On Wednesday, with the playoff-bound Hurricanes resting a handful of top players, the Canadiens finally got the job done in their final game of the regular season. The Blue Jackets will now play out the string on Thursday at home against the New York Islanders, both eliminated from the postseason.

Montreal, led by its young core, completed a late-season push to the playoffs that bodes well for what the future might bring.

Defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored twice to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in their season finale, clinching the final spot in the NHL's 16-team Stanley Cup playoff field.