Canadiens: Keys to Victory vs Jets After Two Game Skid

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The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets are back in action tonight after the two teams met on Thursday.

Montreal will look to snap a two game losing skid, while Winnipeg is looking for their third win in a row.

The Jets are holding on to third place in the North Division with 51 points, trailed by the Canadiens who are eight points back with three games in hand. The Habs will need to make a push sooner rather than later in order to catch the Jets in the standings before the end of the season.

This will be the second of a six game homestand for Montreal, who are 9-4-7 on home ice this season. Winnipeg holds a record of 13-7-1 on the road.

The Canadiens will remained short staffed without the likes of Brendan Gallagher or Carey Price, while the Jets will be without their captain Blake Wheeler, who is out indefinitely with a concussion.

Here are the 3 Keys To Victory versus Winnipeg.

MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 05: Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens skates during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Power Surge

If the Canadiens wish to be successful down the stretch and in the playoffs, they will have to find a way to get some production from their power play.

Montreal is 1/14 on the man advantage over the past five games and have struggled to find urgency when they needed it the most. In Thursday’s game, the Habs were handed three power plays in the second period while trailing 3-1 and failed to capitalize on any of them.

Not only did the power plays present a chance for the Canadiens to get back into the hockey game, but they could have been used as momentum builders. The chances were squandered and Montreal’s momentum that was building throughout the second period was halted.

Although the Canadiens are operating at 20.6% so far thus season, it is the timeliness of their power play goals that has been a major factor. They are scoring, but not at the right times.

A power play can change the outcome of a hockey game, so if the Canadiens are presented with that chance tonight they will need to find a way to take advantage and not let it go by the wayside.

MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 05: Jonathan Drouin #92 of the Montreal Canadiens skates during the third period against the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre on April 5, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Play Through Adversity

As of late, the Canadiens have been presented with some adversity to overcome. Eric Staal was acquired via trade and has been injected into an offensive role, while Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher have gone down due to injury.

Those series of events has caused some line juggling and uncertainty among the Canadiens’ forward group. All good teams at some point during the season will be faced with injuries, trades, and sub par play from their top players. It is how these teams deal with that adversity that shows whether they are built for success or failure.

So far, the Canadiens have not dealt with the loss of their star players very well. Other players in the lineup will need to step up and fill the void left by their counterparts.

If the Canadiens wish to be a contending team, they will need to find a way to battle through whatever is thrown their way.

MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 02: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens remains focused against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at the Bell Centre on March 2, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Start Strong

In the past two contests, the Canadiens have not got off to strong starts, allowing a goal on the first shot of the game on both occasions.

Most recently against the Jets on Thursday, the Canadiens found themselves down 3-1 half way through the first period, while allowing three goals on seven shots.

While a comeback almost came to fruition in both games, it was ultimately the slow start that led to the Canadiens’ defeat.

If Montreal can focus on starting strong moving forward, they will be in better positions to take two points away from the opposition.

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Look for the Habs to come out flying against Winnipeg tonight.

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