Play with confidence
If you need an example of what a little bit of confidence can do to a player, take a look at Brett Kulak.
When Kulak was paired with Jeff Petry in the 2019 playoffs, he was playing very well. He was breaking out of the defensive zone using his speed, jumping into the rush, and making sound defensive plays all over the ice. Being paired with Petry again on Tuesday, Kulak was dynamic.
He jumped into the rush for an extra passing option numerous times and was visibly less timid to step up and make a play. Kulak and Petry led the Canadiens in CF percentage on Tuesday night.
The same can be said for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The young centerman has gained a ton of confidence since the dismissal of Claude Julien and is running the power play from the half wall. He has collected five points in his last six games and continues to gain the trust of his coach.
When the Canadiens play with confidence, they take over hockey games and their full skillset is on display. Playing with confidence against a highly offensive Jets lineup will be crucial for the Habs to come away with two points.