The difference between making and missing the playoffs is determined by the streaks you go on.

If you get in a funk that lasts six or seven games and you aren't taking away any points during that stretch, that's the season. You just won't recover from it.

You have to avoid the long losing streak.

And that has been a huge part of what has made the Habs successful this season. No matter how low it looks, the Habs just don't get so down that they don't recover.

Their longest winless streak this season is only three games. The Leafs' visit was the key game to stopping a slide this go-round.

If they had lost to Toronto, then it could have sprinted to something scary. A loss to the Leafs would have made four without a win, then Buffalo Tuesday and a three game set out through western Canada.

It could have been the sad streak that can kill a season.

Instead, they came up with their best, most complete effort of the season. A sixth shutout this season for Carey Price and the only one he didn't have to do handstands to earn. You can barely remember a tough save for Price.

And offensively, the club is still finding people to surprise. Max Pacioretty coming of age in the last month, suffered a shoulder or wrist injury in the third. No update to report.

Add to the list of many young players arriving such as David Desharnais. He could not be more than five-foot-five but his eyes are as big as saucers. He sees the ice as well as anyone. And what about his face-off skills? Desharnais was 12 and 4 against Toronto and 10 and 4 against the Islanders in the circle.

Montreal is not out of the dark woods yet though as Hal Gill's injury leaves them thin on the blue line. One more defenceman injury and it could get very dicey, but for now, again you can't help but be impressed by where they stand in the league.

They overachieved in the playoffs last year and now they are integrating many more new players but the same ability to overachieve remains this year.