MONTREAL – The drought is officially over, and the celebration has begun. The Montreal Canadiens have officially clinched a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, becoming the first Canadian NHL team to secure a post-season berth this year. The clincher came Sunday afternoon following a 5-4 Detroit Red Wings loss to the Minnesota Wild.
From Rebuild to Rivalry
Unlike last season, where the Habs «squeaked in» as the final wild card, this 2025-26 squad is a powerhouse. Boasting a record of 45-21-10, Montreal currently sits second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. With six games remaining in the regular season, the Canadiens aren’t just looking to participate—they are hunting for home-ice advantage and a division title.
The team enters tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils riding a massive eight-game winning streak, fueled by a perfect 5-0-0 road trip that has them within two points of the division lead.
A Historic Season for the Core
The «Young Guns» in Montreal are rewriting the record books:
- Cole Caufield: Sits at 49 goals, just one away from being the first Hab since 1990 to hit the 50-goal mark.
- Nick Suzuki: With 95 points, the Captain is closing in on becoming only the fifth player in franchise history to reach 100 points.
- Lane Hutson: The sophomore sensation is just six points away from joining legend Larry Robinson as the only Montreal defensemen to hit 80 points in a season.
- The Rookies: Ivan Demidov leads all NHL rookies with 60 points, while goaltender Jakub Dobes has silenced critics with a stellar .927 save percentage since the Olympic break.
After a grueling full-scale rebuild, the Montreal Canadiens have transformed from a lottery team into a terrifying post-season opponent.