The Montreal Canadiens are still undefeated to start the 2015-2016 NHL regular season, running their record to an unprecedented 6-0 as they beat the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4-1 at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. During the 2014-2015 campaign, the Canadiens twice went on a six game win streak. The differences though between last year and this season are truly night and day.
So many of the Canadiens wins last season were due to the spectacular play of Carey Price. The Canadiens were in the bottom of the league in terms of shots for (28.6/game) and shots against (30.1). When it came to scoring goals, they improved as the game would go on as in the first period they scored 44 goals, second period 77 goals and 87 goals in the third. In terms of goals allowed, they were amongst the leaders as they (or shall we say Carey Price) allowed the fewest goals in the NHL in 2014-2015. By period their opponents scored 55 goals in the first, 63 in the second and 61 in the 3rd. In the short sample size of 6 games this year, the Canadiens are leading the NHL in goals scored as well as fewest goals allowed. An opponent has not scored a goal in the 1st period, they have scored a total of 6 in the second, and only 1 in the third period. Not one game has gone to overtime. Their offence in the first and second periods are even having scored 5 goals a piece. In the third they turn it up a notch further and have scored 10 goals. The Montreal Canadiens are outscoring their opponents 10-1 in the third period. Let that sink in for a minute. Even if you are the biggest Habs fan ever, it would have been unfathomable to imagine that the Canadiens would be this good to start the season, especially as they have not even had to rely exclusively on Carey Price to bail them out.
Today’s
Props & Flops will be all Sunshine and Lollipops. I am not trying to be a ‘homer’, but there was not one Canadiens player who mailed in their effort on Saturday. This team is doing everything right and they deserve
Full Props:
Props:
Head Coach Michel Therrien:
Whether it was Therrien or General Manager Marc Bergevin who decided that the Canadiens philosophy must change this season, it is ultimately Therrien and his coaching staff’s responsibility to see it through. He has pretty well kept the same lines since the beginning of training camp and it is obvious that all of their practice has paid off. For the most part, Therrien has been managing his players ice time very well and for the first time in quite some time, has the luxury and trust to roll four forward lines and play all six of his defencemen. He is also making sure that his players are fresh, giving days off and optional practices during what was a busy week. P.K. Subban alluded to this before Saturday’s contest:
“We had a good practice this morning and we’ll be well rested for the game because the majority of our guys didn’t skate on Friday. We play a very demanding style of hockey and we’ll need to outwork the Red Wings tonight.”
The most refreshing change has been Therrien’s green light to continue to push the play when the Canadiens have the lead, rather than sit back and try to protect. The players appreciate this difference as well. Said Galchenyuk postgame:
“The coaches always tell us not to wait, but to be aggressive. We don’t sit back and give teams a chance to get back in the game. Whether we’re winning or losing this year, we’re always pushing.”
Props:
Brendan Gallagher - I think Vincent Damphousse might be eating his words a bit as he had called out Gallagher before the season started. No one, be it the players or coaches were concerned that Gallagher had a quiet training camp. Gallagher has come to play and is a big part of his line’s success with Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty. While they compliment each other so well, Gallagher is the spark plug that makes his team go. His 1st goal of the season was controversial, and it won’t be the last one to go to video review either.
The best part was his reaction to learning the goal was good:
What has really impressed me the last couple of games is Gallagher’s crisp passing. His awareness of the play developing has improved tremendously from year to year. He has had a few seeing eye passes the last couple of games. His forecheck and takeaway directly led to Plekanec’s goal against the Red Wings.
Props:
Jeff Petry - It is amazing to think that Bergevin only had to give up a 2nd round and 4th round pick to acquire Petry at last year’s trade deadline. Not only that, he was able to resign him to a reasonable deal before Petry went to free agency. The stability that he has brought to the Canadiens defence core is second to none. He is contributing 20-23 minutes a game of solid hockey. His two points have come on the powerplay and last night’s goal was the first by a Canadiens defenceman this season. Against the Red Wings he led the Canadiens with 5 hits and 3 blocked shots. This is not to mention the wonders that he has done rejuvenating Alexei Emelin. The success of the Canadiens 2nd pairing is taking the pressure off of Subban and Andrei Markov and allows for various match-ups against the opponents top lines.
Props:
The Canadiens Powerplay - After focusing on the powerplay in practice, the players responded with scoring two powerplay goals against Detroit. Albeit the first PP goal by Gallagher could easily be considered debatable and a fluke, good things happen when you go to the net. However, the powerplay itself looked much improved compared to the previous few games. The players were moving their feet and the puck. They were not sitting back. Said Therrien postgame:
“We had a chance to work on things this morning, and it was nice to get back to basics. Drawing up Xs and Os is one thing, but actually getting to practice them is another. The guys applied everything we had discussed this morning -- attacking the net and putting shots on goal -- and the result was the one we were looking for.”
On Petry’s powerplay goal, the coaches left Subban out with Petry and it worked out quite well. David Desharnais parked himself in front of Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek and gave Petry the perfect screen. Mrazek never saw the puck as it went by him. These different looks will play into the Canadiens favour as the season goes on.
Neither Here Nor There:
- Only 2 Canadiens forward have not scored a goal so far this season, Alex Semin and Devante Smith-Pelly. Semin had a solid game and created numerous opportunities with his linemates against Detroit. One gets the feeling that scoring will come in bunches from him. Smith-Pelly is playing better than expected so far this season. He is lighter, faster, physical and much more engaged in the play. While he doesn’t have a point yet this season, he has had opportunities and created some for his linemates as well. As long as he keeps up with this effort, he will get rewarded for it.
- Subban and Markov played quite a bit against the Red Wings, 27:58 and 24:55 minutes respectively. While those number are higher than we would like to see, the Canadiens do not play again until Tuesday against St Louis and are then off again until Friday when they play in Buffalo. The players have plenty of time to rest before games but hopefully this won’t become too much of a habit.
- For the first time all season the Canadiens gave up the first goal of the game. There was no panic though and that lead lasted only 2:57. Think about it, the Canadiens have only trailed for a total of 2:57 throughout 6 games. Wow.
- Not one Canadiens forward played more than Plekanec’s 17:28. The low was Dale Weise’s 11:32. They are truly rolling out four lines and have a balanced attack for the first time in years.
- It is no surprise that Pacioretty is leading the Canadiens with 6 points in 6 games. Impressively though, 4 players are tied with 5 points right behind him: Plekanec, Gallagher, Galchenyuk and Desharnais while Subban and Markov have 4 assists each. Not one player is below zero in the +/- category.
The Canadiens enjoyed the day off today and should be back at practice Monday morning in Brossard.
Cheers & Follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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