And Montreal hasn\u2019t been the same team since.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not going to suggest the Canadiens have nothing to play for, since seedings are still to be determined in both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division. But the Canadiens have lacked a sense of urgency during their last two games and, with the pressure of making the playoffs removed, they\u2019ve not been the same team.<\/p>\n
Montreal didn\u2019t qualify for post-season play through the back door. Not in the least. But we\u2019ve never been a fan of teams making the playoffs by virtue of another team\u2019s loss. And now you see why.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Our cheap shot of the night: Bell Centre spectators paid hundreds of dollars to watch the AHL Charlotte Checkers \u2014\u00a0a team disguised as the Florida Panthers \u2014\u00a0give the Canadiens all they could handle Tuesday night. Florida is missing half of its roster through injuries, and already has been eliminated from the playoffs. Yet the visitors came within 21 seconds of handing Montreal its second consecutive defeat following an eight-game winning streak. If you find that criticism harsh, so be it.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, back at the ranch: As the entire city is well aware, Cole Caufield remains stuck on 49 goals with four games remaining. Will a sense of apoplexy reign over Montreal hockey fans should Caufield fail to score Thursday night at home against Tampa Bay? Rhetorical question.<\/p>\n
![\"Cole](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0408-spt-habs_302471014.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens\u2019 Cole Caufield follows through on a shot during the third period. He failed to score his 50th, but it wasn\u2019t from lack of trying. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n
Caufield played a shade over 19 minutes against Florida. He was credited with two shots \u2014\u00a0and a plethora of near misses. He also drew an assist on Ivan Demidov\u2019s power-play goal early in the second period.<\/p>\n
You know how to take the reservation. You don\u2019t know how to hold the reservation: For the second time in three games, Caufield scored in the shootout. Helped the Canadiens\u2019 cause,\u00a0but not so much his own. Only fans of Seinfeld<\/a> will understand our lame sense of humour on this one.<\/p>\n It\u2019s going to be a photo finish: We\u2019ve never seen a season like this. Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the Canadiens all have 102 points in the Atlantic Division. All three teams have played 78 games. But the Lightning\u2019s first, based on 48 wins. The Sabres (47 wins) are second, while the Canadiens (46) are third. We can only hope next month\u2019s Kentucky Derby is this close and dramatic.<\/p>\n News you need: Following four games as a healthy scratch, rookie Canadiens defenceman Adam Engstrom dressed for the first time<\/a> since his recent recall from AHL Laval \u2014\u00a0after Kaiden Guhle received what the team called a maintenance day. Engstrom produced his first NHL point, assisting on Phillip Danault\u2019s third-period goal.<\/p>\n Has the game started yet: Arber Xhekaj had the Canadiens\u2019 first shot \u2014 almost five minutes into the game. Halfway through the period Montreal was being outshot 7-1. The Canadiens didn\u2019t register their second shot until the 16th minute.<\/p>\n The guy\u2019s cursed: The frequently injured Kirby Dach<\/a>, who returned after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury, went to the dressing room late in the opening period, clutching his right eye that was bleeding. Dach took the toe of Xhekaj\u2019s stick over the eye. The Canadiens\u2019 defenceman was attempting to check Tomas Nosek on the play, only to accidentally strike Dach with his stick. While Dach received stitches over the eye, he returned for the second period. He has been limited to 33 games this season.<\/p>\n Pass of the night (Part I): Caufield\u2019s cross-ice gem to Demidov must have travelled 80 feet on the Canadiens\u2019 first goal, scored on the power play.<\/p>\n Great moments in officiating (Part I): Not long after, Caufield dropped the puck to Mike Matheson. Although the puck clearly crossed over the blue line, offside wasn\u2019t called on the play. Had a goal ensued, surely it would have been disallowed. That\u2019s how it\u2019s done in Gary Bettman\u2019s league.<\/p>\n How not to play defence: Xhekaj, renowned for playing a physical game and taking the body, attempted a stick check on Cole Reinhardt in the second period. It resulted in Florida\u2019s second goal. For the record, Jayden Struble didn\u2019t look good on the play, either.<\/p>\n Great moments in officiating (Part II): Demidov checked Seth Jones into the end boards. The latter lost his balance, his skates going into the boards. Demidov was penalized for interference.<\/p>\n News you need (Part II): The Canadiens have killed off their last 12 short-handed situations over a five-game stretch.<\/p>\n Good things happen when you go to the net: Josh Anderson didn\u2019t get an assist on the play, but Danault\u2019s goal was only made possible after the Montreal winger drove to the net.<\/p>\n Momentum \u2026 schmomentum: Only 1:27 later, Eetu Luostarinen scored the go-ahead goal.<\/p>\n And it would have held up, except for \u2026: Lane Hutson\u2019s brilliant solo effort in the final minute of regulation time.<\/p>\n Pass of the night (Part II): Hutson\u2019s drop-pass to Nick Suzuki, who had an open net after goaltender Daniil Tarasov was caught out of position.<\/p>\n Strange, but true: Florida now has allowed 104 third-period goals.<\/p>\n Guess he got the memo: Head coach Martin St. Louis didn\u2019t select Suzuki in the shootout. The Canadiens\u2019 captain has missed his last 17 attempts.<\/p>\n Sieve of the night: Tarasov was beaten by Caufield and Alexandre Texier on the only two shootout attempts he faced.<\/p>\n![\"Canadiens'](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0408-spt-habs_302468946.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens\u2019 Kirby Dach heads to the bench after getting clipped by a teammate\u2019s stick during the first period of a National Hockey League game against the Florida Panthers in Montreal Tuesday April 7, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Montreal](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0408-spt-habs_302471012.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens\u2019 Lane Hutson takes the puck behind Florida Panthers goalie Danil Tarasov before passing to Nick Suzuki for the game-tying goal in the last minute of the third period of a National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday April 7, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0408-spt-habs_302470866.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes signals game over after the Canadiens defeated the Florida Panthers in a shootout during a National Hockey League game in Montreal Tuesday April 7, 2026. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n