Montreal Canadiens: Qualified for the playoffs.

Yes, the Montreal Canadiens will be a part of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. The club barely managed to finish in eight place and clinch the last available spot.

The Canadiens earned a point during the last game of the regular season. That lone point officially clinched their berth in the spring dance. In a press conference given two days ago, head coach Jacques Martin seemed satisfied of the fact that he managed to pull his team in the playoffs.

For the Montreal Canadiens fans in general and for myself, the way that the team performed during the last four games of the regular season is just another case of history repeating. We have seen this movie too many times in the last fifteen years and we are sick of it. This year, even the hardcore Canadiens fans look depressed and I bet that none of them won't bet 2$ on the bleu-blanc-rouge to win the cup.

The players in this club are relying on the brillance of their goaltender while giving the strict minimum in the effort department. Players are waiting until their backs are against the wall to give a respectable effort on the ice. That kind of behaviour is simply sickening me.

Now, the Montreal Canadiens will face-off with the Washington Capitals in the first round. With such a powerful attack, we cannot hope for any happy ending for the Canadiens. Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and company should have no problem with the Canadiens' defense in this one. And to top it all, former Canadiens' goalie Jose Theodore won't want to miss the oppotunity to humiliate his former team.

I predict an easy victory in five games for the Capitals in this series. I will be impressed if the Canadiens wins more than a single game.

(Picture: Jaroslav Halak and Jose Theodore.)