Canada will be shut out of NHL playoffs for second time in history

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ray Whitney’s eyes widened and his face contorted as he delivered his opinion of Canada’s imminent fate.

“It’s unacceptable,” the former NHL standout said. “You’ve got a nation that bleeds hockey and you can’t even get one of seven teams into the playoffs?”

Not this season.

When Monday’s games ended, Ottawa was the only Canadian team still drawing playoff breath, and it was faint. The Senators trailed Philadelphia by 10 points for the Eastern Conference’s final wild card berth with six Senators games remaining, but there were three other teams — Detroit, New Jersey and Carolina — between the Senators and the Flyers.

If the Senators fail to earn even one more point, or if Philadelphia or Detroit each earns one more point outside their upcoming head-to-head matchup, the Senators will be eliminated, but at least Ottawa still possesses a ray of hope. Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal have already been eliminated. When the Senators’ fate is inevitably sealed, it will mark just the second time in NHL history the playoffs will be played without a Canadian team.

The only other time it happened was in 1969-70 when there were just two Canadian teams: Toronto and Montreal.

“I’m curious to see the TV ratings this year,” Coyotes Canadian forward Alex Tanguay said. “That hasn’t happened in a long time so I guess it was due to happen.”

Small-market economics and rebuilding projects have played roles for Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary and Ottawa. Both the Flames and Senators made the playoffs last season, but that success masked some underlying problems and deficiencies.

Vancouver is also transitioning to a rebuild and Toronto is undergoing a massive overhaul after years of disappointing results despite playing in a market where resources are seemingly bottomless.

The biggest surprise this season was Montreal. The Canadiens advanced to the conference finals two years ago, and the second round last year, but an injury to franchise goaltender Carey Price was more than Montreal could overcome.

“I think it was a reality check for them that they are not as good as they thought they were,” said Whitney, who played 1,330 career games with eight NHL teams.

Montreal began the season with 13 wins in its first 16 games and looked destined for Cup contention. Instead, the city’s greatest pride will miss the postseason for the third time since the lockout cancelled the 2004-05 season.

“Just the fact that they aren’t making it I know would be unacceptable up there,” said Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue, who grew up near Montreal. “I can’t even imagine what it will be like when all of Canada’s teams miss. We support our teams and are really proud of hockey being our No. 1 sport so it’s disappointing for everyone I’m sure.”

It may even be contagious. Aside from the seven Canadian teams, both of the NHL’s U.S. cities that sit on the Canadian border are in danger of missing the postseason. Buffalo has already been eliminated; Detroit sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. If the Red Wings miss the postseason, it would end the longest playoff streak in North American professional sports at 24 seasons.

Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter

Follow @craigsmorgan