Will The Canadiens Be Able To Handle The Desperate Blue Jackets?
The Montreal Canadiens will host the Columbus Blue Jackets for the last regular-season game at the Bell Center on Saturday night. Here's what you need to know ahead of the game.
While the Montreal Canadiens booked their playoff spot nearly a week ago, Saturday night’s visitors at the Bell Centre are on the verge of elimination. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently have 90 points with just three games left to play, and the eighth-place Ottawa Senators already have 94 points. In other words, the Jackets have to win and hope the Sens drop some points, but they are playing the New York Islanders , who are just as desperate as they are and have 91 points themselves.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are trailing the Buffalo Sabres by two points for the divisional lead, but Montreal has a game in hand. The Sabres aren’t playing this weekend, so by Monday, they will have a game in hand over the Habs, who are playing in a back-to-back this weekend. The Canadiens Sent A Message, They’re Not Afraid To Get Their Hands Dirty Suzuki Made History For The Canadiens As Well Expect Big News From The Canadiens Soon Saturday night’s match-up will be the last regular-season game at the Bell Centre and the last of three duels between the Habs and the Jackets.
Each team has won a game so far, with Montreal winning 2-1 in the latest one at the end of March. Montreal has won eight of the last 10 duels and is 9-1-0 in its last 10 games, while Columbus is 2-7-1 and has lost its last game 5-0 to the Sabres. Neither team has confirmed who will start the game in net, but both Canadiens’ netminders should see some action this weekend.
It remains to be seen who will play which game. Jakub Dobes has a 1-0-1 record against the visitors with a 1. 93 goals-against average and a .