The Montreal Canadiens could've had their playoff spot clinched, and we would be talking about which players they were resting for their last game of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, after losing three games in a row and the Columbus Blue Jackets' recent hot streak, Montreal finds itself in a must-win game on Wednesday night. If the Canadiens don't make the playoffs, they have no one to blame but themselves (and maybe Jet Greaves), but that won't make the failure any easier to comprehend.
The Ivan Demidov circus is out of the way as he came through for the team with a goal and an assist in his debut. However, Canadiens fans must hope that the team puts that behind them in this game to focus on getting at least one point and extending the season. It would be a catastrophic failure if they lose that playoff spot and burn a year off of Demidov's entry-level deal just for two games and a standing ovation at the Bell Centre. In a rebuild that has nearly been perfect for Kent Hughes, the possibility of that happening looms large.
How to Watch Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
Venue: Bell Centre
How to Watch: Sportsnet, RDS, Fanduel Sports Network, FuboTV
"“I won’t turn it down, but we’re expecting (the Blue Jackets) to win. That’s what they’ve been doing. They’ve been playing desperate hockey and playing their best hockey of the year. More likely than not, they’re going to win tonight, and that can’t change our mentality. As of now, when you leave the rink, it’s get ready to win a hockey game and take care of our own business. We still control our own fate, we’re not looking for help. It’s in this room and that’s where our focus is.”"Brendan Gallagher
Brendan Gallagher couldn't make it anymore clear in his media scrum on Tuesday. The Canadiens have to take care of their own business against the Hurricanes. The starting goaltenders haven't been revealed at the time of this writing, but most are expecting it to be Sam Montembeault. It'd be a difficult position to throw Jakub Dobes in at this point in time, no matter how badly the fans want it to happen.