Montreal Canadiens enter playoffs with new belief, says Craig Button

The Montreal Canadiens enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with renewed belief, and analyst Craig Button believes that mindset could make them a dangerous opponent.

Montreal currently holds the third place in the Atlantic Division with 106 points, and has one game remaining. They are going to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round.

Speaking during a segment of “Jay on SC,” Button said the Canadiens are no longer a team hoping to compete but one expecting to win. He pointed to their balanced play across all areas, including improved defense and reliable goaltending.

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“It’s going to be a difficult matchup because the Montreal Canadiens are playing so well, and they’re not just playing well in one area of their game,” Button said. “Their defensive play has improved, their goaltending has been really good, obviously up front offensively, and you look at how their defense [has improved].

“And I really think Kaiden Guhle coming back healthy has really helped that blue line. It’s taken some of the … heavy minutes away from some other players and he’s filled that in, and he’s that type of player.”

Offensively, Montreal continues to deliver. Cole Caufield has crossed the 50-goal mark, while captain Nick Suzuki has passed 100 points. Button also praised contributions from players like Juraj Slafkovsky (73 points), who scored a recent game-winner, and Lane Hutson (78 points), who matched a franchise record for assists by a defenseman, earlier held by Larry Robinson.

The Canadiens’ depth has also improved. A strong second line featuring emerging players has added scoring support, while the return of key names like Kirby Dach could boost their lineup further.

“They have the grind down deeper in their lineup, and you start to see them getting healthy players coming back into the lineup,” Button said. “Kirby Dach and Alexander Carrier coming back, which would be good. Hopefully, Noah Dobson, the week’s rest, gets them ready for the playoffs.”

This depth allows Montreal to handle different game situations effectively.

Montreal’s wins against strong contenders, Tampa Bay and Carolina

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) is congratulated by defenseman Lane Hutson (48) and right wing Cole Caufield (13) after his goal at Lenovo Center

Recent performances underline their confidence. The Canadiens have recorded big wins on the road, including victories against Tampa Bay (4-1) and Carolina (3-1). They have even defeated Tampa Bay at home with a 2-1 score. These results have reinforced their belief that they can compete with any team.

“This is a really good team, and more than that, about talking about them as a really good team, they’re a team that sees themselves as a really good team,” Buttons said. “They’re not going out on the ice saying, ‘Well, you know what, let’s hope we win, let’s try to survive the period, let’s weather the storm.’ One of the great cliches that I absolutely hate. They go out there with the idea that ‘We got a chance to win because we’re good enough and we’re good enough to beat anybody anywhere.’

“They have shown that. They’ve shown that in the last number of weeks, that five-game winning streak on the road, … that hey we need to be taken seriously and if anybody’s not taking them seriously, do it at your peril because they’re a team that should be reckoned with.”

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Montreal’s season reflects clear progress. With a 48-23-10 record and one of the league’s top-scoring offenses, they have developed into a well-rounded side. Their ability to combine scoring with improved defensive structure has been the best thing about them.

As the playoffs approach, the Canadiens carry momentum and belief. And as Button said, that confidence could be the difference, making Montreal a serious threat in the postseason.