Riding a seven-game winning streak, the Montreal Canadiens wrapped up their road trip with a visit to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. After opening up a three-goal lead in the second period, they seemed a tad preoccupied, surrendering two goals to set up a stressful third frame. The Devils would equalize with their net empty in the final minutes, and the game would ultimately go all the way to a shootout as the Habs looked to save their winning streak.
Oliver Kapanen put home a clutch shootout goal to do just that, and put the Habs on the cusp of officially clinching the playoffs in the process.
Oliver Kapanen goes five hole to make it eight straight wins, and a 100-point season for the #Habs pic.twitter.com/xmbm7aNebJ
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 5, 2026
This team isn’t just chasing the playoffs at this point, as that 100-point mark puts them level with the Buffalo Sabres, and just two points behind Tampa Bay for first place in the Atlantic Division. It’s not just about punching that ticket now, it’s about trying to earn home-ice advantage. They were ahead of schedule in making the playoffs last year, expected pre-season to once again be a wild card team, but have proven themselves to be much more of a threat in the most competitive division in hockey. They’re chasing that top spot, not just any spot.
But we also know that some history is being chased simultaneously. Every single person in attendance knew that Cole Caufield came in with 49 goals on the season. Habs fans packed the building in New Jersey hoping to be there for something that hasn’t happened in the lifetime of the majority of the players out there; a 50-goal Habs scorer. That seemed to be the preoccupation once the team got out to their three-goal lead.
Zachary Bolduc tried a hail mary on the power play to give Caufield a look, and it directly resulted in a shorthanded goal against.
Les Devils réduisent l'écart en 2e période grâce à un but de Jack Hughes en désavantage numérique 😳 pic.twitter.com/63A5Sx0yvK
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 5, 2026
At the end of the video, you can clearly see Caufield addressing Bolduc, seeming to ask “what are you doing?” Whether he was referring to the ill-advised stretch pass, or Bolduc’s effort getting back against the two-on-one is unknown, but he obviously wasn’t too impressed. Caufield wants that 50-goal milestone, but if his two assists during that game in situations where he may have been able to shoot were any indication, he’s not willing to compromise his team’s chances of winning to get there.
They have never had to force the issue when it comes to him scoring, and they shouldn’t start now. He has come in clutch for this team on so many occasions, there is no need to go searching for opportunities for him, he’ll find them when the time is right. They pulled this one out anyways, but it feels like the milestone may have distracted them enough to take their eyes off the prize a little in New Jersey.
They have four straight games at the Bell Centre. If they just play their game, Caufield will make some history, and they’ll keep fighting as a team to do something else that few expected them to be capable of.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back tonight, when the Habs will host the Devils with a chance to officially book their ticket to the playoffs.
