TORONTO – Martin St. Louis was upset with the end result.
The Canadiens head coach additionally took plenty of positives — and an important level within the standings — from Saturday’s robust ask at Scotiabank Area.
Montreal fell 1-0 in extra time to the Toronto Maple Leafs within the second recreation of a back-to-back to inch nearer to the Jap Convention’s second wild-card spot.
The Canadiens (39-31-10) sit on 88 factors, 5 away from the Columbus Blue Jackets (37-33-9), with two video games left on their schedule.
“I’m actually pleased with the best way the blokes performed,” St. Louis stated. “It’s an enormous level for our group, and never simply the best way we bought the purpose.
“We bought to combat a bit bit … performed with plenty of coronary heart.”
Montreal, which misplaced 5-2 to the Senators in Ottawa on Friday, may have secured that playoff berth with a regulation victory towards its Unique Six rival Saturday, however will now watch Sunday’s matchup between Columbus and the Washington Capitals.
A lack of any sort for the Blue Jackets, who’ve three video games left within the common season, would punch the Canadiens’ playoff ticket for the primary time since 2021 — and clinch their first post-season look in a non-pandemic season since 2016-17.
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Montreal’s subsequent alternative to lock issues up by itself phrases will come Monday on the Bell Centre towards the lowly Chicago Blackhawks.
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The Canadiens have been going via a rebuild, however that course of has been fast-tracked in 2024-25 for a gaggle that didn’t get a a lot respect in pre-season predictions.
“We had plenty of perception coming into the season that we could possibly be on this place,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki stated. “Most individuals actually didn’t see that. It’s good to be on this hunt for the final wild-card spot, and hopefully we will safe that.”
The Canadiens had been outshot 35-15 by the Atlantic Division-leading Leafs, however directed 57 pucks in the direction of Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz on an evening the place the house facet registered 20 blocks earlier than Mitch Marner scored within the further interval
Montreal defenceman Mike Matheson stated it’s good to be competing in significant hockey video games down the stretch after a “irritating” couple of years.
“As a competitor, there’s nothing higher than taking part in for one thing,” he stated. “We got here into this season with a aim. To have the ability to get near it and actually have a shot at it’s thrilling.”
Fellow blueliner Kaiden Guhle stated aside from the prize of constructing the post-season, the crop of younger gamers in Montreal’s locker room — himself included — are getting priceless expertise as a part of this run.
“I bought to play plenty of playoff hockey in junior,” stated the 23-year-old. “That’s the place you study loads. Enjoying these large, significant video games. Enjoying playoff hockey does loads to your improvement.
“To sort of see what it takes to win … it’s big for us to be taking part in these video games.”
HARD KNOCKS
Guhle dropped the gloves with Toronto ahead Max Domi within the second interval after he rocked Bobby McMann alongside the boards and thumped John Tavares with a clear examine in fast succession.
Domi was assessed an additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct following the spirited tilt at centre ice.
MAN DOWN
The Leafs had been pressured to decorate simply 17 skates — one in need of a full roster — due to damage points and wage cap constraints.
Toronto was with out defencemen Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson due to undisclosed illnesses, whereas centre David Kampf (upper-body) was additionally unavailable.
Head coach Craig Berube stated post-game the crew can be calling up blueliner Dakota Mermis from the American Hockey League for Sunday’s highway check towards the Carolina Hurricanes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed April 12, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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