## Philadelphia Flyers & Montreal Canadiens Clash: Playoff Implications & Game Preview
Updated April 14, 2026, 12:48 PM | Published April 14, 2026, 09:06 AM
Follow the exciting duel between the Canadiens and the Flyers live on RDS and RDS.ca!
The stakes are high as the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. However, one crucial game remains on their regular season schedule: a showdown against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Both the Canadiens and the Lightning are tied at 106 points, battling for home-ice advantage. The Canadiens need at least one point in Philadelphia to put pressure on the Lightning, who face the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Lightning currently hold the tie-breaker with more regulation wins (40 to 34).
### Lineup Updates & Key Players
For the Canadiens, Mike Matheson, Josh Anderson, and Phillip Danault will be rested for this final regular season game. Goaltender Jakub Dobes is aiming for his 30th win of the season, while Brendan Gallagher returns to the lineup after a hiatus since April 5th.
**Pre-Game Notes:**
With the possibility of starting their playoff series at the Bell Centre in front of their fans, what approach will head coach Martin St-Louis take? Will he showcase the lineup he intends to use for the start of the playoffs, or will he experiment? St-Louis doesn’t seem overly concerned, as his team has proven capable of performing well on the road, boasting a 24-8-8 record.
“It helps (home-ice advantage), but we’ve shown this year that we’re capable of playing on the road too,” St-Louis stated.
“I’d like us to have [home-ice advantage], but ultimately, it doesn’t matter, because you have to win four games, no matter where,” added forward Juraj Slafkovsky.
This game also marked the NHL debut for David Reinbacher, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, who recorded an assist in just over 11 minutes of ice time.
### Scoring Race Heats Up
Cole Caufield is still within reach of Nathan MacKinnon in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy. Caufield (51 goals) trails MacKinnon (52) by one. MacKinnon’s Avalanche face the Calgary Flames tonight and conclude their season against the Seattle Kraken.
Nick Suzuki has already surpassed 100 points this season, while Caufield is two points shy of reaching 90. Lane Hutson is also two points away from hitting 80. Rookie Ivan Demidov could become the fifth Canadiens player to score 20 goals this season, joining Caufield (51), Juraj Slafkovsky (30), Suzuki (29), and Oliver Kapanen (22).
### Flyers Secure Playoff Spot, Face Penguins
The Philadelphia Flyers clinched their playoff berth with a victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. They will finish third in the Metropolitan Division and face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. While a win could tie them with the Penguins at 98 points, Pittsburgh retains home-ice advantage due to more regulation wins (34 to 26).
**Today’s Matchup:**
[Image of Canadiens Lineup – Placeholder]
©2026 Bell Media All Rights Reserved.
**Stay tuned to RDS and RDS.ca for live coverage and updates on this crucial game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers!**
[Link to NHL Official Website](https://www.nhl.com/) – *Official NHL News and Scores*
[Link to RDS Website](https://www.rds.ca/) – *French-language sports coverage*
