Nick Suzuki is clear: his goal is to finish first in the Eastern Conference

Félix Forget
Nick Suzuki is clear: his goal is to finish first in the Eastern Conference
Credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The Habs are currently in the midst of a wild streak. The team has won its last seven games, putting it right in the thick of the race for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Right now, the Habs have 98 points after 75 games. They trail the Lightning (100 points in 75 games) and the Sabres (100 points in 76 games) by two points… and could theoretically tie them for first place tonight.

And obviously, given that the Habs' playoff spot is pretty much secured (it could be confirmed within 24 hours), the focus is now on the battle for first place in the Atlantic. Except that, in reality, that battle isn't the one that interests Habs captain Nick Suzuki the most.

Arpon Basu, who spoke with the captain after Thursday's game, reported in the Basu & Godin Notebook that Suzuki has another mission in mind: he wants his team to finish the season in first place in the East.

Suzuki knows it's still a possibility, and he's determined to make it happen.

If the Habs want to finish first in the East, they'll have to not only overtake the Lightning and the Sabres, but also the Hurricanes, who have 102 points after 75 games. The Habs' two recent wins against Rod Brind'Amour's squad have made that scenario a possibility.

That said, we also know that the tiebreaker doesn't favor the Habs against those teams. The other three teams have won more games in regulation than the Habs… and that could complicate things for the Canadiens.

And even though the Habs are the team of the moment in the NHL, the other three teams are also racking up wins by the bucketful.

But the fact is, the captain is right: the Canadiens still have a real shot at finishing first in the East… and that could make life easier for them in the first round by avoiding a matchup against a team like the Sabres or the Lightning right at the start of their playoff run.

Facing a team like the Flyers or the Blue Jackets would be a much easier matchup, we can all agree. Let's see if the Habs can pull it off.


In a nutshell

– The man of the hour for the Canadiens.

– Note.

– Expect to see quite a few Habs fans in New Jersey tonight.

– Sheldon Keefe is giving Cole Caufield some love.

– Hi, Ivan.

– One to watch.

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