
Eight days ago it seemed that it would be just a matter of time before the Montreal Canadiens would be postseason bound. They had a commanding eight point lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens had 87 points, compared to 79 points for the Blue Jackets.
Over the last eight days, things have changed rapidly. The Blue Jackets have won five games in a row, and the Canadiens picked the worst time ever to have a three game losing streak. All of a sudden, the Blue Jackets are two points back of the Canadiens for the final playoff spot up for grabs in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canadiens can clinch the eighth spot in the East with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. However, if the Canadiens happen to lose in regulation tonight, the Blue Jackets clinch a playoff spot on Thursday with a regulation win over the New York Islanders.