The Montreal Canadiens are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season.
Montreal clinched a berth in the post-season on Sunday, following the Minnesota Wild’s 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
The Canadiens entered the day with multiple clinching scenarios, but they will take the ice on Sunday against the New Jersey Devils with their spot secured.
They are the first Canadian team to clinch a spot in the 2026 playoffs.
Montreal will hope to reverse its post-season fortunes from 2025, when it was dispatched in five games by the Washington Capitals in the first round.
They would also have clinched with one point against the Devils, or if the Carolina Hurricanes were to beat the Ottawa Senators.
But with Minnesota’s win, the Canadiens can turn their focus to playoff seeding.
On accède à nouveau aux séries de la coupe Stanley!We are headed back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/YLoICbMREM
Montreal, of course, remains in a tight battle for top spot in the Atlantic Division. It currently has 100 points, sitting two behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and tied with the Buffalo Sabres with six games to go.
Both Tampa Bay and Buffalo have already clinched a playoff berth.
The Red Wings’ late-season slide continued with the loss to the Wild. After falling behind 4-1 in the second period, Detroit answered with three unanswered goals in the third to pull even with Minnesota.
But Kirill Kaprizov put the finishing touches on a hat trick with 1:51 remaining in the third to lift the Wild to the win.
