Canadiens still in playoff fight

The Canadiens have renewed hope of making the playoffs after they ran their current winning streak to four games with a 5-0 win in Toronto. This was a key victory for the Canadiens, as they moved seven points behind the eighth-place Maple Leafs. They also picked up a point on the seventh-place Ottawa Senators. Montreal trails Ottawa by nine points but the Canadiens have two games in hand.

The Canadiens feel they have regained some control over their fate. The current streak matches their longest of the season and they point out that the schedule affords them a chance to control their own destiny as they try to climb back into the top eight.

The Canadiens have a 2-1-1 record against the Leafs and they have two games remaining against their longtime rivals, with both games at home. They also have three games remaining against Ottawa. The Canadiens have taken five of a possible six points against the Senators in their three previous meetings.

The Canadiens have two more games against the ninth-place Capitals. They are currently six points ahead of Montreal but may present a tougher challenge than the two Canadian rivals because they have played two fewer games.

A major part of the Canadiens' revival has been goaltender Carey Price, who has allowed only four goals in the four-game winning streak and has two shutouts, giving him four on the season.

The line of Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Erik Cole has carried the offense, and Cole and Pacioretty each scored in Toronto and Desharnais had two assists. But the Canadiens received goals from five different players in the one-sided win in Toronto.

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