Montreal Canadiens

Montreal vs Boston: An analysis

Boston and Montreal in a playoff series, it is almost a traditional rite of spring. For the thirty second time, these two rivals will go at one another in another playoff matchup. When assessing these two teams, it would appear that this series may be perceived as a speed vs size. Nonetheless, when it comes to theses two teams nothing is simple as it seems. For the Canadiens to be succesful, they will have undermine the Bruins style of play, and their system as well as gain the upper hand inseveral key personnel matchups .

The Bruins are defined by their adherance and execution of coach Julien’s system. On the forecheck, the Bruins almost use a hybrid of a 2-1-2 forecheck system. Julien refers to it as hard and smart, with the first forechecker entering the defensive zone with speed. The purpose is to disrupt the puck carrier, or force the defender to telegraph his pass, enabling the second forechecker to read the play and try to create a turnover deep in the opposition zone. The Canadiens defensemen ability to handle the Bruins relentless forechecking pressure will be a key issue in the series. With Markov, perhaps sidelined for part of the playoffs, Komisarek and Hamrlik, both of whom struggled this season, will have to be at the top of their game, in terms of a quick efficent puck retrevial, and a efficent crisp outlet pass, to negate a significant Bruin strength.

On defense, the Bruins play a box plus one defensive system. One player defends the puck carrier, while the 4 remaining Bruins stay in a zone formation between the net and the attackers. The Bruins are very dedicated to rotate and collapse to the Bruin goal as the situation dictates. They keep the formation very tight, confident that the puck chaser will force the opposition puck carrier
back into the box formation. The key for the Habs will be the forward on the half boards, and the point shooter. As the puck moves to the Boston goal, the Bruins will collapse all 5 players deep. As such, this opens up shooting lanes from the point, and enables the forward on the half boards to have more time and space above the hash marks. As such, the Canadiens d men will have to get their shots through the traffic in front of the Bruin goal. If succesful, opportunities should arise, as Thomas has a propensity to give up big rebounds.

In transition, the Bruins frequently use the d to d pass and then one pass to the half boards where the winger chips the puck through the middle of the ice to the onrushing Bruin center. Savard, Krejic, and Bergeron are the epicenter of the Bruin offense. The Bruin centers have above average on ice vision and passing skills. They are the mian puck distributors. For the Canadiens to have success in this series, they will need to be effective in cloggong up the middle of the ice in the neutral zone, disrupting the flow of the Bruin attack. If the Habs can impose a physical component to their forecheck, it may undermine the Bruin centers, as none of Bostons pivots stand over 6 feet, and weigh less than 200 pounds.

Much is made of the Bruins physicality, the reality is the Bruins only have three forwards in Lucic, Wheeler and Thornton that are physically imposing. As such, much of the Bruin offense is generated off the rush, not so much off the cycle. Where the Bruins gain their reputation as a physical team is through the forwards, almost kamikaze style of forechecking, and the imposing presence of Chara on defense. The Canadiens ability to handle the hard charging Bruin forwards, and finding a solution to blunt the effectiveness of Chara, will go a long way to determining success or failure in the series.

There are a couple of key matchups in the series. The Koivu line will face the Bruins great defensive tandem of Chara and Wideman on virtually every shift. Chara, at 6 foot 9 inches, has atremendous reach and an obvious ability to disrupt passing lanes with his long reach. Add in a nasty physical edge to his game, and the ability to win the majority of one on one battles, makes him a critical component of the Bruins success. Wideman has deceptive toughness and skill, and alongside
Chara, gives the bruins two elite level puck movers. Given the Habs inability of late to find any substantial secondary scoring, it becomes almost imperative that the Koivu line gains the upper hand in this matchup for playoff success. Highliting the importance of the Koivu line to be a dominant offensive force for the Canadiens, is the fact that when Kovalev registers a point in a game, the Habs are 28-10-7. When Kovalev does not register a point, the Habs are 11-17-4. Kovalev’s ability to evade Chara, and generate offense will be an important element in the series.

Thomas vs Price. A cliche, but an accurate one: to have playoff success, teams need great goaltending. From a statisitcal perspective, Thomas has the advantage over Price. The unorthodox
Bruin goaltender lead the league in GAA at 2.10 and save percentage of 933. Thomas has a reputation for over committing and thus have to rely upon acrobatic saves to get the job done. Super competitive, aggressively cuts down the angles, and has refined his game that he is more economical in his movements and reactions. Still has a reputation for giving up big rebounds, and the occasional soft goal. Showed some signs of wearing down, as he allowed 3 or more goals in 6 of his last 13 games.

Price had an up and down season. He finished with a 2.83 GAA, and a save percentage of 905. Price seemed to struggle with his puck tracking capabilities, and a propensity for allowing at least one soft goal per game. When on his game, Price boasts fast limbs, great reflexes for a big man, and solid net coverage. The Canadiens as a team feed off his confidence. Unfortunately two extended injuries have disrupted Price’s consistency, and entering the playoffs, he remains the teams biggest question mark. Price at top form, could be enough to shift the series in the Habs favour, anything less and the Bruins with an astonishing goal diffential of a plus 78,(during the regular season) could make it a very short series.

The thin line between smart disciplined physical play, and undisciplined play resulting in penalties will be a critical element in the matchup between the two teams. As physical confrontations between the likes of Komisarek and Lucic, Laraque and Thornton, and Kovalev and Chara will be an essential ingriedent in the first round matchup, the team that is able to avoid the majority of penalties will put themselves in a strong position to win the series. The Bruins boosted the 4th best powerplay during the regular season, and once the Habs acquired Schneider, their powerplay start to operate at 20 percent efficency.

Ultimately, the series will come down, to which team is more succesful in imposing their style of play, and dictating the terms of momentum. The Bruins will attempt to impose a ferocious forechecking system, attacking a vulnerable Habs defense without Markov providing top tier puck moving abilities. The Bruins will try and intimidate the Hab forwards, who have a reputation of being perimiter type players. Look for the Bruins to lay the body at every chance negating the speed and skill of the Canadiens forwards. The Habs will need to counter with quickness, puck possession, and try to exploit a Boston defense that after Chara and Wideman is not very mobile and can get beaten in a lot of one on one matchups.

Despite the huge point differential between the two teams, with the exception of one game, all the regular season meetings were tight, entertaining affairs. Expect no diffent once this series gets underway on Thursday night.