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Canadiens Near Playoff Berth After Narrow Overtime Loss to Maple Leafs
TORONTO – Martin St. Louis expressed his disappointment following a hard-fought game but also highlighted the positives from Saturday night’s matchup. The Montreal Canadiens lost 1-0 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, yet managed to secure a valuable point in the standings as they pursue a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
With this loss, the Canadiens (39-31-10) now hold 88 points, maintaining a five-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets (37-33-9) with just two games remaining on their schedule.
“I’m really proud of the way the guys played,” St. Louis said. “It’s a big point for our group, and not just the way we got the point. We fought hard and played with a lot of heart.”
Although the Canadiens were hoping to clinch a playoff spot with a win against their Original Six foes, they instead had to look ahead to the forthcoming games. A loss for Columbus in their Sunday matchup against the Washington Capitals could secure the Canadiens a playoff position for the first time since 2021, and their first postseason appearance in a full regular season since 2016-17.
Montreal will have another chance to solidify their playoff standing on Monday at the Bell Centre against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks.
The Fast-Tracking Rebuild
After going through a rebuilding phase, the Canadiens have found themselves in a surprisingly competitive position during the 2024-25 season, defying pre-season predictions.
“We had a lot of belief coming into the season that we could be in this position,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki noted. “Most people really didn’t see that. It’s nice to be in this hunt for the last wild-card spot, and hopefully we can secure that.”
Even though Toronto outshot Montreal 35-15, the Canadiens managed to direct a substantial 57 shots towards Maple Leafs’ goaltender Anthony Stolarz, which showcased their determination. The Leafs blocked 20 shots before Mitch Marner ultimately scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Defenceman Mike Matheson expressed excitement about competing in meaningful games again after a couple of challenging seasons. “As a competitor, there’s nothing better than playing for something,” Matheson shared. “We came into this season with a goal. To be able to get close to it and really have a shot at it is exciting.”
Kaiden Guhle, another young defenseman, emphasized the importance of the playoff race for the development of their younger players. “I got to play a lot of playoff hockey in junior,” Guhle stated. “That’s where you learn a lot. Playing those big, meaningful games … it’s huge for us to be playing these games.”
Physical Play and Roster Challenges
The game featured some physical play, highlighted by an altercation involving Guhle and Toronto’s Max Domi in the second period, which resulted in Domi receiving an extra minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Meanwhile, the Leafs faced their own challenges, dressing only 17 skaters due to injury and salary cap issues. They were without key players such as defenceman Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and center David Kampf.
After the game, coach Craig Berube confirmed plans to recall defenseman Dakota Mermis from the American Hockey League for their upcoming tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes.
This report aims to capture the evolving dynamics within the Canadiens as they make a serious push for a playoff spot, reflecting both their current challenges and the potential for future success.
Source
globalnews.ca