NHL Standings Update: Canadiens Surge, Playoff Picture Heats Up

Canadiens Continue Winning Streak, Climb NHL Standings

Updated March 31, 2026, at 12:55 PM. Published March 31, 2026, at 08:12 AM.

The Montreal Canadiens are making a serious push in the NHL standings, securing their sixth consecutive win in regulation time with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night in Tampa. This impressive run is fueled by stellar performances from key players like Cole Caufield and goaltender Jakub Dobes.

Caufield Leads the League in Goals

Cole Caufield continues to dominate offensively, scoring his 47th goal of the season in the second period – the game-winner. He now leads the NHL in goals with 11 more than any other player. Juraj Slafkovsky set up the play beautifully, leaving Caufield with an open net to notch his historic goal. Matheson was credited with an assist on the play, reaching 300 career points in the NHL.

This 47th goal puts Caufield in elite company. He’s now the third player in NHL history to reach this milestone, trailing only Brett Hull (39) and Pavel Bure (28) for the most game-winning goals in a single season. He’s only two goals behind Nathan MacKinnon (49) for the league lead.

Dobes Shines in Net

Jakub Dobes, recently named the NHL’s first star of the week, was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 36 of 37 shots. He’s been a rock for the Canadiens, winning his last four starts while allowing only five goals on 142 shots. Jake Guentzel managed to beat Dobes, tying the game midway through the first period, but that was the only blemish on Dobes’ performance.

Slafkovsky Contributes on Both Sides

Juraj Slafkovsky also had a strong night, scoring the opening goal in the first period and adding an assist on Caufield’s game-winner. Mike Matheson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal after Nick Suzuki exited the penalty box. Suzuki also added a goal into an empty net, bringing his season point total to 92.

Playoff Implications

With this win, the Canadiens are now just two points behind the Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Buffalo Sabres also hold a two-point lead, but have played one more game than both Tampa Bay and Montreal.

The Canadiens’ victory is particularly significant in the playoff race. The Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators both lost on Tuesday, falling 10 points behind Montreal with only eight games remaining. This puts the Canadiens in a strong position to secure a playoff berth.

Team Updates

Josh Anderson returned to the Canadiens lineup after missing a game due to illness. However, defenseman Alexandre Carrier remains sidelined with an upper-body injury and is expected to be out for two to four weeks.

Looking Ahead

The Canadiens will continue their road trip on Thursday with a game against the New York Rangers. The Lightning will have a chance for revenge on April 9th when they visit the Bell Centre.

For more in-depth NHL coverage, visit NHL.com.