The Canadiens, who went 10-0-2 in their final 12 home games, had lost in three straight opportunities to clinch (0-1-2) before securing the last playoff spot available in their final regular-season game. They will face the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Saturday.

Tom Wilson scored his career-best 33rd goal of the season and the Washington Capitals wrapped up the top spot in the Eastern Conference by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in a shootout.

The Canadiens are returning to the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. That team was led by Shea Weber and Carey Price but now, after an accelerated rebuild, a young core headlined by Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson has the Canadiens back in the playoffs.