Habs’ edge in goal, defence will pay off
MONTREAL — After an emotional series against the Boston Bruins, the Canadiens are in the Eastern Conference final against the New York Rangers in another Original Six matchup.
These two teams don’t have the same history and that means there won’t be as much talk about hatred as there was in the Boston series. Here’s the way the teams shape up going into Game 1 Saturday at the Bell Centre.
GOALTENDING: This was the key ingredient for both teams as they came from behind to win their conference semifinal series. Carey Price allowed one goal in the final two games of the Canadiens’ seven-game win over the Bruins, while Henrik Lundqvist led the Rangers back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins by allowing one goal in each of the last three games. The one difference is that Lundqvist has never been totally comfortable playing at the Bell Centre. In the two regular-season games between these teams, the Rangers started Cam Talbot.
Advantage: Canadiens. OFFENCE: These teams ranked 22nd (Canadiens) and 18th (Rangers) in goalsper-game during the regular season and their offensive struggles were reflected in their regular-season series, which saw the teams combine for four goals in three games. Both coaches like to roll four lines and use their depth. The Canadiens’ top line of Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher has come to life, while Thomas Vanek hasn’t played his best, but has scored some key goals. Lars Eller has picked up seven points and played a strong two-way game, while fourth-liners Dale Weise and Daniel Briere have played well. Weise has three goals, including two game-winners, in the playoffs. The Canadiens are averaging better than three goals a game in the post-season and Pacioretty says that’s what they need to win.
The Rangers have similar depth with the third line of Derick Brassard, Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello combining for four goals in the Pittsburgh series, including two game-winners.
Brad Richards, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner with Tampa Bay in 2004, has had a resurgence. His four goals include the game-winner in Game 7 against the Penguins. Richards is playing on a line with Carl Hagelin and Martin St. Louis, whose leadership is coming to the fore. The one concern for New York has been another playoff slump from Rick Nash, still looking for his first goal during this post-season.
Advantage: Even. DEFENCE: This series features two of the top young defencemen in the NHL in P.K. Subban and former Canadiens prospect Ryan McDonagh. Subban represents a double threat because he’s also the Canadiens’ leading playoff scorer. The Canadiens rely heavily on Subban, Andrei Markov, Alexei Emelin and Josh Gorges, and the four eat up 50 minutes of ice time a game. The addition of Nathan Beaulieu offers an offensive counterpoint to shot-blocking Mike Weaver on the third pair. The Rangers are more likely to play a stay-at-home style, but McDonagh and Dan Girardi have offensive skills. Marc Staal has a physical presence and is coming off a strong series in which he frustrated Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.
Advantage: Canadiens.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Neither team had a dominant power play during the regular season, but both teams benefited from late-season pickups. The Canadiens added Vanek to take some of the pressure off Markov and Subban at the points, while St. Louis brings his experience to the Rangers. Both teams have solid penalty-killing. Advantage: Rangers.
COACHING: Both coaches got their start as NHL head coaches with the Canadiens and they are both much better coaches than they were. Both have a reputation for being defensive coaches, but Vigneault took an offensive team to the Stanley Cup final in Vancouver and Therrien presided over an offensive team in Pittsburgh and had one of the highest-scoring teams in the NHL with the Canadiens during the strike-shortened 2013 season.
Advantage: Even. INTANGIBLES: The Canadiens have the home-ice advantage, but that didn’t mean much in the first two rounds as the Canadiens beat Tampa Bay and Boston after starting on the road and the Rangers eliminated Pittsburgh by winning three games on the road. The crowds at the Bell Centre will generate more noise than the folks at Madison Square Garden, and the Canadiens have Ginette Reno. The 8 p.m. starts for weeknight games might help the Rangers if the games go into overtime because, as Frank Sinatra reminded us, New York is the city that never sleeps.
Advantage: Even. PREDICTION: Canadiens in six.