Apr 8, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens ahead Nick Suzuki (14) performs the puck in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings in the course of the second interval on the Bell Centre. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Bolte-Imagn Pictures The Ottawa Senators have already clinched their spot on this yr’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Nonetheless, massive video games nonetheless stay on the regular-season schedule, together with Friday’s house contest in opposition to a Montreal Canadiens squad that additionally has loads on the road.
Ottawa (42-30-6, 90 factors) presently holds the highest wild-card spot within the Jap Convention, with the Canadiens (39-30-9, 87 factors) within the second spot. Whereas Montreal has not but clinched — the Canadiens can Friday beneath a number of situations — the staff can nonetheless catch the Senators and flip their seeds earlier than the common season ends subsequent week.
For now, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis is wanting on the larger image as his staff prepares for its last 4 common season video games.
“I believe taking part in nicely down the stretch, clinching a playoff spot, is vital,” St. Louis informed reporters Thursday. “If we’re capable of leap Ottawa, nice, however I believe our focus is to maintain going ahead.”
Because of a six-game successful streak, presently greatest within the NHL, Montreal is able to safe its first playoff bid since 2021. That is when the Habs made a stunning run to the Stanley Cup Closing. The staff has completed final within the Atlantic Division in every of the final three seasons.
The Canadiens are led by a younger core. Nick Suzuki, 25, has heated up down the stretch, scoring 17 factors in his final 12 video games. He is had multi-point video games in 5 of his final six, scoring six objectives and including six assists.
The middle additionally leads Montreal with 86 factors and is tied with defenseman Lane Hutson, 21, for probably the most assists with 58. Ahead Cole Caufield, 24, tops the staff with 37 objectives.
In objective, Sam Montembeault has gained his final 5 begins and has not allowed greater than two objectives in any of these video games.
Ottawa earned its first playoff berth since 2017 on Tuesday when Montreal beat the Detroit Purple Wings 4-1. That occurred moments after the Senators noticed a three-game successful streak finish with a 5-2 street defeat in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Coach Travis Inexperienced joked that he gave the gamers 30 seconds to rejoice the accomplishment. Whereas he praised his staff’s efficiency this season, he added making the postseason ought to develop into routine within the seasons forward.
“I believe the principle focus is us getting our recreation prepared for the playoffs,” he added. “Factors nonetheless matter … we need to end as excessive as we are able to.”
The Senators might also get a lift with the return of Nick Cousins because the staff wraps up the common season with a four-game homestand. The middle has been sidelined since late January with a knee damage however returned to follow with the staff on Thursday.
Cousins signed with the Senators as a free agent final summer season after serving to the Florida Panthers win their first Stanley Cup final season.
Defenseman Thomas Chabot has a three-game factors streak for Ottawa. He had a objective and an help in Tuesday’s loss at Columbus and had two assists within the staff’s 4-0 house win Sunday over the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Linus Ullmark has gained 5 of his final six begins and is coming off his fourth shutout of the season with Sunday’s win in opposition to Columbus.
–Area Stage Media
