The Montreal Canadiens have officially punched their ticket to the playoffs, but in Montreal, that was never meant to be the finish line. After a season filled with growth, key performances, and important stretches, the team has secured its place among the Eastern Conference contenders. However, with just a handful of games remaining and the Atlantic Division race tighter than ever, the focus quickly shifts from simply making the playoffs to maximizing their position. Because for this Canadiens group, clinching is just one step; what comes next could define how far they go.
Clinched But Not Done
On Sunday, the Canadiens officially clinched their playoff spot thanks to a win by the Minnesota Wild over the Detroit Red Wings. It’s a moment that reflects just how far this team has come, securing a postseason berth for the second straight season and continuing to build on what is clearly a rising trajectory.
That said, the way it happened, and what followed, adds an interesting layer. The Canadiens themselves weren’t able to add a win, falling 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils. It was a flat performance offensively, a reminder that despite the success in the standings, this team is still working through inconsistencies.
Still, clinching is clinching. Whether it comes from your own win or a result elsewhere, the outcome is the same: Montreal is in. For a team that entered the season with questions surrounding its youth, goaltending, and overall depth, this is a significant achievement. But inside that locker room, there’s little doubt the reaction wasn’t overly celebratory. This group knows that simply getting in is no longer the goal; it’s just step one.
Next Step
The reality is simple: the Canadiens still have a lot to play for. With five games remaining, the Atlantic Division race is incredibly tight. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres sit at 102 points, while the Canadiens are right behind at 100. Three teams, separated by just two points, all battling not just for positioning, but for control.
Finishing first in the division doesn’t just look good on paper; it comes with home-ice advantage, something that can be a game-changer in the playoffs. In a conference where margins are razor-thin, starting a series at home, feeding off your crowd, and controlling matchups can tilt the balance.
For Montreal, this makes every remaining game meaningful. There are no rest games, no nights off. Every point can shift the standings, and every mistake can cost them a better path in the postseason.
It also changes the mindset. Instead of easing into the playoffs, the Canadiens are being forced to stay sharp, to play meaningful hockey right up until Game 82. In many ways, that’s a positive; it keeps the intensity high and avoids the kind of late-season drop-off that can hurt teams once the playoffs begin.
But it also brings pressure. The Canadiens are no longer chasing; they’re now being chased as much as they are chasing others. How they respond in these final five games will say a lot about their maturity and readiness.
Preparing for the Playoffs
At the same time, this final stretch isn’t just about standings; it’s about preparation. The Canadiens need to use these games to fine-tune their identity. That starts with tightening things defensively, especially after a shutout loss like the one against New Jersey. In the playoffs, goals are harder to come by, and structure becomes everything.
Related: 3 Canadiens Prospects Rising When It Matters Most in the Playoffs
Goaltending will remain a key storyline as well. With young netminders carrying the load, these last games are crucial to building confidence and rhythm. The Canadiens don’t need perfection, but they need stability.
Up front, consistency is the next step. The top line has been producing, but secondary scoring will need to follow if Montreal wants to make noise in the playoffs. These final games are an opportunity to find combinations that work and build chemistry at the right time.
This isn’t a team just happy to be here anymore. The Canadiens have shown they can compete with anyone, and now they have a chance to prove it on the biggest stage. But to do that, they need to carry urgency into every shift, starting now, not when the playoffs begin. Because while the Canadiens have officially clinched, their season is far from complete. If anything, the most important part is just beginning.
