The Ottawa Senators have already clinched their spot on this yr’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Nonetheless, large video games nonetheless stay on the regular-season schedule, together with Friday’s dwelling contest towards a Montreal Canadiens squad that additionally has quite a bit on the road.
Ottawa (42-30-6, 90 factors) presently holds the highest wild-card spot within the Japanese Convention, with the Canadiens (39-30-9, 87 factors) within the second spot. Whereas Montreal has not but clinched — the Canadiens can Friday beneath a number of eventualities — the workforce can nonetheless catch the Senators and flip their seeds earlier than the common season ends subsequent week.
For now, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis is trying on the greater image as his workforce prepares for its remaining 4 common season video games.
“I feel taking part in effectively down the stretch, clinching a playoff spot, is necessary,” St. Louis advised reporters Thursday. “If we’re in a position to soar Ottawa, nice, however I feel our focus is to maintain going ahead.”
Due to a six-game profitable streak, presently finest within the NHL, Montreal is able to safe its first playoff bid since 2021. That is when the Habs made a stunning run to the Stanley Cup Last. The workforce has completed final within the Atlantic Division in every of the final three seasons.
The Canadiens are led by a younger core. Nick Suzuki, 25, has heated up down the stretch, scoring 17 factors in his final 12 video games. He is had multi-point video games in 5 of his final six, scoring six targets and including six assists.
The middle additionally leads Montreal with 86 factors and is tied with defenseman Lane Hutson, 21, for essentially the most assists with 58. Ahead Cole Caufield, 24, tops the workforce with 37 targets.
In purpose, Sam Montembeault has gained his final 5 begins and has not allowed greater than two targets in any of these video games.
Ottawa earned its first playoff berth since 2017 on Tuesday when Montreal beat the Detroit Purple Wings 4-1. That occurred moments after the Senators noticed a three-game profitable streak finish with a 5-2 highway defeat towards the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Coach Travis Inexperienced joked that he gave the gamers 30 seconds to rejoice the accomplishment. Whereas he praised his workforce’s efficiency this season, he added making the postseason ought to grow to be routine within the seasons forward.
“I feel the primary focus is us getting our recreation prepared for the playoffs,” he added. “Factors nonetheless matter … we wish to end as excessive as we are able to.”
The Senators may additionally get a lift with the return of Nick Cousins because the workforce wraps up the common season with a four-game homestand. The middle has been sidelined since late January with a knee damage however returned to apply with the workforce on Thursday.
Cousins signed with the Senators as a free agent final summer time after serving to the Florida Panthers win their first Stanley Cup final season.
Defenseman Thomas Chabot has a three-game factors streak for Ottawa. He had a purpose and an help in Tuesday’s loss at Columbus and had two assists within the workforce’s 4-0 dwelling win Sunday over the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Linus Ullmark has gained 5 of his final six begins and is coming off his fourth shutout of the season with Sunday’s win towards Columbus.
–Area Degree Media