THE FINAL STRETCH

                       We have now reached the final week of the NHL regular season. The Habs have been through there up's and downs but now it's time to make a statement by making the postseason. The Habs are just 2 points away from clinching a playoff spot with 3 games to go. The Habs started this month on a winning note by knocking the Devils out of the playoff race with a 3-1 win."I thought we had a strong performance right from the start tonight," Canadiens coach Jacques Martin said. "I thought we played well away from the puck and we have to do that to be successful. The goals from Darche were really good examples of the kinds of goals you need to score at this time of year."

                  The Habs next stop will be against the Chicago Blackhawks on home ice. The Blackhawks are defending champs, but they haven't looked that way for most of the season as they find themselves 1 point up on Calgary for 8th in the west. So they will be playing desperate hockey, Montreal is going to have to match that if they are going to win. Unlike most of the teams that Montreal plays during the season, the Hawks have the same amount of speed as them. So the Habs are going to rile on there defense,goaltending and  there powerplay if they are going to win. That will be Montreal's last home game of the season, as there next 2 games will be on the road.

              There first stop will be in Ottawa, against the Senators, who have nothing to play for except jobs for next season as they are out of the playoff race. Ottawa's goal for that game will be to play spoilers to the Canadiens. The Habs are going to have to be ready for that as it's going to be a fast past game. Then there last stop will be in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs. In the first 5 games of this season series the Habs went 2-3-0. So the Leafs are leading the series so far and are hoping by that last game that they will still have a chance to make the playoffs.

               It's unlikely that that game will mean anything because, the Leafs are 5 points out with 3 to go. The Leafs will need to win all 3 games to have a shot at the playoffs. In consideration that either Buffalo (6 points ahead of the leafs) or New York (5 points ahead of the leafs) will have to lose there last 3 games. So it's still somewhat possible but not likely. But no matter if it means anything or not, the Habs are still going for the win to end the season series on a high note. So this is going to be a week that should have Montreal come out with at least 2 wins out of the 3.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo