A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: 3 Keys To Victory vs Edmonton

By Matthew Candy

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Mike Smith #41 and teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers defend the net against Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens attempting a wrap-around during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 11, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Goaltender Mike Smith #41 and teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers defend the net against Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens attempting a wrap-around during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 11, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 11: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 11, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 11: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at the Bell Centre on February 11, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Contain McDavid

It goes without saying that every team is aware when Connor McDavid is on the ice. McDavid is a generational talent and as mentioned before, has put up astronomical numbers in the North Division this season. However, Montreal has done a fantastic job thus far in containing McDavid and limiting his space.

Of the four games that McDavid has played against the Canadiens he has only registered two assists, while tearing up the rest of the North division teams.

In the last meeting between the Oilers and Canadiens, it was quite apparent as to how the Canadiens were taking away McDavid’s space. McDavid uses his speed as a weapon and preys on open space and ice through the neutral zone.

For many of his goals, he gains speed though the neutral zone, picks up the puck, and goes through or around defensemen at blistering speeds to create breakaway chances for himself.

Montreal has an answer to this, as McDavid was being shadowed last time the Canadiens and Oilers met. Shadowing is a tactic that teams generally use in minor level hockey to take away the opposition’s best player. Well, the Canadiens have translated that to the NHL and constantly have a forward attached to McDavid’s hip while he is in the neutral zone. This effectively takes away his chances to gain any speed or open ice, the two things he loves the most.

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