The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs will head to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 with their first-round series tied at 1-1. The long-time rivals split the first two games in Toronto, but it was a lacklustre performance by the Habs in Game 2 that will force head coach Dominique Ducharme to make some adjustments ahead of Game 3 at the Bell Centre.
In the first game of the series, the Montreal Canadiens came out with speed and intensity. They were finishing their checks, of which they had 55, and were forcing Toronto’s defencemen to turn the puck over in their own end. Josh Anderson looked as though he was shot out of a cannon, running over Wayne Simmonds early in the first period before getting the Canadiens on the board with a burst through the Toronto defence and a well-placed shot over the shoulder of Jack Campbell.
Game 2, however, was a different story. The Leafs controlled the majority of the play and had a total of four powerplays in the second period alone. Carey Price was the best player for the Habs in both games but received no run support as Montreal put up only three goals in the two outings.
It is crucial that the Canadiens come out with a different game plan in Game 3 to create more offence and wear down the Leafs’ defenders. Making adjustments on the fly is crucial to playoff success, so what can Ducharme and his coaching staff implement to come out with a win? A few thoughts come to mind.
Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov
It was puzzling to some when it was announced that Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov would not be suiting up for the first two games of the series. Ducharme went with experience over youth, but that choice showed its true colours in Game 2. The Canadiens lacked scoring and mobility on the blue line, things that Caufield and Romanov have shown they can bring to the lineup. I fully expect the two rookies to be in the lineup for game three. Caufield should slot in for either Joel Armia or Tomas Tatar, while Romanov should take the place of Jon Merrill.
Caufield is Montreal’s purest shooter and has the ability to be dynamic in the offensive zone. With a slot in the lineup comes a spot on the power play as well. The Canadiens have struggled on the power play thus far in the series and Caufield could certainly add a spark. Romanov brings a heavy presence but is also very mobile on the back end. The addition of Romanov to the Canadiens’ blueline will not only add more toughness but the much-needed intensity and quick puck movement.
#22 and #27 should be rested and ready to go.
Stretch The Ice
Part of what made the Montreal Canadiens successful in Game 1 was their ability to stretch the ice out. Montreal’s defencemen were making long stretch passes to the forwards in order to bypass the neutral zone trap set up by the Leafs. This made for non contested zone entries and simple puck retrieval on dump-ins.
The Montreal Canadiens seemed to be lacking speed in Game 2, which is critical to the quick-strike transition game they like to play. Without speed or crisp passing, the Habs were getting caught up in the neutral zone and getting turned back into their own end more often than not. When the Canadiens’ forwards are able to get up ice quickly, it forces the Leafs’ defenders to back off into their own end, creating the stretch pass option, which in turn makes life easier for the Canadiens.
Clean exits, streaking forwards in the neutral zone, and tape-to-tape stretch passes were hard to come by in Game 2. Finding those things is pivotal if the Habs are looking for a Game 3 victory.
Get the Big Guns Going
Two players who have been noticeably quiet to start the playoffs are Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli. Although Toffoli has two assists in the first two games, he hasn’t gotten many grade-A scoring chances. The 29-year-old led the Canadiens with 28 goals in the regular season and will be relied upon to put the puck in the net as the series continues.
Suzuki was red hot to end the regular season and appeared to find his mojo on the powerplay. However, like Toffoli, Suzuki has been struggling to find open ice.
In the playoffs, your best players have to be your best players. If Suzuki and Toffoli continue to be held quiet, the Habs won’t be going anywhere fast. With the two offensively minded players playing on the same line, it is up to Ducharme and his coaching staff to put that line in the best position possible to succeed. That means offensive zone face-offs and optimal matches against the Leafs’ bottom-six. With the Canadiens having the last change at home that shouldn’t be an issue. Do not be surprised if Cole Caufield gets a look alongside Toffoli and Suzuki for Game 3.
With the Habs searching for offensive production, the Suzuki line can deliver it if given the right opportunities.