Did the Montreal Canadiens make the playoffs

Yes, the Montreal Canadiens made the 2025 playoffs as the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with 91 points. Did the Montreal Canadiens make the playoffs? For the first time since 2017, the answer is finally yes. The team ended an eight-year playoff drought and proved their rebuild is actually working. Their postseason journey ended pretty quick though, losing to the Washington Capitals in the first round.

How Montreal earned their playoff spot

The Canadiens' regular season showed real progress from a young team fighting hard for playoff position. Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook led the offense with consistent scoring throughout the year. Montreal accumulated 91 points, enough to secure the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Competing against other teams hungry for that final playoff spot, Montreal held steady down the stretch. Young players stepped up when it mattered. Juraj Slafkovský developed into a reliable forward (which is pretty cool to see). The rebuild that started years ago finally produced results on the ice.

The first-round matchup against Washington

The Capitals dominated Montreal in a five-game series that showed the experience gap between the two teams. Game 1 featured Alexander Ovechkin scoring twice, including an overtime winner for a 3-2 Washington victory. Montreal fought back in Game 3 with an impressive 6-3 win, with Caufield and Newhook recording goals and assists. The Capitals' goaltender Logan Thompson proved nearly untouchable in the clinching Game 5, stopping 28 shots in a 4-1 victory. Montreal's offensive efforts just couldn't overcome Washington's depth and veteran presense.

What this playoff run means for Montreal

Returning to October hockey matters way more than the final result for this franchise. Young players like Slafkovský scored their first playoff goals and gained valuable postseason experience. The Canadiens proved they belong in the playoffs and have a real foundation to build on moving forward. The eight-year drought ended, and Montreal fans finally celebrated playoff hockey again. Next season, the team returns with a year of experience under their belts (and some lessons learned too). The rebuild trajectory looks promising, and the Canadiens have momentum heading into the offseason. Hockey is returning to Montreal in a meaningful way.