Postseason bound: Canadiens clinch playoff berth

No collapse this time around.

The Montreal Canadiens booked their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 6-2 victory Thursday over the Florida Panthers.

Claude Julien, who took over for Michel Therrien in mid-February, improved to 13-5-1 in his return to the Canadiens' bench.

Montreal will play in the postseason for the fourth time in the last five springs. The club advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013-14, and if the Habs lock up the Atlantic Division, they'll meet the New York Rangers in the first round, and will be looking for revenge. The Blueshirts eliminated Montreal in six games in 2014, before losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings.

The Canadiens went 3-0 against the Rangers this season.

Paul Byron scored another pair Thursday, pushing his career high to 22 goals, while Brendan Gallagher had a four-point game on a goal and three helpers. Carey Price was Carey Price - he stopped 29 of 31 shots.

With Ottawa losing to Minnesota on Thursday, Montreal jumps six points clear of the Senators, though Guy Boucher's squad does hold a game in hand.

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