Before departing on their lacklustre western road trip, the Canadiens were riding a 6-0-1 streak within the friendly confines of the Bell Centre.
The friendliness of those confines may be put to the test Tuesday night. Dallas is battling Chicago and St. Louis inaa tight race for top spot in the Western Conference’s Central Division.
The Canadiens are 13th in the Eastern Conference. There’s still a mathematical chance of zooming up into a wild-card playoff spot, but no sane Habs fan thinks it will happen.
To the degree that hope exists, it is focused an wishing Columbus and Buffalo might overtake the Canadiens, thereby boosting their draft position.