Posted at 10:15 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle  +158   BET365 +160 Sportsinteraction +155 888Sport  +155

Montreal +160 over Detroit

7:07 PM EST. OT included. It’s come down to Game 82 for the Red Wings and their quest to end a seven-year playoff drought. But despite roaring back from a 4-1 deficit last night in Detroit for a 5-4 overtime win, the Wings do not control their destiny. The Capitals and Flyers, who are also in the hunt for the final Wild Card position, are also playing this evening. So, there are two scenarios in which Detroit can clinch a postseason berth. The first is the Red Wings need a win here in Montreal and a regulation loss by the Capitals in Philadelphia. In the second scenario, the Wings can lose here, but they would then need the Caps to lose in regulation and the Penguins to lose to the Islanders tomorrow night.

The Canadiens were so close to making this game tonight an afterthought, as they took a 4-2 lead into the third period and almost put a stamp on the Red Wings' season before Lucas Raymond tied the game with 1:17 to play and then won it with just 25 seconds left in overtime. That loss stings, but it was another example of the Canadiens pushing a potential playoff team to the limit. With another crack here to pretty well end the Red Wings' season (save for the multi-part situation mentioned above).

Montreal has played 12 of their last 14 games against teams either in or contending for the playoffs, and along the way, they beat Colorado, Philly (twice), and Florida, and they’ve picked up points in three straight, taking both the Islanders and Wings to extra time. The stakes, the situation, and the inflated price the Habs are taking back here make this a must-wager, as we expect another “all hands on deck” effort from the Canadiens in their final game of the season in front of their rabid home crowd at the Bell Centre. The role of spoiler, after all, is one to be relished. Go Habs Go!

Sherwood

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