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Race to the playoffs: only the Blue Jackets are still alive against the Habs
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Race to the playoffs: only the Blue Jackets are still alive against the Habs
Credit: Getty Images
For the second evening in a row, the Canadiens failed to qualify for the playoffs. The loss – in overtime – to the Maple Leafs tonight means that the habs, who have forgotten how to shoot, can still be overtaken in the standings.

That being said, the fact that they earned a point in overtime (thanks to Jakub Dobes) means that the Red Wings can no longer surpass the Canadiens in the standings. Detroit is eliminated… just like the two New York teams.

In fact, the standings are simple right now: the Blue Jackets are the only team that can still hope to overtake the Canadiens in the standings to make the playoffs in the East.

(Credit: NHL.com)
As can be seen, the Blue Jackets are five points behind the habs and have three games left to play before the end of the season. The habs have two games left: Monday against the Blackhawks and Wednesday against the Hurricanes. Both are home games for the habs.

The Blue Jackets have two ways to make the playoffs.

  • See the habs get one point before the end of the season and see the Blue Jackets win three regular season games
  • See the habs lose their last two regular season games and see the Blue Jackets win three games

This means that if the Blue Jackets lose tomorrow (in overtime or not), the habs will be officially qualified for the playoffs. And this, even if the Habs have no game scheduled for tomorrow.

Here is the Blue Jackets’ schedule for the rest of the season.

(Credit: NHL.com)
The habs did not help themselves over the weekend, but they are still in the driver’s seat with a five-point lead just a few days before the end of the regular season.

But the Habs are not guaranteed to make the playoffs at this point.

It should be noted that the habs have two more regular season wins than the Blue Jackets, which is the first tiebreaker in case of a tie. The second tiebreaker is regular season and overtime wins… and there, the habs have a good lead: 37 against 31.

So tomorrow, we will have to watch the Capitals and Blue Jackets game. The game will be broadcast on TVA Sports at 6 p.m.


overtime

– The habs can no longer overtake the Senators in the standings because if the two teams have 92 points, the tiebreaker belongs to the Senators. And since the Capitals are guaranteed to finish first in the East, it’s Washington or no playoffs for the Habs.

– We’ll see if Ivan Demidov’s first game in Montreal (likely on Monday) will be important for the playoffs or not.

– The habs are at risk of making the playoffs and the Flames are at risk of missing them. The Canucks won’t be there and the other four Canadian teams (Jets, Oilers, Maple Leafs, and Senators) will be.

– Martin St-Louis’ advice? Keep looking ahead.

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