TEST FOR KOTKANIEMI
Rookie to face top centres
With almost 10 per cent of the season in the books, we can take a look at how key players have been performing for the Canadiens. It’s still quite early, but clear patterns are emerging that we can analyze.
It’s worth noting that the Canadiens are No. 5 in the NHL when it comes to controlling shots, with 53.9 per cent control of the overall shots this season. This indicates their play sustainable and the Canadiens have earned their position as Atlantic Division leaders.
The more shots you take, the more scoring chances you usually generate, which lead to goals. That’s why teams that win the Stanley Cup are frequently among the best in the league at controlling shots.
THE $10.5-MILLION MAN
First off, let’s take a look at Carey Price’s play. He is yet to steal a game for the Canadiens, mostly because the opportunities to do so have been few and far between.
He is, however, slowly yet surely improving upon his numbers from last year, especially when it comes to his low-danger (LD SV%) and high-danger save percentage (HD SV%). The biggest issue, as the accompanying chart illustrates, is his mediumdanger save percentage (MD SV%), which is actually a little worse than last year’s.
Fortunately for Price, this is a dip in performance that can be rectified relatively easily, as opposed to improving upon his high-danger save percentage.
As it stands, he’s performing well enough for the Canadiens to win games, with the caveat that there’s definitely room for improvement if he wants to return to his elite level of play during the 2014-15 season.
THIRD-PAIRING STABILITY
Though Jordie Benn played alongside Jeff Petry during Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Flames, for the most part he’s been playing with Xavier Ouellet on the third defensive pairing. Their numbers have been quite stunning.
While Benn and Ouellet have been on the ice, the Canadiens have controlled 64.4 per cent of the shots and more than 60 per cent of the shots. Not only is that far above average with respect to what you expect to see from a third pairing, it’s downright impressive.
And the main reason why they’re playing so well is due to the fact they’re being used in the proper role, which is the third pairing. It remains to be seen whether Benn and Ouellet will be reunited, but all video and statistical evidence suggests they should.
DOMI-NANT
Since joining the team, Max Domi has scored at a point-pergame pace and has been the driving force behind his line’s uptick in scoring. Because of his ability to generate controlled entries into the opposing zone and draw in defenders, he creates open ice for his linemates, which usually leads to scoring chances.
Jonathan Drouin, in particular, has benefited from Domi’s presence on the team, while Artturi Lehkonen complements Domi’s style of play with smart positioning and dependable shifts at both ends of the ice.
PETRY PERFORMS
Like Domi, Petry is producing at a point-per-game pace. Going back to last season, he has 50 points in his last 90 games.
And though some will solely focus on his one or two mistakes per game — ignoring the dozens of times he moves the puck up the ice with control — his play in Shea Weber’s absence has been fantastic.
No player is perfect, and puckmoving defencemen are prone to losing the puck once in a while due to how often they carry it — such is life in the NHL.
Since he arrived in Montreal during the 2014-15 season, every player who has joined Petry’s pairing has instantly seen a significant rise in underlying numbers, a feat made even more impressive given that he’s facing the best forwards opponents have to offer.
When Petry is on the ice, regardless of who he’s paired with, the Canadiens control more shots, scoring chances and goals — and that’s irrefutable evidence that he makes them a better team.
ROOKIE WATCH
If we’re judging by his point production (three assists), Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s play throughout the first eight games of the season has been fine. But as we’ve all seen, Kotkaniemi’s play on the ice has been top notch, especially if we consider he’s only 18.
In Kotkaniemi’s case, the eye test lines up nicely with his underlying statistics. While he is on the ice the Canadiens enjoy a significant advantage in shots and scoring chances.
Canadiens head coach Claude Julien is still giving him a healthy dose of offensive-zone starts, as most smart coaches tend to do with rookies. Kotkaniemi has rewarded Julien’s approach by displaying his defensive prowess and his elite vision on the ice.
He’d have several more points if it wasn’t for his linemates flubbing several of the high-quality chances created by the Finnish rookie.
Marc Dumont is an analyst and editor for The Athletic Montreal. (Statistics via NaturalStatTrick.com.)