Game 82: Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet East/Ontario/One (English)
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
In the Hurricanes region: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, Sportsnet+
With a late tying goal on the power play from Juraj Slafkovský, the Montreal Canadiens earned a point for an eighth time in nine games, a record of 6-1-2 in that span to grow their season point total from 75 to the 89 it currently sits at. Given how all the teams in the wild-card race were playing when that run began, it appeared that that run would be enough to get the Habs in the playoffs.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, however, found a second win a little bit later than the Canadiens did, rattling off five consecutive wins on their active streak. The only way Montreal’s post-season hopes could possibly be dashed is if Columbus could win the final six games of its season in regulation time, and they are one away from accomplishing that feat.
Even that improbable run by Columbus may not be enough because, for the fourth and final time, Montreal can claim the second wild-card place on its own. The Canadiens earned a point with a great defensive effort versus the Toronto Maple Leafs to remove the need for a regulation win to clinch. Two nights ago that late tying goal erased the requirement of a win to get it done. As they get set to host the Carolina Hurricanes in the last game of the regular season, they need one point to make their pre-season dream a reality.
| Canadiens | Statistics | Hurricanes |
|---|---|---|
| 39-31-11 | Record | 47-28-5 |
| 47.5% (28th) | Scoring-chances-for % | 57.4% (1st) |
| 2.95 (17th) | Goals per game | 3.24 (9th) |
| 3.20 (23rd) | Goals against per game | 2.74 (8th) |
| 20.4% (21st) | PP% | 18.6% (25th) |
| 80.9% (9th) | PK% | 84.1% (1st) |
| 1-1-0 | Head-to-Head Record | 1-1-0 |
It will be something like a pre-season roster the Hurricanes fly to Montreal today as they already know their playoff matchup (they’ll host the New Jersey Devils) and want to let some players rest. Only the recalls have been announced so far — two forwards and two defencemen — but you would expect some of their most-used players are the scratches, maybe those who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off and didn’t get that rest time. That means Montreal won’t face the same team the Devils will in the playoffs, and that should improve its chances at least a little bit.
Montreal missed its opportunity to rest any stars with a playoff berth still up in the air in the last game, and we’re seeing the players run out of energy as the toll of this torrid run in the second half of the season becomes apparent. The anxiety of the situation isn’t helping on that front either.
On Monday, after seeing a fast start from top prospect Ivan Demidov with an assist and then a goal in the first period, his teammates looked like they were hoping he could single-handedly win them the game, and he was perhaps the main reason why they claimed the key point from the match. Now at least they know what he’s capable of, which right now is boosting the third line to one that has the ability to score. If the top two trios that have been producing all through the run that began in late December can muster the energy to join in on the offence, the needed point will be within reach.
