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Habs on the right side of average, on the verge of good/great when healthy |
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When you consider the injuries that have deprived their lineup from stacking up against the league's elite teams, it would be hard to consider the Canadiens as anything other than an average team.
They looked pretty average against San Jose on Saturday. Then again, San Jose's made everyone look average--including the Boston Bruins, who are the only team to have beaten the Sharks in regulation this season.
If the thinking is that this injury-riddled team is in the middle of the pack, then it stands to reason that with Max Pacioretty, Brandon Prust, Daniel Briere, Travis Moen, Alexei Emelin and Davis Drewiske healthy, the Canadiens could be good, bordering on great.
With a win over the Rangers last night, the Habs improved their record to 7-5. That's good enough to tie them in points with the average Detroit Red Wings, and have them trailing the average Pittsburgh Penguins by two--all three teams having played 12 games to date. Okay, maybe those teams are under-performing a bit, all things considered.
The Habs have the 14th-best record in the league. This might be the biggest evidence to support the claim that they are indeed average as currently constructed. Their home record, a paltry 3-4, serves the point as well.
All that said, the Canadiens have the kind of team stats that tell us they're on the right side of average. These stats maintained, combined with healthy returns for important players, do as much to support the idea that the Canadiens will be a good team bordering on great.
The powerplay ranks 6th in the league. The penalty kill ranks 8th. Their goal differential at +13 ties them with the Bruins for tops in the East, trailing only San Jose and Colorado for the league-lead (big hill to climb towards two teams that are 10-1-1 and 10-1 respectively). Their goal differential at 5-on-5 has them ranked 7th in the league, in the category. They have the 4th-best goals against average in the league. Their 2.92 goals/game average ranks them 13th in the league, whereas 3.04 had them in 4th in the category last season (Max Pacioretty should make a difference in this department--probably enough of one to push them into the top 10).
You take everything, from their overall record to the impressive special teams stats, with a grain of salt. You consider the quality of competition, and you have to also consider how early in the season it is. But, 30 teams are all fighting the same battle here, and I think it's fair to suggest that the Canadiens are proving their worth as a team that's fit to end up on the right side of the playoff picture when all is said and done.
The new wildcard format currently has the Habs and Wings in the final two spots of the conference. The Senators have a game in-hand on both teams, and they trail by four points. The Lightning have definitely overachieved so far, notching 16 points in 11 games, and the Leafs have been solid with 16 points in 12 games. The Bruins, who most expect to lead this division, have 14 points in 10 games. One of these teams is going to miss the playoffs, and it might only be by a hair. The rest of them would be challenging Pittsburgh for top spot in the Metropolitan division, and they're likely to deprive two teams of a wildcard spot.
Thankfully for the Canadiens, they're on the right side of average, and they have to be getting better once key players like Pacioretty and Prust return to the lineup.
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1) You don't have to blow the lights out as a prospect coming up to the big club, but it's important to hit the scoresheet. Louis Leblanc played just over 10:00, he had a penalty, he drew one too, he had a couple of good setups for his linemates, and he recorded a shot on net. He didn't blow out the lights, but he was involved.
2) Michael Bournival's play to draw both defenders and give Plekanec an easy lane to the net was a confident one, to say the least. That he stayed on his feet was pretty remarkable too. Plekanec's finish was great too. Gionta's play to get it to Bournival quickly was the right the decision. None of it's possible without the subtle, but brilliant pass by Andrei Markov on the play.
3) Speaking of Markov, he did his best work in his own end last night, blocking six shots, including one on the final shift of the game before Michel Therrien called a timeout and the Habs closed this one out efficiently.
Markov's leadership is probably underrated. For a guy that's been through enough pain to justify taking a few shortcuts out there, he doesn't give in to temptation. He sets a very good example for his teammates, and he's playing excellent hockey right now.
4) I saw a lot of comments last night ripping Douglas Murray to shreds. I still don't get the obsession with his skating. He's never been employed to skate the puck out of his own end, or lead the rush. This guy wasn't brought here to be a powerplay quarterback. Is he going to be exposed on the rush from time to time? Of course he is. But after his first game in a Habs uniform--a 2-0 shutout in which he played 14:21 over 22 short shifts (Markov played 25:47 over 30 shifts)--there's really nothing to complain about.
Somehow, the Canadiens blocked 28 shots, and Murray wasn't credited with any of them. They were credited with 12 hits, and Murray only had one of them; the other was a penalty for interference, though it was certainly a statement and a sign of something positive he could bring to the Canadiens. Another positive was his 3:01 shorthanded, which reduced Markov's role to 1:27 on the penalty kill, while Gorges and Diaz handled the big minutes.
All in all, Murray wasn't that noticeable. He deserves a couple of games to show what he can do.
It won't be the worst thing for the Habs to have a rotation on the backend that includes Murray, Bouillon, Beaulieu and Tinordi.
5) The coaching staff is doing a great job of developing their young players without rushing them or exposing them.
Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher have taken on bigger roles, but they aren't being solely relied on.
Lars Eller's been elevated to 1B next to Plekanec, who's playing 1A.
Tinordi had a bit of a rough start in Montreal, no problem, they've sent him to Hamilton to play big minutes and regain some swagger.
Nathan Beaulieu started off rocky in training camp after getting hurt in the first scrimmage, and he's gotten better with each game he's played. He's brought some life to the second powerplay unit, and there's nothing wrong with pulling him from the lineup to gain a vantage from the pressbox while he's here.
Michael Bournival's reinvigorated Plekanec and Brian Gionta. The kid has six points in nine NHL games, and he's built his way up to the role he's being given.
Speaking of roles, Patrick Holland's had one on the penalty kill since he got here. He doesn't look out of place. He even had a couple of key blocks last night.
6) Speaking of blocked shots, the Habs lead the league in the category. Josh Gorges ranks 2nd with 37 blocked, one behind Andrew MacDonald of the Islanders.
7) It's only been two games, but fair to say that Peter Budaj's picked up right where he left off last season. He's been stellar. He kept the Habs in the game early, and he definitely kept them in it late!
8) I could understand if the fans at Madison Square Garden were ticked at the officials last night.
Chris Kreider didn't do much for the interference penalty that led to Montreal's first goal. But it is his job to get out of the way in that circumstance, and because he didn't, Diaz tripped over him. Tough break.
As for the goal for Alex Galchenyuk, it's one of those that only counts because they called it a goal on the ice. If they call it no goal on the ice, they probably deem there's not enough conclusive evidence that he didn't kick it to overturn the call.
It's stupidly subjective. I don't believe Galchenyuk had a distinct kicking motion, but there's nothing to specifically define what that would be. He didn't lift his skate off the ice, nor did he sweep it in a "kick" towards the net, but he clearly got it in position to direct the puck in. He was hoping to catch it with his stick after it hit his skate, and he failed to do that, and his non-celebration told you everything you needed to know about whether or not he felt it should've been a goal. But it counted.
Something needs to be done about the language of that rule...
9) Henrik Lundqvist can complain all he wants about that goal, but it didn't cost the Rangers the game. Going 0-5 on the powerplay hurt them. Not getting to the net enough on rebound opportunities hurt them too.
10) Quietly, Subban's gone three games without a point. That probably unblocks tonight against the Stars.
By the way, watch out for that top line on Dallas. Benn-Seguin-Cole did some damage last night in Buffalo, and they are likely to play an inspired game in Montreal.
Another guy to watch for: Alex Chiasson, who has scored 11 goals in 18 NHL contests. He's coming in cold, but he's a guy that parks his 6"4, 205lb rear in front of opposing goalies. Oh yeah... and he's from Montreal.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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