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THW's Canadiens News for 03/21/2021
The latest Habs stories from The Hockey Writers.
03/21/2021 edition:
By Stephen Michaud on Mar 20, 2021 06:01 pm
On Wednesday evening against the Winnipeg Jets, Canadiens’ forward Phillip Danault played arguably his best game of the season, offering a sign that perhaps he has regained full confidence after a sluggish start offensively. On Friday night, he played another strong game against the Vancouver Canucks. Regularly a top-line offensive contributor (by team standards), Danault only has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 30 games this season. Still, I think he has taken on a disproportionate brunt of the criticism this season when taking into account how the team more broadly has struggled, at times, with inconsistency.
The direct and frequent criticism in my mind is no doubt a response to a great report by La Presse writer Mathias Brunet that Danault turned down a 6-year, $30 million contract in the offseason. (From ‘Phillip Danault et le CH sont-ils si loin d’une entente,’ La Presse, 22 January 2021). The fan response to this news online might as well have been figuratively represented by a target being placed on the back of his jersey. After this, Danault’s performance was bound to be under the microscope more closely.
This is not to say no criticism is allowed. Of course, it is. Not scoring a goal for the first 25 games was a problem deserving of some criticism, but did it warrant the many calling for him to be scratched when he appeared to be playing well in other areas of the game? I am not so sure. Does it mean he is not worth the $30 million he apparently turned down? Maybe, but Danault is still a very valuable member of the team, and I think he may be turning the corner.
Danault’s Underlying Numbers
His underlying statistical numbers at even strength still highlight an elite level of effectiveness as a puck possession player. After Wednesday night’s game versus the Jets, his Corsi-for percentage (CF) was 57.5 percent, and his Fenwick at even strength was 57 percent. Just as a quick refresher, Corsi at even strength refers to the differential of shot attempts for and against while a team or player is on the ice at five-on-five. This includes shots that miss the net or are blocked as well. When Danault is on the ice, his team more often than not controls play. Fenwick, on the other hand, denotes a team’s offensive puck control over the course of a game. Once again, it is clear that when Danault is on the ice, the Canadiens are generally assuming an offensive posture.
With this in mind, it seems almost inevitable that the points will start to come more frequently for Danault, thus boosting his all-around confidence and performance. This can only benefit the Canadiens as the playoff race tightens and the pressure increases on their younger centers. The question is whether the criticism will be consistent if his stat line improves. In any case, there are still other reasons to suggest Danault’s confidence is rising, even if such a trait for a player can be harder to measure. Why else do I believe Danault is trending in the right direction?
Danault’s Tenacity and Sharp Penalty Killing
Even the eye test will tell you that Danault has been very tenacious on the puck in all three zones in the last three to five games. More so than in earlier portions of the season, where, at times, he seemed a little hesitant or passive. To me, this is a sign that he is engaged, and he knows he can be a difference-maker. On Wednesday, he was very hard on Jets forward Mark Scheifele every time he had the puck in any zone. He badgered him all over the ice and limited him to zero points on the night.
In regard to the penalty kill, it is true that the Canadiens have not quite performed to ideal standards this season. However, in the last two games, they have killed 100 percent of their penalties on four opposition opportunities. I understand that this is not a huge sample size, but the timing of these kills has been particularly important, and this is where Danault has excelled to help his team, showing his confidence is on the upswing.
On Friday against the Canucks, for example, Jesperi Kotkaniemi took a high sticking penalty on Tyler Motte at 12:54 of the third period while the Canadiens were still down a goal. This could have sealed the win for the Canucks. Instead, Danault made strong plays to help the team kill off the penalty, setting the stage for Nick Suzuki’s game-tying goal to secure the Canadiens one important point.
The first play was when Canucks’ forward J.T Miller faked a seam pass to Brock Boeser and instead attempted to feed Quinn Hughes at the point. Danault read the play well and managed to tip the pass out to center ice, killing the Canucks possession. In addition, he showed poise with the puck on one vital play, making a short pass under pressure to Joel Edmundson, who cleared the puck with ease. It is arguable, but these plays helped save a point for the Canadiens. Danault made those plays with a level of certainty that only confident players make.
If Danault can continue to play this way, he should be added to the list of factors indicating that the Canadiens will be a playoff team come the end of the season. Look for him to have a big impact moving forward.
By Ben Wagner on Mar 20, 2021 09:46 am
Montréal Canadiens’ blueliner Xavier Ouellet played his first game of the season on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, sliding into the lineup in place of Ben Chiarot, who may be out the rest of the regular season after fracturing his hand in the Habs’ 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks last week. Head coach Dominque Ducharme’s decision to go with Ouellet over Victor Mete may end up costing the Canadiens down the line — if not in performance, in roster turmoil.
Mete Scratched Again
Chiarot’s injury and timeline for recovery may have seemed like a godsend to Mete, who has only appeared in seven games this season and has gone on record saying he wants out of Montréal. It could’ve been the perfect opportunity for him to get regular ice time and prove he still belongs in a Canadiens sweater. Instead, Ducharme chose to make him a healthy scratch again, which sends a mixed message, especially after general manager Marc Bergevin told the media he wanted to keep Mete for defensive depth.
Given Ouellet’s debut, Bergevin’s comments now seem like a backhanded compliment. While the general manager maintains that Mete is an integral part of the team’s plan, in reality, he ranks very low on the Habs’ list of priorities. It’s entirely possible that with the Habs’ offseason additions, Mete doesn’t have a place among a defence that went for size and strength over speed and skill (at least for the most part). After Chiarot’s injury, Mete slotted into the lineup for one game before being replaced by Ouellet. It’s really hard to pinpoint what exactly it is about Mete’s play (when he does get a chance — he’s played only seven games this season) that would make him a perennial benchwarmer, but maybe it’s just that he seems to be the type of player who requires a very specific defence partner in order to play to his full potential.
Ouellet Moves In
In his season debut, Ouellet played a remarkably average game. In 13:12 of ice time, he recorded three hits, two blocked shots, and two penalty minutes (PIM). He failed to register a shot on goal or tally any points. It’s difficult to try and compare him to Mete, given how little we’ve seen of both of them this season. However, in his second appearance with the big club on Wednesday, Ouellet allowed the Jets to build a two-goal lead after he collided with Carey Price.
However, since his call-up, the Canadiens’ lineup has largely remained unchanged, meaning that he’ll be sticking around for the foreseeable future.
A New Angle(t)
One reason Ducharme seems to favour Ouellet over Mete could be a personal connection. Jean-François Chaumont of Le Journal de Montréal described a fast friendship that developed between Ducharme and Xavier’s father, Robert Ouellet, while they were both playing in France for Anglet in the 1990s. Ducharme and the elder Ouellet took charge of the team after the coach fell ill, and Xavier was a constant presence in the room.
Ducharme has previously expressed admiration and sympathy for Xavier, saying:
I’ve known Xavier since he was eight years old. I watched him grow up. I was really close friends with his father – we coached together for four years – Xavier would always come watch us play and watch the practices.
Their relationship could spell trouble for Mete, given that management seems to prefer every player above him.
Although Bergevin has repeatedly doused the fire of Mete trade rumours and tried to quash any dysfunction by playing Mete at his request, both he and the Canadiens’ coaches have demonstrated their preference for other players, now particularly Ouellet. This may lead to some difficult roster questions down the line that the Habs will have to answer.
By Ryan Szporer on Mar 20, 2021 08:47 am
If the Montreal Canadiens were suddenly interviewing for a job, they’d have no choice but to lie through their teeth when inevitably asked if they mind working overtime. After all, the results don’t lie: The Habs and (three-on-three) overtime just don’t work, like at all.
At 0-8 in overtime and shootouts this season, the Canadiens have instead been shooting themselves in the foot all season so long. It’s gotten so bad, interim head coach Dominique Ducharme half-joked during a recent media availability session “I wish that we had five-on-five overtime.”
You know what? Wish granted!
(As long as the Canadiens actually end up reaching the postseason anyway)
In effect, as one of the league’s dominant teams in terms of possession at five-on-five, there’s little reason for the Habs or their fans to be overly concerned with their brutal success rate winning games past regulation in the regular season (0% to be clear). If everything holds true, they should have little problem keeping up in overtime come the postseason, during which traditional rules apply.
Truth be told, there’s every reason to believe they’ll get a chance to find out for sure too. In fact, there are three reasons (at least) that say the Habs still make the playoffs despite all the points they’ve been leaving on the table. Here they are:
3. Carey Price’s Return to Form
There is no denying that this is goalie Carey Price’s team. General manager Marc Bergevin effectively built this team around him, insulating him with the acquisitions of defensive defensemen Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot and Joel Edmundson.
Even backup Jake Allen, who has theoretically outplayed Price to start the season, was acquired for his benefit, to keep him rested. While the strategy hasn’t exactly worked to perfection, there are signs that Price is regaining the form he displayed last postseason, when he led the league in goals-against average (1.78) and ranked second in save percentage (.936).
True, Price’s stats may be mediocre overall (2.66 GAA, .907 SV%). However, in March so far, he has a SV% of .938. The stretch of success actually predates the decision to let goaltending coach Stephane Waite go and replace him with Sean Burke, to be clear. So, there’s a fairly decent chance Price had been working himself out of his funk himself and can sustain this stretch of relative dominance for at least a while longer.
Furthermore, consider how Price’s shorthanded save percentage is actually what had been dragging down his stats (and he’s been consistently good at even strength). As a result, as long as the Canadiens stay disciplined, both he and the team as a whole should be all right.
Case in point, the 4-2-3 record the Habs have in March, since Price found his form, may seem unimpressive, but it actually translates to a .611 points percentage. That in turn translates to 100 points over 82 games. That’s enough to guarantee a playoff spot in the worst of times. Needless to say, as long as the Canadiens and Price keep it up, they’ll be sweating in the face of unlimited playoff overtime instead in no time.
2. Still Canadiens’ Spot to Lose
It’s an old cliché, but it applies nonetheless: The Canadiens’ collective fate rests in their hands and theirs alone. As the fourth-place team in the North Division, the Habs currently find themselves in a playoff spot. As long as they keep winning more than the teams below them, they’re in. It’s that simple.
More than that though, they’re relatively entrenched in the spot they’ve got. All due respect to the Ottawa Senators, no one expects them to make the playoffs. Even if they’ve had some success against the Canadiens this season, 11 points back, they’re unlikely to catch up to say the least. That leaves the Vancouver Canucks (two points fewer than the Canadiens but four more games played) and Calgary Flames (three points fewer, one more game played). Ultimately, mathematically speaking, it will take a far greater swoon than the Habs experienced earlier this season to cost them what right now is firmly theirs. In spite of their struggles, they’ve still got a 93.2% chance of making the playoffs.
Furthermore, it’s not like the Habs are unable to gain ground themselves. With only six points separating them from the top-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs (Habs have one game in hand, heading into action Friday night) and 27 games to play, including six between the two sides, the Habs are still fully capable of coming back to win the division. All they’ve got to do is rediscover some of the chemistry they displayed to open the season, when they proved they could hang with and even dominate almost every other team in the division.
It may sound easier said than done, but all the moving parts have stayed the same. If the Canadiens were able to run roughshod through opponents under less than ideal circumstances to start the season, they can do it again as the playing field levels out.
1. Easiest Remaining Schedule in North Division
All of a sudden that six-game road trip to start the season doesn’t seem so bad. Granted, that’s in large part because the Canadiens jumped out the gate, earning a 4-0-2 record on it.
Now, having just returned from a separate 2-2-2 trip, the Canadiens can now enjoy the proverbial fruits of their labor. Of the 27 games that remain, 17 are in the friendly confines of the Bell Centre. That’s by far the most of any other team in the North Division, with the Oilers for example having only nine home dates remaining.
Admittedly, the Habs’ 5-5-1 record at home doesn’t instill all that much confidence in the likelihood they take advantage. However, of note, after starting out 3-5 at home under ex-head coach Claude Julien, the Habs are 2-0-1 under Ducharme. It’s not a necessarily proof of a trend in the right direction, but it at least shows the Habs have moved on from their earlier performance anxiety in front of no one at all at the Bell Centre.
Furthermore, in spite of the fact the Habs have the most games left of any divisional rival heading into action on Friday (and most chances to collect points), they have “only” four sets of back-to-back games left. Only the Canucks have fewer (three). Meanwhile, both the Flames and Maple Leafs have six each.
The Maple Leafs actually face the Canadiens in the final back-to-back for each team to close out the regular season. In spite of how things look now, with the Leafs in first place and the Habs in fourth, that final series can end up having massive playoff implications. Don’t count the Habs out yet. There’s good reason(s) to believe they’ll be there in the end.
By Greg Boysen on Mar 20, 2021 08:36 am
This date in National Hockey League history has provided us with a little bit of everything. There were broken records, personal milestones, plenty of hat tricks and one very eventful night in 1993. Let’s take our daily trip back in time to enjoy all the best moments March 20 has given us over the years.
Bobby Hull Has a Huge Date
Bobby Hull of the Chicago Blackhawks entered the final game of the regular season on March 20, 1960, trailing Bronco Horvath of the Boston Bruins by one point for the scoring title as the two teams met at Boston Garden. Horvath was injured in the first period while Hull had a goal and an assist during a 5-5 tie to win his first Art Ross Trophy.
Nine years later, on March 20, 1969, the Blackhawks and Bruins skated to another 5-5 tie. Hull scored two goals to give him an NHL-record 55 on the season. His second goal broke his own record of 54 he set during the 1965-66 season. He also became the NHL’s second 100-point scorer just 19 days after Phil Esposito of the Bruins was the first player to hit triple digits in a season.
Boston Bruins Greats Make History
Goaltender Frank Brimsek made 27 saves and the Bruins had 50 shots on goal on March 20, 1941, as they opened their Stanley Cup Semifinals series with a 3-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On the same night Hull scored his 55th goal, Bobby Orr made history as well. The legendary blueliner celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring his 21st goal of the season. This set the single-season record for goals by a defenseman, breaking the old mark set by Flash Hollett during the 1944-45 season. The historic goal game with just one second left in the third period to force the 5-5 draw.
Johnny Bucyk picked up two assists, on March 20, 1971, in a 5-3 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The two helpers gave him 107 points, tying the single-season NHL record for scoring by a left wing. The win was Boston’s 13th in a row and extended their undefeated streak on home ice to 27 games (26-0-1).
Two new team records were set on March 20, 1993, during a 7-4 loss at the Detroit Red Wings. Ray Bourque picked up his 795th career assist, passing Bucyk for the most in team history. Adam Oates set the team record for the most assists in a season by a center when recorded No. 78.
A Busy Night in 1993
The two records set by the Bruins’ Hall of Famers was just the beginning of a night to remember in 1993. In that same game, John Ogrodnick of the Red Wings scored twice to become the 42nd player in NHL history to score 400 career goals.
In Pittsburgh, Mario Lemieux scored four goals for the second straight game to lead the Penguins to a 9-3 win over the rival Flyers. Two nights early, he dropped four on the Washington Capitals in a 7-5 victory.
Brett Hull scored his 50th goal for the fourth straight season in the St. Louis Blues 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Tomas Sandstrom scored in his first night back after missing 21 games with a broken jaw to give the Kings their 500th win in franchise history. Luc Robitaille scored a goal in his 10th straight game and became the first player to lit the lamp against 22 teams in one season.
Alexander Mogilny scored his 70th and 71st goals of the season, while Pat LaFontaine picked up three assists in a 3-1 Buffalo Sabres’ win at the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Patrice Brisebois scored the 9,000th goal in Montreal Canadiens franchise history, while Kirk Muller scored a goal and added three assists in a 6-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Defenseman Uwe Krupp scored a goal and added four assists to lead the New York Islanders to a 7-2 win at the Vancouver Canucks.
Hat Tricks on the Menu
Maurice Richard scored his 14th career hat trick on March 20, 1948, with three goals in three different ways. He scored at even strength, a power-play goal and one while shorthanded during a 7-4 Canadiens’ win against the Blackhawks. Montreal set a single-game league record with three shorthanded goals. Eight years later, he extended his Stanley Cup record with his fifth career playoff hat trick, including the game-winning goal, as the Canadiens won 7-1 beat the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals.
Ted Lindsay scored his fourth career hat trick on March 20, 1955, and had two assists to lead the Red Wings to a 6-0 win over the Canadiens. Terry Sawchuk tied his own team record with his ninth straight victory and became the first NHL goaltender to have three 40-win seasons in his career.
Rookie Bernie Nicholls became the first player in Kings’ history to score hat tricks in consecutive games on March 20, 1982, in a 7-5 win against the Penguins.
Mike Bossy scored his 37th career hat trick and had an assist on March 20, 1986, while Denis Potvin picked up four assists as the New York Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-1.
Tony Tanti scored his sixth career hat trick, including an overtime goal to lead the Canucks to a 6-5 win against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Included was his 68th career power-play goal, a new team record.
Eric Lindros scored his second consecutive hat trick on March 20, 1995, as the Flyers won 8-4 over the visiting Canadiens. He became the second player in franchise history to score three or more goals in back-to-back games.
On that same night, Jason Arnott picked up his first career hat trick, with David Oliver and Doug Weight each earning three assists as the Edmonton Oilers won 5-2 over the visiting Calgary Flames.
Odds & Ends
On March 20, 1918, the Toronto Arenas, now the Maple Leafs, became the first NHL team to play for the Stanley Cup. Reg Noble had two goals and an assist as they beat the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey League 5-3 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Future Hall of Famer Frank Mahovlich played in his first NHL game on March 20, 1957, when the Maple Leafs lost 2-1 to the Canadiens.
Two brothers faced each other as opposing goaltenders for the first time on March 20, 1971, when Ken Dryden and the Canadiens beat Dave Dryden and the Sabres 5-2. Neither brother started the game, but Ken was called into duty after Rogie Vachon was injured in the second period. Buffalo coach Punch Imlach immediately pulled starter Joe Daley and inserted Dave for the historic moment.
Guy Lafleur scored a goal to extend his NHL record 23-game point streak on March 29, 1977, in the Canadiens’ 6-1 win against the Blues. One year later, he became the seventh player in team history to score 300 career goals during a 5-1 win at Vancouver.
Also, on March 20, 1978, Bernie Parent became the 13th goaltender in NHL history to record 250 career victories, as the Flyers won 4-2 over the visiting Islanders.
Phil Esposito scored to reach the 40-goal mark for the eighth time in his career on March 20, 1979, to tie Bobby Hull for the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history. His goal earned the Rangers a point in a 2-2 tie with the Capitals.
Bryan Trottier scored twice on March 20, 1986, to become the second player in Islanders franchise history to score 350 goals. He also had an assist in New York’s 5-2 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils.
On that same evening, Marcel Dionne picked up an assist to move into second place on the all-time NHL scoring list, passing Esposito, with his 1,591st career point when the Kings lost 6-3 at the Bruins.
In Philadelphia on this night, Tim Kerr became the first Flyer to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons in a 5-1 win over the Penguins. This was head coach Mike Keenan’s 100th victory in his 152nd game, the second-fastest in NHL history.
Paul Coffey became the first defenseman in NHL history to score 100 points in a season with two teams on March 20, 1989, when he was credited with an assist in the Penguins’ 7-2 loss at the Minnesota North Stars.
Wayne Gretzky scored twice on March 20, 1994, to tie Gordie Howe’s all-time goals record with 801 during the Los Angles Kings’ 6-6 tie with the San Jose Sharks.
Bourque scored the final regular-season goal of his remarkable career on March 20, 2001, in the Colorado Avalanche’s 4-1 win against the Sharks. This was the 410th goal of his career, still the all-time record for defensemen.
The number 30 was wild on March 20, 2004, as Mats Sundin scored his 30th goal of the season for the 11th time in his career as the Maple Leafs won 5-2 against the visiting Avalanche. The victory marked the ninth 30-win season in the career of goaltender Ed Belfour.
Later that night, Robitaille had a goal and an assist to tie Bucyk for the most points in NHL history for a left with 1,369. The effort wasn’t quite good enough as the Kings were beaten on home ice 4-2 by the Red Wings.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 602nd career goal on March 20, 2018, to pass Jari Kurri for 19th place on the league’s all-time goals list. His league-leading 44th goal of the season helped the Capitals defeat the Dallas Stars 4-3.
Happy Birthday to You
In addition to Orr turning 73 today, 17 other current and former NHL players were born on this date including Charlie Simmer (67), Dennis Wideman (38), Valtteri Filppula (37), Sergei Kostitsyn (34), Nick Leddy (30), Justin Falk (29), Nick Paul (26) Nikolai Knyzhov (23) and Trevor Zegras (20).
By Trege Wilson on Mar 19, 2021 04:45 pm
With the recent play of Carey Price and the moderate success of the Montreal Canadiens, it is easy to see that the team still lives and dies by their No. 1 goalie. It would be easy to argue that the coaching changes have been a big factor in this success, but it’s no coincidence that it correlates with Price’s stellar performance as of late. If Price didn’t improve his play, the Canadiens would be on the outside looking in when it came time for the playoffs no matter who was coaching.
Habs Started Strong Despite Price’s Mediocre Play
For the first 10 games of the season, the Canadiens went 7-1-2 and looked like they would be a force to be reckoned with, but by the end of February, they were only 9-6-5. They were the top-scoring team in the league and dominated most games they played during that first 10-game stretch; what was overlooked during this run was Price’s sub-par play. In the first month of the season, he had a record of 3-0-2 with a save percentage (SV%) of .898, and the Canadiens were 5-1-2. By the end of February, he was 5-4-3 with SV% of .889, and the team’s record was 9-6-5, including a five-game losing streak.
During February, Price’s numbers dipped even lower to 2-4-1 with a .880 SV%, which contributed to the Canadiens going 4-5-3. So, even with the strong start to the season, as his numbers declined, so did the team’s strong start; even though he was just mediocre in January, the Canadiens’ offence was making up for his play. In February, however, the offence went south, and so did Price, resulting in a below .500 record and a drop in the standings.
Allen Kept Canadiens Afloat
It wasn’t all gloom and doom during Price’s struggles; Jake Allen, the newly acquired backup, played some of his best hockey during the first two months. In January, he was 2-1 with a .933 SV%. At this point, Price was winning as well, even though he wasn’t playing great, so no one really worried about him. Once February ended, it was a different story; Allen had a record of 2-1-2 with a .927 SV%, matching Price in wins.
With Price’s struggles clearly on display and Allen’s fantastic play, it started a goaltending controversy. Many fans and media wanted Allen to start more and Price to take a back seat for a while, hoping that Allen could handle the reins while Price worked out his demons. Since the start of the season, both goalies were playing almost the same number of games over the first two months. Price only played four games more than Allen, playing 12 games to Allen’s eight in the team’s first 20 games. Allen might have saved the Habs from dropping out of the playoff picture by playing well enough for the team to get six of the 11 points they earned in February.
Coaching Change and Price’s Improved Play
By the end of February, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin had seen enough and decided to fire his head coach Claude Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller. A week later, Canadiens goaltending coach Stephane Waite was also let go, which surprised everyone, including Price and Waite. He had already started working with Price to improve his game, but Bergevin felt it was time for a change. The Canadiens re-assigned scout Sean Burke and made him the director of goaltending and goalie coach. Because he was in the USA when his position changed, Burke had to quarantine so, until his arrival, the Laval Rockets’ goaltending coach Marco Marciano worked with Price.
Since Waite’s dismissal, Price’s play and numbers have been outstanding; whether this results from the change in coaches or Price just finding his game at the right time will never be fully known. For March, he is 4-1-2 with an SV% of .938, the team is 4-2-3, with Price playing all but two games. There have been subtle changes in his play, but nothing major, as we know star players usually don’t forget how to play overnight, but sometimes they develop bad habits.
More Games Could be Key to Price’s Success
When Allen was brought in as the backup, the main focus was to cut Price’s games down to give him more rest. At the start of the season, that was the goal, and the goaltenders were rotated accordingly by then-coach Julien, with Price playing only two of every three starts, whether it was back-to-back games or not. As this rotation continued, Price became more and more inconsistent, and as stated early, his numbers worsened. Allen, however, remained constant, which should be normal for a backup goalie who normally only plays once a week.
Since the start of March, Price has played the majority of the games — seven of the last nine — and his SV% for the season has jumped from .889 to .907. Not only is he playing better, but he also looks more confident, which is a key to success when it comes to goaltending; a goalie with no confidence will not find consistency in his game. In Price’s case so far, it seems that the more games he plays, the more consistent he becomes. Allen is still there to play when needed and should still get a fair amount of games, but for Price to be successful, he must play a few games in a row to keep his momentum.
There are still many talks that Price should be traded and the Canadiens would be better without him, but as the numbers show, the Habs’ success is largely defined by Price’s. Sure, you could argue if Allen started more, the Canadiens might have won more, but then who would want a $10.5 million goalie who lost his job?
By THW Archives on Mar 19, 2021 12:28 pm
This article was originally written in December, 2013.
Looking back at the general manager (GM) Pierre Gauthier era gives Montreal Canadiens fans a reminder of a turbulent time for the Habs in the new century. Gauthier took over the position from a grieving Bob Gainey who had lost his daughter in a tragic accident at sea. Gainey left Gauthier with a roster that had qualified for the playoffs five of his seven years as GM and made the Eastern Conference Final once.
The roster Gauthier inherited had its flaws as it was still led by Scott Gomez at center, several undersized forwards in an NHL that still had not adopted the speed style fans enjoy today and lacked a quality prospect pool as Gainey’s draft record was less than stellar.
The Halak Trade
In Gauthier’s era, the one trade that will leave fans talking for decades to come was his decision to trade fan darling, Jaroslav Halak. The former ninth-round pick of the Canadiens had been sharing the crease with the future franchise goaltender, Carey Price. What made this trade so polarizing was that it came just weeks after Halak had backstopped the Canadiens to the 2010 Eastern Conference Final.
Both Halak and Price were to be restricted free agents (RFA) that summer and a decision had to be made on who to keep as the Habs starting goalie for the future. The 20-year-old Price had the pedigree and the raw skill but hadn’t found his rhythm yet in the NHL posting a record of 13 wins, 20 losses, five overtime losses (OTL) and a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA). Meanwhile, Halak had won over the fans with his stellar performances that season having started 43 games, posting 26 wins, 23 losses, five OTL and a 2.40 GAA. Halak then enjoyed a playoff performance for the ages.
Price has proven capable of being the starter a team can rely upon, becoming the wins leader with the Canadiens’ franchise and 23rd in NHL history with 348 wins as of the NHL pause in 2020. Despite good career statistics, Halak has become a journeyman goaltender who has only started 50 games in a season twice in his career.
Gauthier chose to keep Price and trade Halak, the Canadiens’ player of the year. Habs fans on social media flamed at the decision. With the 2010 decision fresh in their minds, many fans were angry, and some remain so to this very day despite history proving Gauthier’s decision that, in the long run, proved to be the correct choice.
Gauthier’s Trade History With Montreal
Much like the Habs current GM, Marc Bergevin, Gauthier was a shrewd deal maker who liked to “win” the trades he made, yet had not been willing or able to “lose” a trade in order to fill team needs. As noted above, his largest trade involved Halak; in return, he acquired St. Louis Blues center prospect Lars Eller. Eller became an excellent third-line center, however, the need was for a proven big body top-six center, a need that continues today.
Another impactful trade was the acquisition of defenceman James Wisniewski in return for a second and fifth-round selection. The “Wiz” was a great addition to the Canadiens’ blue line and power play (PP). His four goals and 12 assists helped the Habs earn the NHLs seventh-best power play in 2010-2011. At the end of the 2010-11 season, Wisniewski’s rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets as his contract demands were too high for Gauthier. He eventually signed a six-year deal worth $5.5 million on the cap. He was bought out on June 30, 2016.
In return, the Canadiens received a fifth-round pick in 2012 which was used to select winger Charles Hudon. Hudon has been able to become a quality AHL player who can produce great offensive numbers, but he has had difficulties translating his skills to the NHL game. He remains on the Canadiens roster, yet he is set to become an RFA in July 2020.
Gauthier made draft deals as well, trading up to select the mountainous Jarred Tinordi. That deal, at the time, was heralded as a good move as the Canadiens needed size and physicality in their lineup as they were considered small and soft. However, with the NHL moving to a more speed-based game, Tinordi’s lack of mobility had proven to be a detriment to his ability to stick in the NHL. The Canadiens later traded him to the Arizona Coyotes and he is now with his fourth NHL organization, the Nashville Predators.
A Series of Debacles
Early in the 2011-12 season, the desperation to compete forced Gauthier’s hand. He traded an affordable and serviceable second-pairing defender in Jaroslav Spacek to acquire the former Toronto Maple Leafs star Tomas Kaberle from the Carolina Hurricanes. Gauthier hoped adding Kaberle could give the Habs’ power play a boost and help a struggling Canadiens climb back into a playoff position.
Kaberle did help boost the man advantage, scoring 1 goal and 11 assists with the extra man. The issue was his play at even strength, as he had become a defensive liability. His age seemingly had caught up to him, causing a loss of foot speed, which is what he had relied upon to make his rushes and get back into defensive position. His $4.5 million per year contract had two years remaining. It was a desperate gamble as Spacek’s deal was an expiring contract worth $3.833 million per season. Adding Kaberle meant adding millions, which proved to be a complete waste of cap space. Proving the decision to add Kaberle to be a massive error in judgment, Bergevin rectified the situation by using one of the two compliance buyouts allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2012-12 lockout.
The other debacle was one that fans have yet to forgive Gauthier for, the Mike Cammalleri trade. Cammalleri was one of Gainey’s key UFA acquisitions in 2009 and had become a top-line winger for the Canadiens as well as a playoff hero for his 13 goals in 19 games of the 2010 playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final. The debacle wasn’t just the return Gauthier negotiated with the Calgary Flames, it was the circumstances of the trade.
During the 2011-12 season, the Canadiens had a difficult time winning games or playing with any consistency. Cammalleri blasted his team when he stated:
“I can’t accept that we will display a losing attitude as we’re doing this year, we prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it’s no wonder why we lose.”
One week later, Cammalleri was traded, but that wasn’t the surprise. The surprise was that, during the second intermission of an eventual loss to the Boston Bruins, he was pulled from the game and told to go back to the team hotel and await instructions. The unceremonious manner in which he was traded was an issue, and the way Gauthier treated Cammalleri during the trade also became an internal issue. After Cammalleri was traded he had asked to keep his Canadiens sweater. It has been reported that Gauthier told him he could keep it, but only if he paid $1250 for it himself. (from ‘NHL Draft: Habs pick third,’ Montreal Gazette, 04/11/2012)
Gauthier’s Canadiens Draft Picks
In Gauthier’s two draft classes at the helm of the Canadiens, he was able to select two players that impacted the Habs lineup for any amount of time. His 2011 first-round selection was defenceman Nathan Beaulieu who eventually played 225 NHL games over five seasons for the Canadiens, and only one of those in a regular top-four role.
The other impactful selection was an undersized fifth-round pick. Brendan Gallagher was seen as a long shot to make the NHL, but as fans have come to see, his determination and heart played a major factor in his ascendance into the Canadiens heart and soul player. He has played 547 NHL games over eight seasons. His multiple 30-plus goal seasons have occurred without significant power play time. His consistent in-your-face style on every shift is what makes him a key component of the Canadiens lineup.
Looking Back on Gauthier
Gauthier is no longer a part of the Canadiens management group, and Canadiens fans are thankful for that. That being said, his work over his short tenure is still felt today. His decision to keep Price over Halak and his draft selection of Gallagher are tangible reminders of that time.
Despite that, Gauthier’s time is seen as a failure. His approach to the players in the room, the press and the fans led to his downfall. It can be a warning to anyone following in his role as Canadiens GM.
By Blain Potvin on Mar 19, 2021 10:45 am
Zero for eight. As of 18 March, the Montreal Canadiens have yet to win once a game goes to overtime (OT). They have been unable to pick up the extra point in any game going to extra time, and those extra points make a difference in a shortened season. Obviously, winning in regulation is a bigger help as they avoid the dreaded OT but they would also deprive their divisional rivals points.
In the playoffs, if they can qualify, the Canadiens would have to beat two of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets or Edmonton Oilers to move on to the Semi-Finals. It’s a tall order, but that’s going to be the path. To do that in the playoffs, there is no gimmick three-on-three (3on3) overtime. But to get to the playoffs, the Habs will have to win some games in that situation. The big issue now is if they can find a way to do so.
New Coach, New System
When a new coach steps in mid-season, their main priority isn’t to start with game planning for 3on3 OT and new Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme is no different. Is the OT issue the biggest one the Canadiens have this season? No. Discipline, consistency, special teams, all of those sit far above OT in issues the Habs must face. That being said, it will need to be addressed eventually.
A new coach won’t start by working on OT issues, and Ducharme was no different. He has had 11 games in the role as of 18 Mar and has been actively addressing the issues mentioned, and it’s clear to Canadiens fans that those issues remain. However, there has been an improvement.
The power play has improved from an 18.2% rate under former head coach Claude Julien to 29.4% under Ducharme (in his 11 games), an impressive 11 point leap. The penalty kill has also improved, albeit less spectacularly, from 76.4% to 77.4% (in the 11 games under Ducharme). Combining the results from special teams, any score above 100 would demonstrate that the systems in place provide a net positive in goals for. Under the new head coach, the special teams combined have a rate of 106.8%, which gives them the net gains they’ve lacked under Julien
There is still work to be done at five on five and the discipline needed to avoid penalties, yet those are more on the players. Three-on-three OT is a system that can be planned concurrently by the coaching staff with other areas of the game. It has become time to try something different, because at 0-8, clearly, the current plan isn’t working.
The System
In the Canadiens case, once they reach the OT frame they can’t seem to find a way to win. Is it a feeling of relief that they got a point? Perhaps it’s a mental block or that 3on3 is just too different of a system for them to handle while the team is still learning Ducharme’s new systems.
There is no secret to 3on3 OT, the name of the game is possession. The team that can keep the puck usually wins. For most teams, it’s easy to pick lines for the OT, put out the high-end skill. Yet the Habs have enough skill to be able to roll three skilled lines that could be successful. That being said, the Canadiens can’t match the pure skill seen in Toronto or Edmonton, but they can have success in OT if they can gain possession. This seems to be the main plan for Ducharme as he explains in the postgame press conference on 17 Mar:
“The first thing was to take possession, with a faceoff favoring a lefty, we went with Phil, (and) the speed of (Paul Byron) and (Petry) who skates really well too. We took control, we waited for the right moment, and they gave us a chance to attack on a 2-on-1 and we took it.
Starting with Jeff Petry makes sense as he is the Canadiens top defenceman and top puck mover. Phillip Danault was having a strong game vs the Winnipeg Jets and was the top faceoff center in that game. Paul Byron is known for his speed, yet, he is used on the fourth line and had just cleared waivers the day of the game.
Despite not using the top skill as a unit, the plan does seem to gain possession, then to try and wait for fatigue to set into the opposition line allowing the team with possession to take advantage by performing a line change then attacking the fatigued opposing line.
“We get the puck back and that’s where a bit of panic set in. The (Jets) were stuck on the ice for almost a minute when we started a change, but we should’ve been attacking even more since we had control. I was sending three forwards on the ice on the change, but we got impatient when we took control and lost the puck.”
While the plan in OT seems to be sound, it does mean that a poorly executed line change or a puck carrier panicking and losing possession can lead to a scoring chance or worse, a goal against, being the result. As in 5v5, the OT system is about puck support, having all players on the ice moving as a full unit. The Canadiens haven’t been able to do so consistently yet this season.
It is time to build 3on3 lines, much like Ducharme does in regulation, using pairs. Pairing creative players with speed such as Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Drouin, who have had great chemistry and can be very creative offensively.
Another pairing of Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Josh Anderson, who could provide great on ice vision and speed.
Following that up with Suzuki and the Habs top scorer, Tyler Toffoli could give the team a lethal shooter with a great playmaker.
There are more pairings, and what is clear is Danault isn’t suited to be on the main pairing. He is a great 5v5 player, however, he seems unable to adjust to having more open ice. Using him as a third on a line for faceoffs then moving back as the defense in a line could provide Ducharme more options.
While Ducharme clearly has a 3on3 plan, thus far, it has not produced success. Until he can build three-man units out of his top-six forwards paired with his top puck-moving defenseman, his plans may not have the weapons needed to find success.
By Greg Boysen on Mar 19, 2021 08:35 am
The National Hockey League history made on this date spans nearly a century. The names in today’s column read like a who’s who list at the Hockey Hall of Fame. From the early day of the league in the 1920s and 1930s to some recent milestones, March 19 has it all.
Phil Esposito & Jaromir Jagr Get Connected
Esposito scored a hat trick and added an assist, on March 19, 1972, in the Boston Bruins 7-3 win over the Minnesota North Stars. Two of his goals came on the man advantage to set a new single-season NHL record with 27 power-play goals. Goaltender Gerry Cheevers extended his league-record undefeated streak to 30 straight games (23-0-7) with the win.
Six years later, now a member of the New York Rangers, Esposito became just the second player in NHL history to score 1,400 points. He reached this rare milestone with an assist in a 7-7 tie with the North Stars.
Jagr made NHL history wearing a Rangers uniform, on March 19, 2007, by becoming the first player to score at least 25 goals in each of his first 16 seasons. His historic goal came with just 33.8 seconds left in the third period to give New York a 2-1 over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
On March 19, 2015, Jagr passed Esposito on the NHL’s all-time goals list by netting No. 718 in the Florida Panthers’ 3-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings. Two years later, he became just the fourth player in league history to play in 1,700 games as the Panthers were defeated 4-0 by the Penguins.
Black & White Memories
Cecil “Babe” Dye became just the second player in NHL history to score 200 career goals on March 19, 1927, then added his 201st in overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 win at the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Tiny Thompson became just the second rookie goaltender to earn a shutout in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut on March 19, 1929, when he and the Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 1-0. Cooney Weiland scored the game’s lone goal; the first postseason contest played at Boston Garden.
Howie Morenz scored a goal and added three assists on March 19, 1932, to lead the Canadiens to a 6-4 overtime win against the Montreal Maroons. The performance gave him 333 career points, passing Cy Denneny as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer.
One year later, the Blackhawks hosted the Red Wings in the first afternoon game in league history. A crowd of 5,500, including NHL President Frank Calder, watched Detroit earn a 4-2 road win despite a two-goal effort by Mush Marsh.
Rookie goaltender Bill Durnan tied Thompson’s single-season record with his 38th win on March 19, 1944, as the Canadiens beat the Rangers 6-1. The win clinched the 1943-44 regular-season championship for Montreal as they finish a record 25 points ahead of the second-place Red Wings.
Ted Kennedy became the third player in Toronto Maple Leafs franchise history to score 200 goals, on March 19, 1953, in a 4-1 road win at the Canadiens.
Hitting 1,000
Bobby Clarke scored a goal for his 1,000th career point on March 19, 1981, as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Bruins 5-3. Rookie Tim Kerr scored his first career hat trick and added an assist in the victory.
Defenseman Larry Robinson became the fourth player in Canadiens’ history to play in 1,000 NHL games, on March 19, 1986, in a 6-4 loss at the Winnipeg Jets.
Bernie Federko became the first player in St. Louis Blues’ team history to score 1,000 career points on March 19, 1988, with an assist in a 5-3 loss to the Hartford Whalers.
Brian Propp scored two goals to give him 1,000 career NHL points on March 19, 1994, to help lead the Whalers to a 5-3 win over the Flyers.
Calle Johansson scored a goal and added an assist playing in his 1,000th NHL game on March 19, 2001, as the Washington Capitals lost 6-3 to the Rangers. He became just the third Swedish-born player, along with Borje Salming and Ulf Samuelsson, to play 1,000 games.
Hall of Fame Worthy Moments
Goaltender Johnny Bower set a Maple Leafs record with his 33rd win of the season, on March 19, 1960, with a 1-0 shutout at the Blackhawks. He broke the previous record shared by fellow Hall of Famers Turk Broda and Harry Lumley.
Jean Beliveau picked up two assists, on March 19, 1966, during Canadiens’ 6-2 win over the Rangers to give him 900 points in 804 regular-season games.
Gordie Howe scored a goal and added two assists, on March 19, 1969, during the Red Wings’ 4-4 tie with the Oakland Seals. The three-point night gave him 96 on the season, breaking his own record for most points by a right wing he set in 1952-53.
On that same night, Bobby Orr became the second defenseman in NHL history to have a 20-goal season when he scored in the Bruins’ 3-2 win at the Penguins. He tied the single-season record set by Flash Hollett in 1944-45.
Ed Giacomin became the first NHL netminder to record two assists in the same game on March 19, 1972, when the Rangers beat the Maple Leafs 5-3.
In Detroit on this night, rookie Marcel Dionne scored the first hat trick of his career to lead the Red Wings to a 7-6 victory over the Canadiens.
Wayne Gretzky had a goal and an assist to give him 500 career points in 234 games on March 19, 1982, as the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames skated to a 3-3 tie.
On March 19, 1991, Brett Hull joined Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only players to have an 80-goal season when he scored during the Blues’ 2-1 win against the Capitals.
Defenseman Larry Murphy scored his 900th career NHL point on March 19, 1994, in the Penguins’ 5-4 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks. Exactly six years later, as a member of the Red Wings, he played in his 1,550th NHL game. This put him ahead of Alex Delvecchio for second place on the NHL’s all-time games-played list.
Eric Lindros had his first four-goal game on March 19, 1997, and added an assist as the Flyers picked up a 6-3 road win at the Maple Leafs. This was the ninth hat trick of his career.
A year later, Teemu Selanne scored his 258th career goal in his 400th NHL game, as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Flyers tied 3-3. These were the fifth-most goals scored by a player in his first 400 games.
Odds & Ends
Nick Libett became the fifth player to score 200 goals as a member of the Red Wings, on March 19, 1978, in a 6-4 loss at the Colorado Rockies.
On March 19, 1981, the Buffalo Sabres scored an NHL-record nine goals in the second period of their 14-4 blowout of the Maple Leafs. Andre Savard led the way with three goals and three assists, while Gilbert Perreault chipped in with his 12th career hat trick and an assist.
Rick Tocchet scored twice and added two assists on March 19, 1989, in the Flyers’ 8-6 win over the visiting Maple Leafs. This extended his goal-scoring streak to a team-record nine straight games.
Kevin Stevens picked up an assist on March 19, 1992, during the 6-3 Penguins win versus the Quebec Nordiques. This gave him 111 points, setting a new NHL single-season record for U.S.-born players breaking the old mark set by his former teammate Joe Mullen. Also, Tom Barrasso became the 36th goaltender in league history to win 200 games.
Bernie Nicholls scored twice and added three assists, including the 600th assist of his career, on March 19, 1994, to lead the New Jersey Devils to an 8-6 win at the Bruins.
Joel Quenneville and the Blackhawks beat the Blues 4-0 on March 19, 2014, to become just the third head coach to win 700 career games. He joined Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour in the exclusive 700-win club. Quenneville won the first 307 games of his career with the Blues, which are the most victories by a head coach in team history.
Roberto Luongo made 28 saves on March 19, 2018, as the Panthers beat the Canadiens 2-0 in Montreal. This was the 76th shutout of his career, tying both Ed Belfour and Tony Esposito for the ninth-most in NHL history.
Happy Birthday to You
Appropriately, there are 19 current and former NHL players born on this date. The most notable of the March 19 birthday boys are Larry Patey (68), Vladimir Konstantinov (54), Janne Laukkanen (51), Louie DeBrusk (50), Tyler Bozak (35) and Anders Nilsson (31).
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