Canadiens Playoff Odds: Down To The Eastern Conference Wire

There are just nine regular-season games left on the docket for the Montreal Canadiens, and despite earning just one win during their current road trip, the playoffs are still well within reach.

Eastern Conference Wild Card Race

Montreal Canadiens Playoff Odds

With their 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers, the Canadiens once again took over the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, however, they only have a game in hand over the Rangers, rather than every team chasing them. It should also be noted the Blue Jackets have one game in hand compared to the Habs.

The playoff odds for the teams in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race are as follows:

Montreal Canadiens – 38.6 percent

New York Rangers – 32.8 percent

Columbus Blue Jackets- 15.4 percent

New York Islanders – 8.7 percent.

Detroit Red Wings – 5.7 percent

The Canadiens still have the best odds, but they definitely squandered their lead. The last time we discussed the playoff situation the Habs were closer to 50 percent, whereas their closest competition was hovering near 25 percent.

Strength of Schedule

Every game matters at this point of the season. Some teams will rest top players to ensure they’re healthy for the playoffs, while others will turn to their backup goaltenders to close out the season. However, the quality of opponents could end up being the determining factor.

The strength of schedule (SOS) for the remaining teams in the Wild Card race are as follows:

Detroit Red Wings: 1st

New York Rangers: 2nd

Columbus Blue Jackets: 7th

New York Islanders: 8th

Montreal Canadiens: 28th

The Habs have a relatively easy SOS, while every team chasing them will face a top 10 SOS.

The overall difference in SOS isn’t as pronounced as it once was, a result of having 10 or fewer games left to play for the teams in the playoff race, but it still offers the Canadiens a significant advantage.

Four of the remaining games are set to take place against playoff teams: the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators.

Five are against teams that are on track to miss the playoffs: the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings.

Montreal has done great against the Panthers this season, and will do themselves a big favour if they manage to sweep the season series when the teams meet for the final time on Tuesday.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators always give the Habs a hard fight, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are still considered rivals, which means Montreal will have to rise to the occasion against higher quality teams if they hope to extend their season. But given how few games are remaining, they simply cannot afford to take the non-playoff teams lightly.

The Habs tend to play up or down to their opponents, a situation they cannot afford to repeat if they’re to earn a surprise playoff berth.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

More than anything, people are looking for a yes or no when it comes to the playoffs, and unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

But if I were forced to give an answer, I would say the numbers favour the Canadiens, and therefor I do believe they will make the playoffs.

It may end up coming down to a game, a period, or a single shift, but the Habs still have the best odds to nab the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal Canadiens playoff odds via Money Puck. Montreal Canadiens SOS via Tankathon.