Canadiens Preview & Lines: It’s Starting To Feel A Lot Like Playoffs

The Montreal Canadiens (39-30-9) are set to play the Ottawa Senators (42-30-8), with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

As per tradition, the Canadiens will turn to starter Samuel Montembeault to guard the net, demonstrating their overt confidence in the 28-year-old goaltender. Montembeault has struggled at times, and there’s no doubt he could have used a few extra nights off down the stretch, but his play in recent games has been beyond reproach.

He’s currently enjoying a five-game winning streak, including a 36 save effort against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The 4-1 scoreline was a little flattering toward the Canadiens, as the team once again put together one of their famous false starts. Once they finally woke up, the Habs looked great, but Montembeault was forced to hold the fort in the first half of the game.

Top prospect Ivan Demidov will not play on Friday, which is far from surprising. He only landed in Canada last night, and if I had to guess, at this point they’ll probably want to ensure his NHL debut takes place in front of Canadiens fans at the Bell Centre, which points to a Monday-night debut versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

ON TOPIC: Ivan Demidov Situation: Projected Cap Space, Potential Carey Price Trade

Now, onto the playoff situation.

It’s fairly simple.

Win and you’re in.

More accurately, win in regulation, and you’re in.

If the Montreal Canadiens beat the Senators in regulation, they will officially qualify for the 2024–25 playoffs, nabbing the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. And they’ll do so by sweeping the season series versus their younger brothers from Ontario.

If the Habs win in extra time, their odds will drop all the way to… 99.9 percent. In other words, it’s just a matter of time before we can officially state the Canadiens are a playoff team.

Say what you will about the lack of results from the teams chasing the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference, but the fact of the matter is the Habs have outplayed several teams that were expected to leave them in the dust this season, and that’s beyond encouraging when you consider the rebuild is not over.

Few NHL franchises have a brighter future than the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Ottawa Senators Projected Lineup

Perron – Stutzle – Batherson

Zetterlund – Cozens – Giroux

Greig – Pinto – Amadio

Highmore  Gaudette – Cousins

Sanderson – Zub

Chabot – Jensen

Kleven – Matinpalo

Ullmark

How to Watch the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Ottawa Senators, Friday, April 11, 2025

Game 79 of the regular season will be aired on RDS and TSN. Once the game is over, an instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Montreal Hockey Now.

Montreal Canadiens playoff odds via Money Puck.