With one game left in the regular season, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Montreal Canadiens. After a late-season stumble, the Canadiens are clinging to the final playoff spot by one point. That’s all that separates them from the postseason, and it all comes down to their final game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
If the Canadiens earn one point against the Hurricanes, they will clinch the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. If they lose in regulation, the door swings open for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have caught fire at the right time and could steal that last spot with a win over the New York Islanders on Thursday. Considering how both teams have trended over the last stretch, there’s genuine concern in Montreal.
Momentum Moving in Opposite Directions
Montreal has dropped three straight games, looking flat, disorganized, and outmatched at times. Their most recent performances have raised questions about their readiness for the postseason, both mentally and physically. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have been a revelation, winning five consecutive games and playing their best hockey of the season when it matters most. While the Canadiens have faltered under pressure, the Blue Jackets have embraced it, thriving in high-stakes matchups and showing the type of swagger that makes them a real threat.
Test of Canadiens Young Core
Wednesday’s game is more than a ticket to the postseason. It’s a test of character, especially for the Canadiens’ young core. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Juraj Slafkovsky have been central to the team’s rebuild and progression, but now comes the real proving ground: playing under playoff-type pressure with everything on the line.
The team’s youth has been both a strength and a weakness this season. They’ve brought energy, speed, and optimism to the lineup, but they’ve also shown inexperience in managing momentum, closing out games, and responding to adversity. That inexperience has been especially costly during this recent skid, where the Habs have often started games well, only to fade as the contest grew tighter.
The group has already let two golden opportunities slip away. The Candiens dropped back-to-back extra-time games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks that could have booked their ticket to the playoffs. Those were moments they needed to close, and they didn’t. Whether it was missed assignments, untimely penalties, or simply failing to seize momentum when it mattered, the inability to finish has brought them to the brink.
Hurricanes Stand in the Way
The Hurricanes will not be an easy hurdle. While they may already be locked into their berth and will rest some players, they are known for their structured, relentless style of play. They don’t give much for free, and their forecheck can overwhelm even the most composed defensive units. For a Habs team that’s struggled with defensive zone exits and puck management during their losing streak, it’s a dangerous matchup.
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But pressure can do strange things. Sometimes, it cracks teams; sometimes, it forges something stronger. This game will reveal which version of the Canadiens will define their season. Will they respond with the desperation and intensity that’s been missing? Or will the pressure prove too much for this still-developing squad?
Blue Jackets Lurking
Columbus, on the other hand, will be watching closely. Their recent surge has been impressive. They’re playing fast, aggressive hockey, and they’re getting timely production from their top players. If the Canadiens fail to deliver against the Hurricanes, the Blue Jackets will enter Thursday’s game against the Islanders with everything to gain. The Isles, who are already eliminated and are coasting into the offseason, won’t have the same fire or stakes, making this a potentially favourable matchup for Columbus.
Regardless of the outcome, this moment is invaluable for a young team like the Canadiens. These high-stakes situations, where every shift carries weight, every mistake is magnified, and every play could be the difference between elation and heartbreak, are what forge character. It’s one thing to grow in the regular-season comfort zone, but it’s another to feel the true pressure of must-win hockey. Whether they punch their ticket to the playoffs or fall just short, this experience will stay with them. It teaches composure, accountability, and resilience, intangibles that no amount of talent alone can provide. For a group built around youth, these lessons are not setbacks – they’re the building blocks of a future contender.
