A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: 3 Keys To Victory versus the Winnipeg Jets

By Matthew Candy

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 02: Jeff Petry #26 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammate Tomas Tatar #90 during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 02: Jeff Petry #26 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with teammate Tomas Tatar #90 during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 11: Jonathan Drouin Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 11: Jonathan Drouin Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Play Fast

There is a difference between playing fast and being fast. Being fast is what I would’ve referred to when the Canadiens were amidst their five-game losing streak. Sure they looked fast on the ice, but the plays they were making were not in sync with their speed. They were kept to the outside in the offensive zone, and weren’t controlling the gap in the defensive zone.

When the Canadiens are playing fast, they apply a heavy forecheck and seem to be in sync as a five-man unit. Their decision making is on the same level as their speed and isn’t lagging behind.

We saw tastes of it Tuesday night against Ottawa, where the Habs were breaking out of their zone with quick tape-to-tape passes, providing support all over the ice, and finding the middle of the ice for high-danger scoring chances.

The Canadiens are a speedy team as it is, but when they’re playing fast and making quick decisive plays, it makes it that much more difficult for the opposition to defend against them.

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