Expect Montreal Canadiens To Clinch Final Eastern Wild Card Spot
The Montreal Canadiens should clinch final playoff spot in the East and present a Must-Bet opportunity
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost here and we are starting to formulate a solid playoff picture. Most spots are already claimed with only the wild card spots left available.
We outlined how the Blues were going to lay claim to the final wild card spot in the West and barring any major setbacks, it appears they are on track to do so. We are looking to make the same bold claim about the East with the Montreal Canadiens being the final playoff team.
It is still a very tight race as they are just two points ahead of the Blue Jackets and Rangers after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Panthers on Tuesday, where they tied the game in the last eight seconds.
Montreal proceeded to win the game in overtime and completed the season sweep of the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
This Habs team is legit as their young talent is finally starting to click with a reliable stay-at-home goaltender in Sam Montembeault. They are red hot with a 10-4-4 record over their last 18 games.
Their rebuild looks complete as they are on the precipice of their first playoff berth since their loss in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final and will have more talent coming in the future with youngsters like Ivan Demidov on their way.
The race for the final playoff spots is over as far as we know with the Rangers heading into a gauntlet of a remaining schedule with matchups versus the Panthers, Hurricanes, Wild, Devils and a pair of games versus the Lightning.
Things are just as hard for the Blue Jackets, who will have to square off against the likes of the Maple Leafs and Avalanche as well as two matchups versus the Capitals and Senators.
Montreal on the other hand, finishes the season with the second-easiest remaining schedule with matchups against bottom tier teams like the Blackhawks, Bruins, Flyers and Predators.
The Habs to secure a playoff spot at +106 is the biggest must-bet of the season and this bet absolutely has to be taken as soon as possible. It's only a matter of time before Montreal claims the spot or continue their hot streak to the point where we no longer see a value.