The Montreal Canadiens are on the brink of clinching a playoff berth, a remarkable turnaround from earlier in the season. Despite a couple of recent losses against Toronto and Ottawa, they still control their fate and only need to win their final regular-season game against the Chicago Blackhawks to secure their playoff spot. The Canadiens’ resurgence is fueled by the notable performance of rookie Lane Hudson, who is on the verge of breaking the franchise record for rookie scoring.

Adding to the excitement is the highly anticipated debut of Ivan Demidov, a fresh talent acquired before the playoffs. Demidov is expected to bring offensive creativity and may quickly find himself on the first power play unit, enhancing a Canadiens' power play that has struggled recently. With significant potential from players like Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, the Canadiens are poised for a strong playoff push.