The Montreal Canadiens failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs one season after reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
Montreal (17-37-10) was eliminated from contention when the Washington Capitals defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in a shootout Friday. The Canadiens can finish no higher than fifth in the eight-team Atlantic Division. The top three teams from each of the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions, plus the next best two teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the playoffs.
It’s the second time in the NHL’s modern era (since 1967 expansion) that the Canadiens have missed the playoffs the season after reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Montreal, which lost the Cup Final in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, won the Cup in 1969 and finished fifth in the six-team East Division and out of the playoffs in 1969-70.
Here is a look at what happened in the 2021-22 season for the Canadiens and why things could be better next season:
The skinny
Potential unrestricted free…
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