Michel Therrien believes that the Canadiens will make the playoffs this season.

The Canadiens are no longer the same team since mid-December. The mediocre roster from the start of the season is now fighting for a playoff spot.

The forwards are scoring more, the defense is stable, and the goaltenders are instilling confidence in all players with strong performances.

This has convinced former Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien that the Habs will be part of the playoffs this season. This is what he explained in an article published Wednesday night on TVA Sports’ website.

According to Therrien, the recipe for winning is to have a good atmosphere and team spirit. The players look happy right now, and for good reason! Montreal has won 10 of its last 13 games.

It is the only NHL team playing above .800 for the last 30 days.

Playing for development is good, but winning games is one of the factors that will help young players grow in the NHL. Playing to avoid last place doesn’t have the same appeal as playing for a playoff spot.

Montreal is in a very good position to make the playoffs. Before Wednesday night’s games, the Canadiens were in fourth place in the Eastern Conference wildcard standings.

(Credit: NHL.com)

The Habs are just two points behind the Blue Jackets for a playoff spot and they have a game in hand on Columbus.

Boston is also in first place among the wildcard teams with just three more points than Montreal. The problem for the Bruins is that the Canadiens have three games in hand on them. Given how the Habs are playing right now, picking up three points in three games seems like an easy task.

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To return to Michel Therrien, he enjoys seeing the players have confidence in their goaltending duo. He believes that Jakub Dobes is doing remarkable work and that Cayden Primeau probably wouldn’t have been able to win in the games where the Czech played.

Therrien even went so far as to say that the Canadiens currently have the best goaltending duo among teams in the playoff race.

Lane Hutson has received a lot of love in recent days, having collected three points in two of his last four games. Therrien is convinced that this is not a flash in the pan, and he sees the young Canadiens defenseman winning the Calder Trophy at the end of the season.

With his 35 points, Hutson is currently the leading scorer among NHL rookies. He is four points ahead of Macklin Celebrini. It’s also worth noting that he is the sixth highest-scoring defenseman in the entire NHL.

This is exactly the kind of player who has allowed the Canadiens to get back in the playoff race.

In Brief

– Michel Bergeron would like to see the Canadiens acquire more offensive reinforcements.

– Even coaches need to see a doctor.

– Hutson could replicate a feat by Bedard.

– A nice victory for Arsenal.