for the Canucks to ensure the Blue Jackets are kept at bay.