Montreal or Columbus: Who Enters the NHL Playoffs?
The NHL’s playoff picture is nearing its final shape as the 2025 regular season draws to a close, and the last remaining spot, the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, is yet to be determined. The Montreal Canadiens have a chance to secure the 16th and final playoff berth, provided they can earn at least one point in their upcoming game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Montreal previously faced chances to secure this playoff spot. In the NHL, a team earns one point for an overtime or shootout loss, and two points for a win. This means that the Canadiens don’t need to win to advance, they just need the game to go beyond regulation time.
However, the scenario becomes more dramatic if the Canadiens fail to earn that crucial point. Should they lose in regulation to the Hurricanes, the Columbus Blue Jackets will then have an opportunity to seize the final playoff berth. Their fate would rest on securing a regulation win over the New York Islanders in their last regular season game on April 17th. This win must come in regulation, not overtime or a shootout, as this ensures Columbus earns the full two points necessary to pass Montreal in the standings. The intensity of these final regular season matchups emphasizes the NHL’s uniquely suspenseful structure, where the last week often carries more weight. Historically, wildcard teams have even gone on deep runs, with some reaching or even winning the Stanley Cup, making this final spot particularly valuable.
What also makes this moment significant is the context of who that team will face in the first round: the Washington Capitals. The Capitals will not be an easy opponent. Whether it’s Montreal or Columbus, the team that claims the final berth will need to harness the intensity and resilience that brought them to the playoffs and apply it immediately in their upcoming matchup. These kinds of underdog stories are part of what makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs so compelling each year.
This final playoff spot scenario exemplifies the thrilling unpredictability of NHL hockey. It showcases the mental and physical demands placed on athletes who are not only contending with their opponents but also with the pressure of looming elimination. For the Canadiens, the task is simple in theory but challenging in execution: secure a point and move on. For the Blue Jackets, the pathway is narrower, but no less within reach: win in regulation or go home. The tension and stakes cannot be overstated as both franchises prepare for what could be their final game of the season.
In conclusion, the drama surrounding the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference perfectly encapsulates the spirit of competition in the NHL. The Canadiens have a slight edge due to the points they’ve already accumulated, but nothing is guaranteed. Columbus, meanwhile, is poised to pounce should Montreal falter. The outcome will not only determine who plays the Capitals in the opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs but also who gets to keep their championship dreams alive. As the games unfold, fans across the league will be watching with bated breath. This serves as proof once again that in the NHL, the race to the playoffs is just as thrilling as the tournament itself.
