Canadiens Clinch Playoff Spot After Dramatic Turnaround

The Montreal Canadiens clinched the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in their regular-season finale, marking their first postseason appearance since 2021. Defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored twice, captain Nick Suzuki scored his 30th goal and assisted, and goaltender Sam Montembeault made 27 saves. Montreal needed at least a point to eliminate the Columbus Blue Jackets from contention after losing their previous three games. The Canadiens achieved this playoff berth following a dramatic turnaround, having been in last place in December before going 29-15-8 over their final 52 games. They will face the top-seeded Washington Capitals, who have home-ice advantage and won the season series 2-1, in the first round. The Capitals are led by Dylan Strome, Alex Ovechkin, and a roster featuring multiple 20-goal scorers.