The Montreal Canadiens clinched the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night, locking up a first-round meeting with the Washington Capitals.

Montreal secured its place after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2, though it needed only one point to seal the deal. Defenseman Kaiden Guhle led the way with his first career two-goal game.

It’s been a remarkable run for Montreal, which was in last place in the Eastern Conference in mid-December. But the Canadiens have gone 29-15-8 in their past 52 contests to turn things around.

Montreal hasn’t made the playoffs since its stunning run to the Stanley Cup Final in COVID-19-shortened 2021. The club finished in last place of the Atlantic Division in each of the next three campaigns.

Jets 2, Ducks 1 (OT) >> Mark Scheifele scored at 1:51 of overtime to lead Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg over Anaheim its regular-season finale.

The Jets finished at 56-22-4 to set a franchise record with 116 points.

Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves for Winnipeg in his 47th win, the most in franchise history, and the Jets wrapped up the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against.

Red Wings 5, Devils 2 >> Dylan Larkin scored — giving him at least 30 goals for the fourth straight season — and added an assist and Alex Lyon made 28 saves as Detroit downed New Jersey.

Jonatan Berggren, J.T. Compher, Alex DeBrincat and Marco Kasper also scored for the Red Wings who won their third straight. Detroit will miss the playoffs for a ninth straight season.

The Devils finished with 42 wins and 91 points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

Penguins’ Letang has surgery >> Defenseman Kris Letang’ will miss Pittsburgh’s finale against Washington tonight after undergoing a procedure to close a small hole in his heart.

Letang, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has missed time earlier in his career due to strokes related to a hole in his heart.

The team said the expected timeline for Letang to make a full recovery is 4-6 weeks.