Montreal Canadiens: Five Takeaways Following Game 5

The Montreal Canadiens came out with their best performance of the playoffs when they dismantled the Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 in Game 5. The Canadiens played extremely well in Game 4, but could not come away with the win. In Vegas for Game 5, they played a full 60 minutes of dominant hockey and can now punch a ticket to the cup finals with a win in Montreal on Thursday night.

Here are the five takeaways from Game 5, and all of them are positive.

1. Shea Weber Is In Peak Form – Positive

Shea Weber might have just three assists over the 16 games he has played in, but it is his play in the defensive zone that has been something to watch. Weber who in 16 seasons has never made it to the third round, is just one win away from reaching a new milestone and the cup finals.

When Marc Bergevin traded P.K. Subban for Weber back in 2016, there was hope that he would be the defensive stalwart that he was in Nashville. In the last few years, he has been a great leader and captain for the franchise, and his shot from the point has always been his best weapon. However, with a lingering hand injury, it is obvious that he cannot get the same amount of power on his point shots throughout these playoffs. Despite not contributing offensively, it is his play defensively that has made this the best version of Weber in a Canadiens uniform. He is playing big minutes and has been tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top line in the playoffs and so far he has done exactly that in every series.

2.  The Penalty Kill Has Crushed The Opponents – Positive

In the playoffs, everything is under a microscope, especially special teams which are so crucial in a series. The Canadiens penalty kill has been historic with 28 straight shorthanded kills, having not given a power-play goal since Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talk about a lethal penalty kill.

They have given up just three goals on the PK, and what is even more remarkable is that they are also a +1, having scored four shorthanded goals. During Game 5, we saw how frustrating the Canadiens have been on opponents during a penalty kill. So much so that for the first time in the four years of their existence the Vegas Golden Knights were booed at home following another lacklustre powerplay.

Obviously, it helps when Carey Price is the last line of defence and is making key saves, however, the Canadiens are showing as a team and a collective unit that they are able to block shots, get the sticks in the lane at the right time, and able to make smart plays in their zone to clear the puck. What is even crazier was how the switch in the dressing room changed from the regular season where they were under 80 percent, to the playoffs where there are at 93 percent.

3. Carey Price: Calm, Cool, and Collected – Positive

The expression “Keep Calm and Carey On”  has been in the vernacular of all the Montreal Canadiens fans. The thing that stands out the most to me about Price, is his ability once he has let in a goal to not let him get rattled one way or another.

We have already seen in this series when Marc-Andre Fleury’s gaffe led to the game-tying goal in Game 3 that it clearly had an impact on him in the overtime. He was visibly upset with himself after letting up such a costly goal and was about to smash his stick over the net. On one hand, you can understand Fleury’s anger towards his mistake but on the other hand, it showed the Canadiens that this guy is rattled.

You never see any emotion from Price even if he lets in a bad goal. In Game 4, Brayden McNabb scored a weak goal on Price that everyone including himself probably thought he should have had. When Max Pacioretty scored four minutes into the third period to cut it to 3-1, it did not rattle or faze him, he just continued to make save after save.

The thing about Price is that he did not let that affect him, showing you why he is the best goalie on the planet.

On another note, have you ever seen Carey Price show this much emotion? This guy is fired up!

4. The Young Guns- Positive

Talk about the perfect balance of young players and old. The Habs have been thriving with their balanced lineup and it all starts with the play of their young forwards. Last year in the bubble we saw how great Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi could be for them.

Suzuki (21), and Kotkaniemi (20), were expected to take a huge step forward this season and in some cases, they did do that. Suzuki finished with as many points in 56-games this year that he did in the 71 he played last season. Both players showed incredible durability as the only Canadiens players to have dressed in all 56-games this year. However, when the bright lights shine the brightest these two come to play. Suzuki and KK have a combined 10 goals and 20 points for the Bleu Blanc et Rouge in the playoffs, and it is their play both offensively and defensively that have gone on noticed during this run.

Then you add 20-year-old Cole Caufield to the mix and all of a sudden the Canadiens have a pure goal scorer who fits in perfectly with this team. Caufield has three goals in the playoffs and they have all come in this series.

One thing for certain is that Montreal would not be in the position without these three and they all continue to have huge moments for the team; the future is bright.

5. Down The Middle – Positive

For as long as you and I can remember, the Canadiens have had problems at the center position. They were too small when they had guys like Scott Gomez and David Desharnais. Phillip Danault was asked to be a top-line center when he is better served as a third-line center and might be the best in the game at that spot. Many pundits have always talked about the Canadiens biggest area of weakness is down the middle. Not this postseason.

The Canadiens boast four centers that are capable of winning draws, scoring, and playing good defensively. On March 27th of this year, Bergevin made a small move in acquiring Eric Staal from the dumpster fire that is the Buffalo Sabres, in exchange for two draft picks. At the time it did not seem like a move that would put the Canadiens over the hump, but in actuality, it was one of the most important moves made all year by MB.

Staal has registered two goals and eight points in the playoffs so far, and his most recent goal happened to be the Game 5 winner. Not only that but on that goal, in particular, three of Montreal centers touched the puck on that play. Staal is part of a veteran fourth line with Corey Perry and Joel Armia that has been successful in cycling the puck and putting it in the net.

You add his knowledge of the game and experiences in big playoff moments to a centre group that features two really young players in Suzuki and Kotkaniemi and you see the growth in their game. Everything from winning faceoffs to being in the right place defensively, Staal has had an impact on this group down the middle, which now looks to be one of strongest traits.