The Buffalo Sabres have emerged victorious in a furious three-team race for the Atlantic Division title.
The Sabres, who officially ended their 14-season playoff drought earlier this month, wrapped up the Atlantic crown with a 5-1 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks in their penultimate game of the regular season on Monday.
The Lightning have the tiebreaker on the Canadiens and can seal home-ice advantage in the series with a win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
It will mark the first series between the Lightning and Canadiens since Tampa won a five-game Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
The Sabres, meanwhile, have their first division title since 2010. They’ll face either the Boston Bruins or Ottawa Senators in the first round.
Buffalo hasn’t won a playoff series since 2007.
The Sabres have had a remarkable turnaround after firing general manager Kevyn Adams and replacing him with Jarmo Kekalainen in December.
Sabres star Tage Thompson scored two goals on Monday to give him 40 on the season.