Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs hope to secure the Atlantic Division title just across the Peace Bridge.
A busy Tuesday in the NHL sees several clinching scenarios.
The Calgary Flames, meanwhile, can’t clinch a spot, but they could be eliminated.
Here’s a look at how teams can lock into spots:
After missing out on clinching a playoff spot the past four nights, the Canadiens hope Tuesday is finally the special evening. The Habs book their ticket, along with a playoff series against the Washington Capitals, if the Columbus Blue Jackets do not win in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers.
If the Blue Jackets do come out on top, however, the Canadiens will have another shot to finish the job on Wednesday when they’ll need a point against the Carolina Hurricanes. If the Habs can’t manage that, the Blue Jackets can sneak in with a regulation win Thursday against the New York Islanders.
The Leafs will clinch the Atlantic Crown if they get one point against the Buffalo Sabres or if the Tampa Bay Lightning lose to the Florida Panthers.
Should the above transpire, we officially have a Battle of Ontario, with the Leafs facing the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.
• Getting one point against the Anaheim Ducks.
• The St. Louis Blues losing to Utah.
• The Flames losing to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Blues clinch a spot if they beat Utah in regulation.
If they win in overtime or a shootout, the Blues will get in if the Flames don’t win in regulation and the Wild lose to the Ducks in regulation.
If the Blues get one point, they get in if the Flames lose to the Golden Knights.
The Flames, with two games left, need one of the Blues or Wild not to meet those conditions to stay in the race.
The Winnipeg Jets will face the Blues, and Vegas will meet Minnesota if any of these scenarios occur.
• Minnesota point + St. Louis regulation win.
• Minnesota point + St. Louis OT/SO win + any result in the Flames-Golden Knights game other than a Flames regulation win.
• St. Louis OT/SO loss + Calgary loss in any fashion.
• St. Louis regulation loss + Calgary regulation loss.
Winnipeg will face Minnesota, and Vegas meets St. Louis with these scenarios.
• St. Louis regulation win + Minnesota regulation loss.
• St. Louis OT/SO win + Minnesota regulation loss + any result in the Flames-Golden Knights game other than a Flames regulation win.
