After back-to-back losses, the pressure is on the Montreal Canadiens as they are now only three points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are just outside the playoff picture. Between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets is the Detroit Red Wings (who are tied in points but Montreal has two games in hand) and the Boston Bruins (one point back with one game in hand).
On Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens are set to play the Boston Bruins in a game that could drastically shift the Canadiens playoff outlook. The Bruins had a chance to enter this game tied with the Canadiens but suffered an overtime loss on Monday night.
When looking ahead to this game, the deciding factor might come down to special teams and particularly penalty kill. Both teams have struggled in this area and which ever team is able to limit power play goals should leave with two points.
Currently, the Canadiens are 27th in the league in penalty kill percentage at 76.9% while the Bruins are not much better at 77.6%, which is 23rd in the league. While the two teams are near the bottom of the league in penalty kill, they are both in the Top 10 in power play percentage with the Canadiens seventh and the Bruins eighth.
Which team can stay out of the penalty box between the Bruins and Canadiens?
For two teams that struggle on penalty kill, the best way to limit their weakness is to not be called for penalties. The Canadiens currently are eighth in the league in penalty minutes with 649, but the Bruins are second in the league at 863.
So far this season, the two teams have met three times with the Bruins winning two of the three games. In the two wins, the Bruins scored more power play goals than the Canadiens and in total have five power play goals in 14 power play opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens have only four power-play goals on 17 power-play opportunities, including going 0-for-7 in their first meeting. In each game, the team with the better power play percentage has won, and tonight's game should be no different.
While the power play has determined the winner in each game in the season series, Montreal's recent surge at 5v5 provides a new path to victory. Over the last 10 games, they have scored the most goals in the NHL in 5v5 situations with 27 compared to only 18 for the Bruins.
If the Montreal Canadiens can limit the power play opportunities for Boston while capitalizing on a few power play opportunities, it gives them a great chance to come away with two points and a little breathing room in the playoff race.