With just hours left in the NHL season, things are still not entirely settled for the Montreal Canadiens in terms of the draft lottery.
Tonight's game will be crucial for the team as Kent Hughes and the fans will officially find out at which rank the Canadiens will finish in the overall standings, following the final match between the Arizona Coyotes and the Edmonton Oilers.
"With the point earned tonight (last night), the Canadiens have moved ahead of the Coyotes in the standings. The Sens have also won.
So if the Coyotes earn 1 point tomorrow, the CH will have the 5th best lottery ticket. If they lose in regulation, the CH will have the 6th best ticket."
The odds of winning the lottery are one thing, but drafting at the 5th or 6th position could have a significant impact on the player selected by the club.
Moreover, it's worth noting that the Canadiens could see their pick drop by two places even if the team finishes in 5th position in the reverse standings, in the unfortunate event that two organizations behind them win the lottery.
In this light, even if the Tricolore were to finish 6th, there's a real possibility that this choice could fall to the 8th slot. Such a scenario would be catastrophic, which is why it's preferable for the club to finish in the best possible position.
So, it's time to dig out your old Coyotes jerseys (for the few people who might have one), because Canadiens fans will definitely be rooting for this team tonight.
