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The Canadiens no longer have one of the easiest schedules in the NHL
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
The Canadiens no longer have one of the easiest schedules in the NHL
Credit: Getty Images
Over the last week, it’s often been mentioned that the Canadiens had an easy schedule.

One of the reasons? Over the last week, the Bruins, Flyers, and Predators, three lower-ranking clubs, were on the menu. The Habs did what they had to do, winning three times in regulation.

Result? Today, they are in a good position to make the playoffs.

(Credit: Sportsnet)
How good of a position are they in to make the playoffs? When we look at the standings, we can see that the six points ahead of the Red Wings and Rangers are… enviable.

A win in 60 minutes tonight would bring the Habs’ chances of making the playoffs to 96.32%.

And on that topic, it’s interesting to note that to get there, the Canadiens won’t necessarily face easy-to-beat teams. According to Tankathon, the Habs have the 17th most difficult schedule right now.

That’s to say they’re in the middle of the pack.

(Credit: Tankathon)
Among the tough matchups, there are the Maple Leafs, Hurricanes, and Senators. And among the easy matchups (on paper, of course), there are the Blackhawks and Red Wings.

Obviously, this is based on the standings, but…

But you know as well as I do that tonight’s game against the Red Wings won’t be easy… and you also know that game #82 in Carolina might not mean anything for the Canes.

And what about the Habs’ opponents in the playoff race?

  • Red Wings: 2nd most difficult schedule in the NHL
  • Blue Jackets: 10th most difficult schedule in the NHL
  • Rangers: 12th most difficult schedule in the NHL
  • Islanders: 23rd most difficult schedule in the NHL

The Red Wings will face the Habs tonight at the Bell Centre before playing in Florida on Thursday and Friday against the Panthers and Lightning. The Stars will be in Michigan next Monday, and the team will finish on the road, on April 16 and 17, in New Jersey and Toronto.

The Blue Jackets will host the Senators tonight, the Sabres on Thursday, and the Capitals on Saturday before visiting those same Capitals the next day. Then, there will be a game in Philly on the 15th, and the season will end at home on the 17th, against the Islanders.

The Rangers will host the Flyers tomorrow before playing on Long Island the next day. They will play in Carolina on Saturday, in Sunrise on April 14, and will host the Lightning on the 17th.

The Islanders are in Nashville tonight and will host the Rangers on the 10th. They will go to Philly on Saturday and New Jersey on Sunday before returning home for a game against Washington on the 15th. And two days later, it will end in Columbus.

Note, in passing, that the Senators have the fourth easiest schedule in the league. The Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Canadiens are on the menu.

And for the Habs, as you probably know, it looks like this:

(Credit: NHL.com)
The Islanders will face two direct rivals in the race, which could help divide the points among the remaining teams.

Let’s recall that in a scenario where the Red Wings win all their remaining games (which is unlikely), the Canadiens would only need seven more points to secure their spot.

A win tonight in regulation would mean the Habs would have 87 points, and at 90 points, qualification would become automatic. We’d only be talking about three points in four games to go get.

That’s why, as Gilbert Delorme says, tonight is the biggest game of the year.


Overtime

– With reason.

– Wow.

– He’s being praised, the young guy.

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