Montreal Canadiens clinch playoff spot for second consecutive season

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble reacts after scoring against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)

The Montreal Canadiens are playoff-bound again.

Montreal clinched its spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday afternoon after the Detroit Red Wings fell 5-4 to the Minnesota Wild, making the Canadiens the first Canadian NHL team to secure a post-season berth.

It marks a second straight appearance after the Canadiens snapped a three-year drought last spring, following a full-scale rebuild. They claimed the final spot in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Washington Capitals in five games in the first round.

This time, they’re not just squeaking in.

Montreal (45-21-10) has punched its ticket with six games to spare in the regular season and sits second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points, firmly in the mix for home-ice advantage heading into Sunday night’s matchup with the New Jersey Devils.

The Canadiens — with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson leading a young, talented core — are also riding an eight-game winning streak.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2024.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press