You would have thought Montreal Canadiens fans would have learned by now it’s never over until it’s over. Yet, almost on perfect cue, as they started singing “Ole” with just over 13 minutes left in the third period, the visiting Carolina Hurricanes cut their two-goal lead in half, to bring into doubt the Habs’ playoff aspirations once again.
Four games ago, the Habs had pulled eight points ahead of the field, needing just three more points to clinch. Had all of the other teams vying for the same second wild-card spot each lost out on three points along the way, that would have done it too, but the pesky Columbus Blue Jackets decided to go unbeaten over that same time span, putting the onus squarely on the Canadiens’ shoulders, who had fallen short time and again up to this Game 82, against the Hurricanes.
Game Recap
Based on the headline (and any Canadiens-related media readily available on this night), you probably already know. The Habs pulled off what had seemed impossible as recently as late February, at which point they started on an unlikely 15-5-6 run to end their season on Wednesday.
Yes, the Canadiens clinched a spot with a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes and will face the top-seeded Washington Capitals in Round 1. But how exactly did they pull it off against the Hurricanes, specifically? Put simply, with a huge break to start, as the visitors decided to rest many of their veterans ahead of their own playoff run.
Related: Projected Lineups for the Hurricanes vs Canadiens – 4/16/25
Regardless, the Canadiens got it done, first by opening the scoring a few minutes in, when Kaiden Guhle wristed one past Hurricanes starter Pyotr Kochetkov, who made 17 saves in the loss. Guhle giveth and Guhle taketh away though, as Taylor Hall pulled the Canes even soon thereafter with a turnaround shot from in close that went in off the Habs defenseman.
Guhle redeemed himself, after Nick Suzuki scored the go-ahead go with just under four minutes to go in the second period. Guhle potted his second of the contest with just over a minute left in the frame, marking the first time all season a Canadiens defenseman had scored twice in one game. More notably, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson collected assists on the goal. It was Hutson’s 60th of the season, pulling him even with Larry Murphy, who set the record with the Los Angeles Kings in 1980-81, for the most by a rookie defenseman.
Tyson Jost scored the goal referenced at the top of the piece, depositing a loose puck in the crease past Canadiens starter Sam Montembeault, who made 27 saves. A few tense moments ensued before Jake Evans sealed the win for the Canadiens with an empty-net goal. The Habs thus end their (regular) season with a 40-31-11 record and 91 points, coincidentally the same total as the Capitals last year, when they snuck into the postseason.
The 47-29-5 Hurricanes conclude their regular season on Thursday against the host Ottawa Senators. The inspirational Blue Jackets will meanwhile fall just short. They would have needed a regulation win against the New York Islanders in their finale tomorrow (and for the Canadiens to lose in regulation tonight) to make it through by way of a tiebreaker. The Habs can rest easy though, at least until Game 1, having accomplished significantly more than many doubters thought possible (as recently as just a few days ago when they blew a two-goal lead against the Chicago Blackhawks; Not tonight, though).
