The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to win their games. Their locker room is galvanized and their goalie Jet Greaves is playing as well as any goalie in the NHL currently. This is something the Montreal Canadiens have to worry about IF they continue to lose. They still hold control their playoff destiny.

Blue Jackets defenseman, Dante Fabrro talked about this scenario.

“We have to do what we can do. Just win hockey games and put pressure on them. I’ve felt we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that so far and again it’s coming down to the last game for each of us now. We were all watching last night in the hotel room and the third period, overtime and the shootout. Coming into today we knew this was a big game and we came out the winner.”

It’s about playing desperate hockey and Adam Fantilli spoke to that.

“It’s awesome. We dropped a couple of games we weren’t happy about and knew we had to win games. We are trying to do our part and doing a great job of it. Jet (Greaves) has been playing great. We’ve been in desperation mode for however many games.”

It’s simple, yet complex. The Canadiens just have to take care of business. At the very least, get the game into overtime. Sometimes that’s easier said than done and the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t going to roll over but they might sit some of their starters. There is an opportunity here. 

No team ever wants to back in. You want to go into the playoffs hot. So far, the Canadiens aren’t doing it right but they’ll get another crack at it.