The Montreal Canadiens are in the thick of a three-team race for two wild-card playoff positions in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
Desperate would be an accurate way to describe their predicament over the final four games of the regular season. The Habs are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets with 90 points, one point back of the Carolina Hurricanes.
It’s too close to call.
Columbus and Carolina both have five games remaining while Montreal has a murderer’s row of opponents on tap as they face the Winnipeg Jets, league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals and the ever dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs over the next eight days.