The Montreal Canadiens held off the Buffalo Sabres in a playoff rematch to pick up a win in the shootout, 4-3. After holding a 3-1 lead, the Sabres rallied, but the Canadiens were able to regroup and come out on top.
Regardless of how the game went down, it’s hard to ignore how a part of their game is starting to come together. It made the difference.
The Canadiens’ penalty kill unit fended off the Sabres all five times. They have now killed off nine straight penalty kills over the past two games, which is notable because they had allowed five power play goals on 17 chances through the first four games.
In each of the past two games, it has proven pretty consequential as the Red Wings and Canadiens went to a shootout with neither team scoring a goal. The Canadiens have now had back-to-back shootout wins where the margin of error is so small and one extra puck that bounces past the goalie changes the entire scope of the outcome.
Maybe the Habs lose in overtime to the Red Wings. It could have been that they never had a 3-1 lead over Buffalo, and there was no ability to hang on and win.
Even if they had lost at that point, it still would have meant at least a point in the standings. That makes a difference in the standings, especially for a team that is trying to find its footing early in the season.
In a sense, it helps buy them time to do so.
What a stronger penalty kill means for the Canadiens
This is a defense that hasn’t looked too great from the jump. Entering the game, they were 27th out of 32 teams in goals allowed this season. In three of their six games played so far, they’ve allowed five goals or more three times.
In those same three games, they allowed five power-play goals. It made the difference in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it put a game against the Nashville Predators out of reach.
A strong penalty kill unit won’t save them every time, but we’re seeing the difference already. Expecting this streak to continue for much longer is unrealistic. But if this half of their special teams is firing on all cylinders consistently, then they have a chance to get back on track.
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