Can the Montreal Canadiens get back into the playoff picture?

The Montreal Canadiens were the hottest team in the NHL when the season started up in October, they won't their first nine games in regulation. After setting the NHL record for most regulation wins in a row. The Canadiens were on top of the hockey world and nothing looked like it would slow them down. Despite losing their next two games in a row Montreal fans were still confident in their team. Fans were dreaming of the first Stanley cup in Canada in 23 years, the players tried to damper the excitement. PK Subban said “I've said it before and I'll say it again: All we've accomplished is to have a good start to the season, and that's it". 

  

Since that comment the Canadiens have struggled losing the best goalie in the NHL Carey Price to a lower body injury on October 29th. Price is a transcendent who is extremely difficult to replace, rookie Mike Condon has been charged with that job. Condon did well the first time that Price went down with an injury, he went 7-1-2 with a .918 save percentage. When Price returned it looked as if the Canadiens were back on track. But Price left a game against the New York Rangers with the same lower body injury that kept him out for nine games. Price's injury has kept him out of action since November 25th. 

Since then the Canadiens have fallen out of the playoff race and have struggled mightily against opens they beat handy at the start of the season. Rookie Mike Condon has done his best to stop the bleeding, but a lack of goal tending depth has killed the Canadiens. Add in Brendan Gallagher missing more than a month with broken fingers. The Canadiens were in a tail spin for most of December. After an up lifting victory over the Boston Bruins at the 2016 Winter Classic it looked like they had finally turned a corner.

But the Canadiens have continued to struggle in their last 27 games they have only won six, and that includes their latest victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Canadiens snapped a four game losing streak with that victory over the Oilers. As Price continues to progress there is still some hope for the Canadiens, they only sit five points back of the second wildcard spot. In a tightly packed eastern conference it wouldn't be a shock to see the Canadiens climb back into the race. With the trade deadline look for them to make a big splash in the trade market. 

Price is a necessity for the Canadiens to make the playoffs, he is the backbone to that team and they are a shell of what they were last year. There were big plans for Montreal this season and injuries have made it difficult to live up to those. It just goes to show that Price is the best goalie in the game and can change a team for better or worse. It's not worth embracing the tank for the Canadiens, they can still make the playoffs. Since Price is increasing his workload he could make a return before the end of the season, it won't be easy but they could it.