Canadiens Aiming to Keep Their Playoff Dream Alive

The Montreal Canadiens are on fire right now, and they’re not looking to slow down. With a 9-2-1 record in their last 12 games, they’ve clawed their way within two points of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Next up? A road trip to Salt Lake City to face the struggling Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night.

Sure, the Canadiens lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Dallas Stars on Saturday, but let’s be real—that’s no small feat against one of the NHL’s hottest teams. Head coach Martin St. Louis was proud of his squad, especially since it was the second game of a back-to-back after a gritty overtime win against the Capitals the night before.

Montreal’s been living on the edge lately, with their last four games all going into extra time. Adding to the good vibes is the return of key players like David Savard and Patrik Laine. Laine wasted no time making an impact after missing four games, scoring his ninth goal in just 14 games this season—and it brought him one step closer to hitting 400 career points.

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Utah Searching for Answers

On the flip side, things aren’t so great for the Utah Hockey Club. Just a month ago, they were sniffing at a Western Conference wild-card spot, but now? They’re 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and struggling to get anything going.

The biggest issue? Scoring—or, more accurately, the lack of it. They’ve been held to two or fewer goals in nine of their last 11 games, and losing leading goal scorer Dylan Guenther to a lower-body injury hasn’t helped.

“We’re getting chances, but we’ve got to figure out how to finish,” said forward Nick Schmaltz, who’s been doing his part with goals in back-to-back games. “We’ve had our looks, but we’re just not capitalizing.”

Utah’s struggles extend to home ice too. They’ve got a 6-9-4 record at the Delta Center and have dropped two of their first three games in a crucial seven-game homestand. If they’re going to turn things around, it has to start now.

What to Watch

This matchup is a study in contrasts. The Canadiens are riding high, fueled by confidence and strong team play, while Utah is searching for answers and desperate for a win.

For Montreal, this is a chance to inch closer to a playoff spot and keep the momentum going. For Utah, it’s about pride, finding their rhythm, and making something happen in front of their home crowd.

One team is surging, the other is struggling—it’s all set up for an intriguing showdown in Salt Lake City.