The Montreal Canadiens secured the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in their regular-season finale. Kaiden Guhle scored twice, with Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans also contributing goals. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 27 saves as Montreal finished 40-31-11, setting up a first-round matchup against Washington.
The victory marked a significant comeback for the Canadiens, who were near the bottom of the standings on December 1 before clinching a playoff berth. Despite missing previous opportunities, Montreal's strong performance in the final game sealed their spot in the postseason. Carolina, who had already secured a playoff spot, saw goals from Taylor Hall and Tyson Jost in the loss. The Hurricanes will face New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs.