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Montreal Canadiens: Lessons Playoff Teams Can Learn From Habs 2021 Stanley Cup Final Run

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 24: Artturi Lehkonen #62 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 24: Artturi Lehkonen #62 of the Montreal Canadiens. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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May 31, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

You need great goaltending

The biggest thing that leads to success in the playoffs is strong goaltending. There are some great teams out there this season that don’t have the best goalie tandem. There are other teams who have terrific goaltending, but might not have the greatest record, but that goalie can carry a team a long way.

That isn’t to say Carey Price carried the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final last season, but he was excellent in each of the three series wins.

In the opening round, Jack Campbell was fantastic for the Maple Leafs, but allowed a softy to Brendan Gallagher in Game 7 that was the difference in the series. Carey Price didn’t let that happen.

In round one, Price posted a 2.24 GAA and a .933 SV%. In the second round against the Winnipeg Jets, Price had a 1.49 GAA and a .942 SV%. The third round pitted the Habs against the Vegas Golden Knights and Price shut them down with a 2.10 GAA and a .933 SV%.

Consistently great goaltending is imperative for a long playoff run. Teams that have questions in net due to health or performance, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes are going to need someone to step up in goal or they will be out early.

The teams that are confident in their goalies like the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild can be more confident they will advance.

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