Canadiens Charge Toward Playoffs with Sixth Straight Win Over Red Wings
Wow, what a night at the Bell Centre! If you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, you're probably still buzzing after that 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Let me walk you through it like you were watching it right there with me—because this game wasn’t just another one in the books, it felt like a real playoff preview. This win wasn’t just a big W on the board; it pushed the Habs that much closer to their first postseason berth since 2021.
Let’s start with the real MVP of the night—Sam Montembeault. The guy was a wall. He stopped 35 shots, and let me tell you, they weren’t easy saves. Detroit came out flying, especially in the first period, outshooting Montreal 23-4. But Monty stood tall, kept it at 1-0 when it could’ve been a disaster, and bought his team the time they needed to regroup. That was his 30th win of the season, and it’s the first time he’s ever hit that mark in his NHL career. It’s playoff-style hockey now, and Montembeault is looking like he’s ready to steal games if needed.
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Now, the goals. Dylan Larkin gave Detroit an early lead with a beautiful finish on a 3-on-1. Classic Red Wings speed and precision. But Montreal stayed calm. Cole Caufield tied it up late in the second, showing that gritty, clutch side of his game. That was his 37th goal of the season—most by a Hab since Pacioretty hit that mark in 2015. He’s really come into his own.
Then came the third period, and that’s when things flipped. Josh Anderson banged in a go-ahead goal after a wild sequence where a Detroit defenseman lost his helmet and basically had to vacate his spot. Montreal took full advantage. That moment felt like the turning point. From there, the Canadiens locked it down. Gallagher and Suzuki added two empty-netters to seal it up.
But here’s the bigger picture: that win gives Montreal 87 points, putting them in the second wild-card spot in the East, and now eight points clear of both Detroit and the Rangers. And get this—they’re only three points behind Ottawa for the first wild card, with four games left to play. Anything can happen now.
And hey, let’s not forget the newest wrinkle in the story—Ivan Demidov. The Habs just signed the fifth-overall pick from last year, and he's already en route to the big club. This guy tore up the KHL with 49 points in 65 games, breaking records and turning heads. If he slots in next to Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook, that second line could suddenly look deadly.
Bottom line? This team is no longer the one that sat at the bottom of the standings in November. They’re rolling, they’ve got depth, and they’re getting contributions from different guys every night. It feels like they’re peaking at the perfect time. If you’re not watching Montreal right now, you’re missing one of the best underdog stories in the NHL this season.
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