The Montreal Canadiens return to the Bell Centre for Wednesday night’s clash against the Carolina Hurricanes holding a 38–30–9 record and a sense of urgency as they remain locked in a battle to secure one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Under head coach Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens have made considerable strides this season, particularly in how their youthful roster has matured under pressure and learned to navigate the physical and mental grind of meaningful late-season hockey. At the center of this resurgence is rookie sensation Ivan Demidov, who has rapidly become a cornerstone for Montreal’s offensive structure thanks to his elite skating, creativity, and finishing ability, giving the Habs a legitimate game-breaker who thrives in high-leverage moments. Alongside him, young talents like Juraj Slafkovsky have stepped up to provide consistent two-way play and create matchup issues for opposing coaches. Montreal’s special teams have been nothing short of elite—boasting a power play operating at a staggering 32.6% and a penalty kill that has held firm at 86.0%, both figures ranking near the top of the league and offering them critical advantages in close games. Their ability to capitalize on the man advantage and shut down opposing power plays has kept them competitive even when five-on-five play has been uneven. Defensively, while the Canadiens remain a work in progress, they’ve cut down on high-danger mistakes and improved their zone exits and gap control, especially when playing in front of their home crowd.

Goaltending has also stabilized in recent weeks, offering them the confidence to push offensively without fear of breakdowns being overly punitive. ATS-wise, Montreal has posted a respectable 30–20 record, frequently outperforming expectations, especially as underdogs—a role they’ll once again play against the Hurricanes. Notably, they dominated Carolina 4–0 in their last meeting back in February, a performance that showcased their speed, energy, and tactical sharpness when executing St. Louis’s game plan to perfection. Repeating that performance will require a similarly complete effort—tight defensive structure, opportunistic scoring, and discipline to avoid penalties against a Carolina team that’s significantly improved on the power play with the recent addition of Alexander Nikishin. For Montreal, this game represents more than just another regular season contest—it’s a chance to prove they belong in the playoff conversation and to build confidence heading into a pivotal final stretch. With the home crowd behind them and their stars clicking, the Canadiens are well-positioned to punch above their weight once more. They’ll aim to outskate, outwork, and outplay a formidable opponent, knowing that every shift could inch them closer to securing a postseason berth that once seemed improbable.