The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for their biggest game of the season Wednesday.
The Canadiens host the Carolina Hurricanes in their regular-season finale with a chance to clinch a playoff spot on the line. The game will be available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with puck drop at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
Montreal needs at least one point to secure the second wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
If the Canadiens lose, they will only qualify for the post-season if the trailing Columbus Blue Jackets fail to win their home matchup Thursday against the New York Islanders in regulation.
The Canadiens are also shaking up their forward group against the Hurricanes, with Emil Heineman set to draw in for Oliver Kapanen.
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Canadiens push for playoff spot on Sportsnet
The Montreal Canadiens need one point in their final game of the season to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Watch the Canadiens face the Carolina Hurricanes on Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT.
Heineman will slot onto the fourth line next to Jake Evans and Joel Armia. In 61 games, the 23-year-old has 10 goals and eight assists. He has not appeared since April 5, and has just two points (one goal, one assist) since Jan. 1.
Kapanen has played the past six games, failing to reach the scoresheet. Over 18 contests on the season, the Swedish forward has two assists.
Because of the game’s importance and the millions of viewers it is expected to draw, the French-language federal election debate is taking place two hours earlier than originally planned Wednesday to minimize a conflict.
The Canadiens have missed opportunities to clinch in their three previous games, losing in regulation to the Ottawa Senators before falling in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs and losing in a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks.
–with files from Sportsnet
