The change in Montreal’s hitting ability has been huge Patrik Laine after returning. When Laine finally returned to action in a match against the New York Islanders on December 3rd, Montreal was the second weakest team in the entire NHL, behind only abysmal Chicago.
At that stage, Les Habitants had won eight of their 24 matches.
It has been different since then. Most recently, on New Year’s Eve, Montreal gave a hard sample of their fitness by coming up against a tough Vegas away team to win 3–2 from a 2–0 deficit. A few days earlier, it knocked off reigning champion Florida, also away from home.
With Laine, Montreal has won nine of their 13 games. For December, the score percentage rose to almost 70.
What happened?
Expertise that few can find
Laine’s share has been processed quickly. The Tampere native got a dream start to his return to the NHL arena. Thirteen matches, eight hits, including two winning goals.
Laine has profiled himself as a specialist in the game of superiority, because each of the goals was born with superiority.
It would still be narrow-minded to cling only to Laine.
Of course, Montreal has scored about half a goal more per game with Laine than without him, but the more important change has taken place in the defense of the own goal.
While before Laine, the group allowed 3.9 goals per match, in December the number dropped to 2.6.
What has perhaps been less noticed, Laine’s chain (Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook) is the team’s only trio with a minus at 5-for-5.
Where Laine has accumulated a balance of -5 in his power statistics, Joel Armia has 12 hits during the same period.
– The other fields look ahead. Armia’s so-called four chain is excellent, as it has been Christian Dvorak too three. You can play these chains against anyone, and it’s not nice for the opponent, ‘s ice hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen says.
– In general, the coaching is now able to play the rotation of four chains more evenly.
This can also be seen in the gameplay. Laine is an excellent wildcard in the power game, and so is the head coach Martin St. Louis this is also used. Laine’s ice time average hovers under 15 minutes, likely due to issues in the 5-5 game.
– Coaching tries to hide that chain here and there. Then, when there is a power play, there will be 90 seconds of ice time.
Balance found
All in all, Montreal was better balanced in December than in recent memory. Although only Laine reaches the headline level, the fact is that Laine was the team’s fifth most effective player in January.
For example, Armia beat a commendable statistic line for a player of the four chain in 13 matches: 5+3, +12.
Jake Evans, Emil Heinemanof the first chain Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki and the goalkeepers deserve a big part of the credit.
– The goalkeepers have played damn well. For example, this young Czech boy Jakub Dobes played an absolutely freezing clean sheet in the first game of his career in Florida, Lehkonen enthuses.
Lehkonen returns yet again to praise the quad chain without any inhibitions.
– No one has said anything about this kind of Heineman. If I were the GM of another club, I would immediately make him an offer (offer sheet) when his contract expires. With Evans, Armia plays wonderfully underpowered and there have been a couple of underpowered goals.
The playoff line is visible
So what are Montreal’s prospects going forward? Was December a fluke or are the Canadiens finding a new level?
After a hot December, the playoff line was only three points away on the first day of the year. Lehkonen meets too many expectations.
– Let’s see now, when we start grinding through January as well. The next period of 20 matches is a tough one. It’s a pretty tough wrinkle when you try to go up there. It now has young people tied to the club with long contracts. They must still be able to take steps to new levels, Lehkonen insists.
The long-time hockey player also reminds us of the responsibilities of the club management.
– There are big things on the table at the office. There is still quite a puzzle to put together and the contract situations of a few to think about. Surely there is also thinking about whether they should still acquire a number one center or puck defender. You have to be able to make tough decisions.