Canadiens eliminate the Senators, Flames and Ducks prepare for their second-round series and more in your NHL Canadian Corner.
Carey Price makes one of his 43 saves against the Senators.
MONTREAL GAZETTE/OTTAWA SUN: Carey Price made 43 saves for his sixth NHL playoff shutout as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-0 to win their best of seven opening-round series in six game. Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty scored the game’s only goals. The Canadiens also benefited from a quick whistle in a second period nullifying what would have been a game-tying goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens owe this game, and indeed this series, to Price. Their offensive game remains an issue while their defense still gives up too many scoring chances. Until the Habs suitably address these issues, they can forget about winning their first championship in 22 years. Had the Pageau goal not been nullified, it could’ve changed the course of the game and perhaps the series. The Senators deserve credit for battling back in this series when they were seemingly down and out, just as they did in the final two months of the regular season.
LOS ANGELES TIMES/CALGARY SUN: Lisa Dillman has a preview of the Anaheim Ducks-Calgary Flames series. If Flames rookie Sam Bennett plays three games against the Ducks, he’ll have burned through the first year of his entry-level deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the headline regarding Bennett’s contract status suggests, Flames management probably couldn’t care less. He was a key factor in the Flames advancing to the second round.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Elliott Pap looks at which Canucks will be back next season and those likely to move on. The latter includes unrestricted free agents Shawn Matthias and Brad Richardson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ll have more on the Canucks possible offseason moves in the Rumors section.
EDMONTON SUN: Oilers stars Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle claim to be thrilled about the club’s winning the draft lottery and the recent hiring of Peter Chiarelli as the new general manager and president of hockey operations. The pair were among the first Edmonton players to reach out to Erie Otters sensation Connor McDavid, who is expected to be selected first overall in this year’s draft by the Oilers.
Taylor Hal thirlled Chiarelli is coming to town….Bars in the city of Edmonton are not, it means they will be seeing less of Hall if he wants to stick around. 🙂
“The Canadiens owe this game, and indeed this series, to Price. ”
Series Wins
#6 1-0
#3 2-1
#2 3-2
#1 4-3
This comment makes no sense. Price was full value for one game won, and the 1-0 win in Ottawa. I noticed you didn’t quote any fancy stats because with the exception of the last game, the Habs ran the table. This quote sounds like you’re licking your wounds from your prediction. I imagine the media got whiplash from this series. They hopped on the bandwagon to start the series, then hopped off, then furiously dove aboard after the 5-1 loss. Ouch!
“Ran the table?” The Habs finished middle of the pack in puck-possession. They’re the lowest-scoring team to reach the second round, their power-play is second-worst thus far, they’re 12th in penalty-killing and gave up the fourth-most shots in the opening round. If not for Price, this series has a very different outlook. If they don’t improve those numbers, the only way they get to the Final is if Price pulls off one of the greatest goaltending performances in NHL history. Licking my wounds? Hardly. And as I recall, my prediction was the Senators could pull off an upset and they very nearly did. Funny how silent you were on that until now. How’s the state of your underpants this morning?
C’mon! I’m not going to harrass…there were opportunities after games two and three for that.
It’s not too late. I see a golden ticket with “Spector’s Hockey” on it, first class on the Habs bandwagon. They will make everyone believe!
No, you waited until you knew the series was safely over to do that. How brave!
Ya this wasn’t prices best series the Habs played great team defence this all series except game 5! Hoping the wings put out the Lightning tonight original 6 series are always good!
Yeah, not a good series for Price at all, sitting with the third-best save percentage and fifth-best GAA while facing the second-most shots thus far in the playoffs. He really stunk out the joint.
Lol compared to the regular season he didn’t play as good and he really only stole one game he’s the best goalie in the league but it wasn’t all him that won that series
The numbers say otherwise. He had one bad game (Game Five) and a so-so performance in Game One. As his club’s offense declined, Price was the difference maker against the Sens.
Of coarse Jello it wasn’t all price that won the series. But Price was the difference between the two teams. The factor that tilted the series in montreal’s favour.
I would also argue the injury to stone. Though I place no blame on montreal. It was unfortunate and simply unlucky for us.
Save for a really bad call by the ref the results would have been very different.
Price was great but the Sen were in his head obviously.. look no further than game 5. PUT that goal on the board and the game likely takes on a very different look.
The Habs were very lucky this round. Habs fans better be praying for a Detroit win as the Habs have shown they can not handle Stamkos and company.
The Canadiens will not make it past the Eastern conference final.
I am not sure they make it past the next round, Price will need to be magical if they continue to play the way they did against Ottawa both Detroit and Tampa are far deeper teams Stamkos or Datsyuk, (Datsyuk especially) not sure the Habs will be able to generate much against either…depends of course on if the Habs step up their game, but based on that first series Id be nervous if I was a Habs fan. I really doubt there is a 3-0 series lead cushion to play around with.
The Habs match up great against the wings tb gives them trouble but they are not playing like everyone thought they would! I like they way the Habs and price are playing all the haters are getting nervous!! Lol
The Habs match up great against the wings tb gives them trouble but they are not playing like everyone thought they would! I like they way the Habs and price are playing all the haters are getting nervous!! Lol
See thats the thing tho…I dont hate the Habs, not even a little bit. In fact I dont really hate any team, and the Habs have quite a few players I really like.
First off. Congratulations to the Montreal Fans. Your team advanced. It was a hell of a series. I actually seriously thought that Ottawa would pull of the upset even after being down 3-0. This season was a pleasure to watch as a Sens fan.
2nd off after reading the above post. Why do Montreal fans refuse to acknowledge the prowess of their goaltender. Ottawa fans have no problem thanking Hammond for getting them to the playoffs. If Lehner never got hurt Ottawa likely would of never made it in. Lehner was being scored against 4 times per game. Hammond was the difference.
As for the series between Montreal and Ottawa. Every game but 1 was by 1 goal and when price went off his game Ottawa put 5 by the montreal defense who had no help for price. If Price wasn’t on his game that game proved how easy Montreal falls apart.
One game Ottawa won was 1-0, price could not save Montreal and Montreal could not help Price they failed to score. But it was price that kept the game in reach and the skaters who failed to win it.
The last game montreal won with a fluke goal. Oh wait I suppose the montreal fans think the Habs practice a play where a player bats the puck in the net by near waist height with an off hand swing. (looked kinda awkward to me. Perhaps it was on his off hand) That was the help montreal provided Price to win the series. 1 goal and a lucky goal.
Ottawa had a goal called back that I realize was and is the right call but by simple bad luck the ref was in a bad position and stopped the play. That could of tied it. Ottawa also had a shot going in that happen to get saved by the shaft of Prices stick. Thanks for the help forwards and defense.
The Habs fully deserve the win but to think the outcome with its best players not being their best players would be the same is ludicrous. If Price couldn’t play the series I would think most would acknowledge that 1 maybe 2 of those 1 goal games could very well of gone Ottawa’s way.
However Montreal was the better team. Ottawa doesn’t have the star power to over come many injuries, but they played hard and their work ethic almost got them through. Even with price at the top of his game I am not confident of Montreal advancing further.
Having said that. I am now behind the Habs. I will cheer them on as the cup needs to come back to Canada. It is a huge long shot but Go Habs Go and Go Flames Go!!!!
People come on here and say I am a leaf hater and Hab hater. You will find it is not true. I just like the Sens so much more.
I said price is the best goalie in the league but Habs d played well except for game 5 6 and price totally won game 6 the Habs got the bounces in 6! But it was the team who won the series if Anderson didn’t come in the send woulda been out in 4 the Habs outplayed the sens most of the serious Anderson was the difference
Habs “D” played well? The team which gave up the 12th most shots-against thus far in the playoffs beat the team which gave up the 15th-most. They played better but I wouldn’t say well.
Besides game 5 and 6 Lyle go look at the shots the sens had they were not great chances and as far as puck possession ask the Kings how much they matter
If you want to ignore puck possession, that’s your prerogative. So how do you explain the Habs being the lowest-scoring team to reach the second round, with the second-worst PP, sitting 12th in penalty-killing and giving up the fourth-most shots in the opening round? Sure, Anderson’s goaltending accounts for part of it, but the Canadiens entered the playoffs struggling in most of those categories, so this is nothing unique to this series. If the Habs don’t improve in those categories, they’ll need Price to be otherworldly to go all the way this year. Those are the facts, whether you choose to acknowledge them or not.
All those bad stats yet top 3 in the league for points!! You name all the stats you want but the only one that matters is wins!
All because of Carey Price. Again, he’ll have to pull off one of greatest goaltending performances in NHL playoff history to carry the Habs to the Finals if they don’t address those issues.
Price played great but had 9 shutouts how did the other games happen that mtl won?? Key goals key players step up stats are a part of hockey but really don’t mean much if your don’t win! The Kings were way up there in stats but outside of a playoff spot it really throws those advance stats out the window if you don’t win!
Price had an outstanding regular season, which you well know. And while you keep throwing out the Kings to dismiss advanced stats, 10 of the top-16 puck-possession teams made the playoffs. During the regular season, the Habs were 20th in goals-per-game (worst of all the playoff teams), 23rd in PP percentage (fourth-worst of all playoff teams), 25th in shots/game (second-worst) and 21st in shots-against/game (third-worst), yet gave up the fewest GA/game with 7th-best PK percentage. Carey Price, meanwhile, led the league in wins, GAA and SP and finished second in shutouts. Doesn’t take a genius to understand why the Habs finished where they did in the standings.
Doesn’t take a genius to know if you don’t score you don’t win either as good as price played the Habs scored enough to win
And yet the Canadiens were the lowest-scoring team to make the playoffs and squeaked past one of the lowest seeds in the postseason. Which once again proves that, without Price, they’re nothing unless they improve their woeful offensive and defensive numbers. Spin it as much as you want, Jello, but you’ve lost this debate.
Lyle do teams ever sit back when they get a lead when your goalies gaa is under 2?? You can spin this whatever way you want Lyle but you lost this debate! I can say it too
The difference, Jello, is the facts are on my side. Without Price having what could be a career performance this season, the Canadiens with those lousy offensive and defensive stats are lucky to clinch a wild-card berth. Lousy puck-possession, offensive and defensive stats plus a goaltender having a regular-performance for the ages is why the Habs finished as high as they did. Don’t take my word for it. It’s the widely-held consensus among NHL pundits and bloggers, who (like me) can both follow a game and read a stat sheet.
no offense lyle but bloggers are just people who feel the need to write what their opinion is! it doesn’t mean you know more than any other person and as for the pundits they are saying how good of defence they are playing those adv stats just go off of shots not scoring chances big difference
So, your argument is you don’t need to listen to knowledgeable hockey people who used stats and facts to support their arguments, but we should believe you because you’ve got nothing to support your argument other than “Because I say so.” Good luck with that theory.
What about scoring chances Lyle? Advance stats don’t use them! And your theory is you can read stats so you don’t have to listen to knowledgeable hockey people?
Advanced stats do measure scoring chances, Jello. In this opening round, the Canadiens are currently 8th in scoring chance-for percentage (50.2 at 122 scoring chances), whilst the Senators were right behind them (49.8, 121 scoring chances). Care to try again? Once again, the stats are on my side, while you’re grasping at straws.
lol the game is won in the stats sheet after the game now! lyle why do we even watch the games the outcome is already gonna happen cause we know the stats leading up to that game? lmao
And if the stats supported your theory you’d be very pleased to tout them. Indeed, I’ve seen you do so several times in the comments sections on this site in previous posts. The fact you’re now willfully dismissive of stats because they don’t suit your narrative is very disappointing.
So delusional! I’m sure the Habs “defense” will hold up on its own without Price in net for them…I think that’s what you’re saying, right?
Valid point I guess regarding starting the series with Hammond as Anderson turned the series around. Perhaps if the Sens started with Anderson the difference in the series would of been Anderson. However Price did win two of three against Anderson. So I guess that argument is blown to bits. You could argue that Hammond was the difference in a negative way as they started him and he wasn’t as good as Anderson. Yet I didn’t think he played bad, he was out played by Price.
The common denominator here is Price. He will get the Vezna and could very well deserve the Heart.
There was not much to choose from between the Sens D and the Habs D in regards to who was better. They both were bad and good at times.
The Habs top forwards were not as good as the Sens top, but the Habs lesser forwards were able to get the job done. Yet they really did out play ottawa’s bottom six. Teh Pageau line was one of Ottawa’s best. If the play wasn’t waived dead Pageau himself would of tied the game.
No I am with Lyle. The difference in the series like it has been all year for montreal is Price. Montreal needs to address this in the years to come. Hopefully they pull it off and win the cup. But Tampa, NYR, Chic, Minni and Anahiem are going to be tough teams for the Habs to beat if they come up against them. Even Calgary’s offense may prove to much.
Think Auto correct got in my way. I mean they bottom six didn’t out play each other.
Not sure I’d be buying stock in the statement that Anderson was the difference in a 5-1 game, I would say when Price isnt the best player on the ice the Habs are in trouble.
Shticky let’s throw your stats out there just cause you believe in them so much 46 Habs 25 sens no Anderson wasn’t the difference at all! Lmao
Actually Id say the difference wasnt Anderson the difference was the sub .900 sv% Price had compared to his normal .920 +
Those stats dont really help your argument any, in fact they point out exactly what everyone else here is saying, if Price has an off night it usually doesnt end well for the Habs…but I guess they dont teach stats to professional scouts like you. That or you were to busy travelling the world playing hockey to learn simple math.
Shticky simple math is 4 games to 2!!
Come on, Jello. You’re being willfully ignorant of the stats. You’re smarter than that. A knowledgeable hockey fan (which I believe you are) doesn’t just look at the wins and losses. They look at the stats to determine the factors behind the wins, losses and points. Yet you’ve been willfully dismissive of how the Canadiens lousy puck-possession, offensive and defensive numbers have been offset by Price’s superb goaltending because they don’t suit your narrative. You’ve yet to offer up anything with basis in fact. When confronted by the stats, you dismiss them. Saying “because I said so” is no basis for a debate. Again, you’re better than that. I could respect your position on this matter if it had basis in stats and facts to support it.
lyle all im saying is there is more to a game than stats if you watch the habs defence when they are on there game price has a pretty easy night don’t get me wrong price is a great goalie but those defensive stats your saying the habs are so bad at are a little far fetched the habs have a good defensive team to go along with a great goalie hence the low goals against
No, what you’re saying is that you cannot refute the stats because they don’t support your argument, so you just dismiss them as though they don’t matter. That’s a silly position to take. Again, they’re the lowest-scoring team to reach the second round, their power-play is second-worst thus far, they’re 12th in penalty-killing and they’ve given up the fourth-most shots in the opening round. They squeaked past one of the lowest seeds. Price, meanwhile, had the third-best save percentage and fifth-best GAA while facing the second-most shots thus far in the playoffs. During the regular season, the Habs were 20th in goals-per-game (worst of all the playoff teams), 23rd in PP percentage (fourth-worst of all playoff teams), 25th in shots/game (second-worst) and 21st in shots-against/game (third-worst), yet gave up the fewest GA/game with 7th-best PK percentage. So, how do they finish so high in the regular-season standings? Price leads the league in wins, GAA and SP and finished second in shutouts. So, tell me again how stats don’t matter.
and shticky please if any goalie in the league has a sv% under 900 they will lose the majority of the time?? geezus that whole comment contradicts itself
Again Lyle you leave out scoring chances so what if there is 100 shots from blue line with no one in front? And if a team is very picky on the shot attempts? You can go on and on about stats but the fact is that night or game they did enough to win!
In shot attempts in this year’s playoffs as of tonight, the Canadiens were sixth in SAT for, the Senators right behind them at seventh. However, in SAT close, the Senators were 7th, the Canadiens 10th. In unblocked SAT close, the Canadiens were 14th, the Senators third.
No jello it doesnt, not that there is any sense arguing with ya but you said Anderson was the difference, I ponted out Price had a bad game then you say most teams would lose if their goalie has that bad a game…you are talking in circles, but go ahead keep looking ridiculous. Why not tell the Habs fan blogger whos site you come to that just because he is
a blogger that doesnt mean stats actually mean anything…good work jelly I think Lyle
was giving you a bit too much credit or at
least giving you the opertunity to not look
like such an ass, props to you for not giving in and continuing to look that way.
anything
Habs fans won’t acknowledge “The Carey Price Truthers” because their argument, that the Habs are nothing without Price, is completely irrelevant. Why not argue a boat is nothing without an engine? Price is their best player, the best player in the league at the most important position. The Truthers are only looking to take something away from MTL.
They’re the lowest-scoring team to reach the second round, their power-play is second-worst thus far, they’re 12th in penalty-killing and they’ve given up the fourth-most shots in the opening round. They squeaked past one of the lowest seeds. Price, meanwhile, had the third-best save percentage and fifth-best GAA while facing the second-most shots thus far in the playoffs. During the regular season, the Habs were 20th in goals-per-game (worst of all the playoff teams), 23rd in PP percentage (fourth-worst of all playoff teams), 25th in shots/game (second-worst) and 21st in shots-against/game (third-worst), yet gave up the fewest GA/game with 7th-best PK percentage. So, how do they finish so high in the regular-season standings? Price leads the league in wins, GAA and SP and finished second in shutouts. At least you can acknowledge Price is their best player. Well done, you. Nobody’s taking anything away from Montreal, except for the fact that they’re a low-scoring, defensively shaky team that is regularly bailed out by an All-World goaltender.
again lyle you say defensively shaky but that is very wrong your stats don’t include scoring chances im not taking anything away from price but the habs team defense has been very good this year so what if they allow a lot of perimeter shots that price can see most goalies will make that save
The Canadiens were 8th of 16 teams in scoring chances (122), while the Senators were right behind them at 121). So, middle of the pack in puck-possession (which I already noted) and scoring chances. As for the Habs team defense being very good this year, in the opening round they’re 12th in penalty-killing and gave up the fourth-most shots in the opening round prior to tonight. During the regular season, 25th in shots/game (second-worst) and 21st in shots-against/game (third-worst). So how, exactly, is their teams defense “very good” with those numbers.
oh lyle we will have to agree to disagree you read your stats and ill watch the game! lol
Unlike you, I can do both.
unlike you I can understand the actual game not just read the stars after!
Your comments indicate otherwise, since you consistently failed to provide substantiation for your comments other than “because I said so.”
Maybe they should fire Marc Bergevin and hire Kyle Dubas, or Sunny Mehta, or Tyler Dellow? All of those guys/gals just ripped this year. I guess the fancy stats victory lap last summer was early, as fancy stats have had little to no success beyond confirming the eye test. “Yay! We all got hired! Boo, all our teams are in the cellar!” I bet those guys spend half of their time making paper airplanes.
Also, six games is too short of a sample size to draw any conclusions.
The problem is that you’re trying to extrapolate a model that worked to belay misconceptions about teams like the Maple Leafs, the Avalanche, the Wild from a few years back. That was low hanging fruit. Now that ST Louis is bounced and Boston and LAK aren’t even in the playoffs, fancy stat-ees have no answers, and I would say that like the Senators, the clock has struck twelve AM on this little movement.
Nonsense. Of the 16 teams to qualify for the playoffs, 10 were in the top-ten in puck-possession stats. Four of the eight clubs to advance to the second round are in the top half in puck-possession playoff stats this spring. Should the Lightning beat the Wings, it’ll be five of eight. And I never stated that puck-possession stats are an end-all and be-all, so your inference that I have is an outright lie.
I’ve consistently noted in this little “debate” the Canadiens are the lowest-scoring team to reach the second round, their power-play is second-worst thus far, they’re 12th in penalty-killing and they’ve given up the fourth-most shots in the opening round. They squeaked past one of the lowest seeds. Those aren’t “advanced stats”, but of course you blithely ignore that.
Because I’m citing stats and facts to point out the Canadiens’ weaknesses, you’ve taken it as some sort of attack against them. That’s simply not the case. Ignoring the facts and stats may be fine for a fan like you, but it’s not something you do when you cover the NHL for a living. And from my experience, knowledgeable hockey fans also don’t ignore stats, even if they expose some uncomfortable facts about their favorite teams. When you get a moment, look up “objectivity” in the dictionary.
As I’ve consistently stated, if the Canadiens don’t improve their offensive and defensive numbers, they’ll need a playoff performance for the ages from Carey Price if they hope to win the Cup this year. Those are the facts, whether you like ’em or not.
I am a Habs fan and was at both wins in Ottawa. I agree with Lyle. For my eyes, the Habs started the game great last night and then fell flat. During the second period they stopped pressing and went into a prevent defence. I was shocked at how early this occurred but the coaches must have felt that Price was on his A-game and wanted to minimize high risk plays leading to odd-man rushes. Then again, my mind probably isn’t all there because I most likely suffered multiple heart attacks during the last half of the game.
I agree with you Lyle. Price was the key to the win. The Sens proved that once you get into his head he can be very fallible. Last night he was on his game and was the beast he can, and for the most of this season has been.
I also agree with the fact that unless the other players start scoring, this round will be the final round this year for the Habs. It’s interesting that the season series between Detroit makes them the more desired foe. If I were the Habs, I’d be more worried to face Detroit because their goaltender is one of the keys that they are doing as well as they are and it is almost always the case that the season series doesn’t mean squat come the playoffs. How many teams have swept a season series only to be ousted during the playoffs?
I am a Habs fan. I love when they win, but without Price and the ability to put the puck in the net, they will find trouble.
Ottawa could have won that series with a few more bounces.
That all said I will not apologize for having the best goalie in the league right now. I know 20 odd other teams right now that have zero chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
Momentum changes, guys find the net…..lets hope the Habs get some of that going!
Whatever happens this year I like where this team is going, at least right now.
12 to go!
I am an Habs fan and I still remember what Bergevin said at the beginning of the season: the Habs are a bubble team that will have to fight to get into the playoff. Bergevin and the coaching staff were looking at the talent on the team and knew they had some holes on the top 6 and on D.
One full regular season later, after an outstanding season’s performance by Price and some minor adjustments (except for the Petry deal), we have a team that was good enough to finish second in the league.
Because of Price, I chose the Habs to win it in the first round. And I was right. (I was wrong in many other series tho, LOL)
There’s nothing wrong with saying that Montreal won in large part because of Price. Why not? He is their most valuable player, their best player.
And I know Price will give a chance to his team to win the next round also be it against Tampa or Detroit.
However, it will be harder and the top 6 has to start performing better as well as the first D tandem (Markov-Subban) has to play better.
Agreed, Alain. Most Habs fans share that view.