The Montreal Canadiens have defied expectations in the 2021 NHL playoffs, sitting just four wins away from their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1993. After overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against Toronto, Montreal has found success through several key factors:

Carey Price's Elite Goaltending:

• Leads playoffs in save percentage (.935)
• Third in goals-against average (1.97)
• Second in high-danger goals saved above average (3.07) at 5-on-5

Balanced Scoring Attack:

• Four players with 4 goals each: Kotkaniemi, Suzuki, Toffoli, Armia
• Players exceeding expected goal rates
• Joel Armia notably scoring 2.2 goals above expected

Defensive Excellence:

• Allow only 30.8 shots per game (5th fewest in playoffs)
• League-best 90.3% penalty kill
• Four shorthanded goals (rest of playoffs combined: six)
• 111 high-danger scoring chances with 22.22% conversion rate

Keys for Vegas to Counter:

• Create traffic in front of Price
• Take advantage of Jeff Petry's absence
• Force Montreal to low-danger areas
• Leverage superior defensive capabilities

While MoneyPuck.com gives Montreal just a 35.2% chance to advance, the Canadiens have consistently overcome odds throughout these playoffs. Vegas presents their toughest test yet, but Montreal's combination of stellar goaltending, opportunistic scoring, and defensive discipline makes them a formidable opponent.

Related Articles

Previous Articles