News Article: How the Canadiens Made the Playoffs

[Lafleurs Guy]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712518

"On paper, the Montreal Canadiens have no business being where they are, with an invitation to the Stanley Cup Playoffs already in hand with 11 days remaining in the NHL regular season.

The Canadiens have a negative goal differential at 5-on-5, their possession numbers as a team are in the bottom half of the League, their power play is in the middle of the pack, they have yet to find consistent pairings on defense and they give up far too many shots on goal."

We're basically in because of Carey Price.

Click to read more...

 

[Analyzer*]

We're basically in because of Carey Price.

Well duh.

 

[David Suzuki]

We're a different team since the deadline though, so looking at team stats all season long are somewhat misleading in my opinion. Who cares what our team stats were when Bourque was on our first line and not on the fouth/watching in the press box?

 

[Habs]

That's a pretty disrespectful quote. Maybe the idiots at the NHL need a reminder what 6 teams deserve a little respect before blurting out little jabs.

 

[CP31]

Carey Carey Carey

 

[Habby Gilmore]

******* Them!! #Stanley25

 

[bcv]

That's a pretty disrespectful quote. Maybe the idiots at the NHL need a reminder what 6 teams deserve a little respect before blurting out little jabs.

Yeah.. it's written by a montreal beat writer.

 

[WeThreeKings]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712518

"On paper, the Montreal Canadiens have no business being where they are, with an invitation to the Stanley Cup Playoffs already in hand with 11 days remaining in the NHL regular season.

The Canadiens have a negative goal differential at 5-on-5, their possession numbers as a team are in the bottom half of the League, their power play is in the middle of the pack, they have yet to find consistent pairings on defense and they give up far too many shots on goal."

We're basically in because of Carey Price.

But Scotty Bowman said we were well coached.

 

[roy munson]

The Habs could ice the best team ever, win the President's trophy, the Stanley cup, have 10 NHL awards winners and people would still find something bad to say about us or discredit everything they have done all season long. So when they ice an ordinary team I wouln't expect anything less.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

That's a pretty disrespectful quote. Maybe the idiots at the NHL need a reminder what 6 teams deserve a little respect before blurting out little jabs.

I didn't agree with the "on paper" part from a roster perspective.

From a numbers perspective though, they are dead on correct. We've been outchanced and outshot all year long.

 

[PsychoticHab]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712518

"On paper, the Montreal Canadiens have no business being where they are, with an invitation to the Stanley Cup Playoffs already in hand with 11 days remaining in the NHL regular season.

The Canadiens have a negative goal differential at 5-on-5, their possession numbers as a team are in the bottom half of the League, their power play is in the middle of the pack, they have yet to find consistent pairings on defense and they give up far too many shots on goal."

We're basically in because of Carey Price.

While true, you can't underestimate "Character". (only about half sarcastic)

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

While true, you can't underestimate "Character". (only about half sarcastic)

...more like Carey-cter...

 

[Shaby23]

There's few things that frustrate me with this team. It's that we never dominate a game , we suck 5v5 and our PP is bad compared to last year. Pretty much have to agree with the article.

 

[Blind Gardien]

Well, to be fair it's not quite exactly just Price. It's also the weakness of the Conference in general and the fumbling play of many other teams in the Conference (in whole or parts of the season).

 

[Team_Spirit]

Yeah.. it's written by a montreal beat writer.

zing!

 

[FrontierPsyCHiatrist*]

In all seriousness, character has a lot to do with our good season.

 

[Kriss E]

The Habs could ice the best team ever, win the President's trophy, the Stanley cup, have 10 NHL awards winners and people would still find something bad to say about us or discredit everything they have done all season long. So when they ice an ordinary team I wouln't expect anything less.

Well no. Heck, just go back to last year, most agree we played well. Most were happy with the way we were coached and liked our game/team. Even losing in 5 versus the Sens and even getting beat down, most still feel like we outplayed Ottawa.
So why would most of the guys feeling that way suddenly start bashing a 4th seeded team?
We're not a bad team. With a healthy roster, I can actually see them reach the finals (the weak eastern conference helps). But not with the way we've played.
If we still get confused and remain structure-less defensively with little transition game, then I think we're only making it harder on ourselves.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

But Scotty Bowman said we were well coached.

Did he say this back in '78?

 

[Rapala]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712518

"On paper, the Montreal Canadiens have no business being where they are, with an invitation to the Stanley Cup Playoffs already in hand with 11 days remaining in the NHL regular season.

The Canadiens have a negative goal differential at 5-on-5, their possession numbers as a team are in the bottom half of the League, their power play is in the middle of the pack, they have yet to find consistent pairings on defense and they give up far too many shots on goal."

We're basically in because of Carey Price.

Typically the PP/PK opportunities dry up in the post season.
Probably 4 or 5 of the calls we saw last night don't get called (both teams)
Shots on goal should normally be 20-25 per in a playoff game.
The stat is often misleading depending on where the shots came from.
They should actually break it down in Red & Black numbers showing true goal scoring chances.
Having said that the 5 on 5 and possesion numbers become hugely relevant.
The PP/PK magnified. Boston managed a cup recently with no PP to speak of but that was an aberration.

Carey is likely to have zero margin for error unless we drastically change some of our tendencies.

 

[Teufelsdreck]

On paper? Ice skates would rep it into confetti immediately upon contact. How are the Habs on ice?

 

[TalkingHead]

On paper? Ice skates would rep it into confetti immediately upon contact. How are the Habs on ice?

Not that great, thank goodness for Price though.

 

[Binary Code]

 

[Smokey Thompson]

That last part is so true. Having two tremendous PMDs like Subban and Markov is a rare commodity.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

the eastern conference wasnt that great neither this year wich helped alot

 

[DJ Breadman]

Price, patches, markov and subban and the only reasons we made the playoffs