Bunched at the Bottom
Don’t look now, but our boys have company in the scramble for the second Eastern Conference wild-card slot. The Blue Jackets and Flyers have 38 points apiece, one behind the black-and-gold. The Canadiens have 37 points with two games in hand.
In particular, beware the Habs. Since losing to us in blowout fashion back on December 12, they’ve gone 6-2. In their past three games, all on the road and all against stiff competition, they shut out the Panthers, 4-0, clobbered the Lightning, 5-2, and clipped Vegas, 3-2.
The Canadiens seem to be a different team since sniper Patrik Laine came off IR.