Montreal Canadiens can get back in the playoffs but will need some help
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens can return to their wild-card spot, but they’ll need some good results from the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Montreal Canadiens did a solid job in bouncing back to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers. Brendan Gallagher tied his career high in goals from last season scoring his 31st while Shea Weber doubled on the lead in the second period. Sean Courtier did respond for the Flyers on the powerplay, but Max Domi capitalized on an empty-net opportunity getting goal number 25 allowing the Habs to get the two points.
Those two points didn’t put the Montreal Canadiens into a playoff spot, but it did bring them closer to the promised line. Part of that comes with Columbus losing that night 4-2 to the Calgary Flames. Not the best way to start their Canadian road trip on the rest, however, the Habs are only one point behind them so hey sweet right?
The scheme of tonight’s game against the New York Islanders doesn’t change. Each match from here on out is going to be the biggest of the season, and the Montreal Canadiens have a chance to get back into a wild-card spot.
A victory will have the Habs walk out of the Bell Centre (second best NHL arena according to the NHLPA) with 85 points, but it’s more complicated than that. Here is where the rest of the year can get pretty frustrating. 85 points is where Montreal will be at if they win but whether they’re in a playoff spot or not depends on whether the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Edmonton Oilers or not.
Edmonton is coming off a 7-2 beatdown at the hands of the St. Louis Blues and has nothing much to play for as they sit seven points out of a spot. They do however have one of the most dangerous duos in the NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid is McDavid and has his third consecutive 100-point season. Draisaitl, on the other hand, is having a career year that’s seen him score 43 goals.
However, aside from those two and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, that’s all Edmonton has. Columbus made it clear they’re going for it and will see this as a game they need to win to ensure their spot in the playoffs. And that will be a problem for the Montreal Canadiens.
The same goes for the Carolina Hurricanes who aren’t too far separated from the Habs and Blue Jackets. They’ll be taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that’s a challenge no one in the league is looking forward to.
So it’ll be key for the Montreal Canadiens to get another win, but the scoreboard will be important to pay attention to as well.
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