The Canadiens faced a grueling playoff run in 2026, pushing past St. Louis in a hard-fought series that extended into the third round before ultimately bowing out. Their season ended in the Eastern Conference Final after a five-game defeat to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. The loss marked a disappointing conclusion to a playoff campaign that had shown resilience early on. Fans will reflect on how close Montreal came before falling short in the conference’s decisive matchup.

St. Louis took the Canadiens three rounds deep in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Montreal ultimately falling in five games to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.