Game 50: Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Jets region: TSN3
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
After a sequence of seven games in 12 days, the Canadiens finally got a break with a couple of days off. It could only be a reprieve from game action, however, because they needed to work on their defensive play on Monday in their first full practice in a long time. The team-wide shutdown style they used to pull themselves back into the playoff race had disappeared from their play, and they had begun to chase the game as a result. They needed comeback efforts to claim their points in recent games, including fighting back from two goals down on Saturday versus the New Jersey Devils to claim a point.
They had to do something to address the regression in their play because tonight they welcome one of the NHL’s best teams in the Winnipeg Jets. The club from Manitoba not only ranks as the second-best defensive squad in the NHL with 2.43 goals against per game, but also second in goals scored with 3.53. Only the Washington Capitals have a better per-game goal differential, and that’s why those two clubs sit tied atop the league with 71 points.
| Canadiens | Statistics | Jets |
|---|---|---|
| 24-20-5 | Record | 34-14-3 |
| 48.3% (27th) | Scoring-chances-for % | 50.31% (14th) |
| 3.02 (14th) | Goals per game | 3.53 (2nd) |
| 3.33 (26th) | Goals against per game | 2.43 (2nd) |
| 20.3% (21st) | PP% | 33.3% (1st) |
| 81.7% (9th) | PK% | 79.1% (15th) |
| 0-1-0 | Head-to-Head Record | 1-0-0 |
Of course, one of the biggest reasons for the stellar defensive play is the work being done in net by Connor Hellebuyck, who would need to have a spectacular downfall in the final 31 games to not claim a second consecutive Vezina Trophy. He has a .926 save percentage and averages just over two goals against each game he plays. He leads the league with six shutouts in in 39 starts, has the highest goals saved above expected at 22.74, and paces the NHL in high-danger save percentage at .871. The team is good in front of him ranking 10th in expected goals against per game, but it’s the play of the goaltender that has them battling for the Presidents’ Trophy.
It’s not Hellebuyck the Canadiens will be most concerned about in this game. Considering how good he’s been in the regular season for Winnipeg, he is a relatively tame 6-4 in games played at the Bell Centre, and Montreal won both games against him last year before dropping the season opener this year. The main challenge comes from playing a great offensive team, though one that hasn’t been producing its usual power-play goal on every third opportunity in recent weeks.
It is worth pointing out who has been playing well defensively for the Canadiens since their play began to fall off after the first period of the game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday. Despite all the shifts they’re starting in the defensive end, Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier have led the team in expected-goal share, and that shows up in the team-leading — by a wide margin — plus/minus numbers for those players. Based on yesterday’s pairings at practice, it seems that Martin St-Louis may be planning to break up that duo to provide one of those defensive stalwarts to each of Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson, who have been having the biggest issues together in the past week.
It’s not like the team would sacrifice all of its offence with this switch. Guhle ranks third on the team in the past five games with four points, and Carrier is seventh with three, including his first goal on a bomb from the point. Guhle also has 14 shots in that time, tied with Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook for second. Martin St-Louis said he wanted to help Guhle grow his offensive game at the same time he was working with Hutson on his defensive play. Perhaps, now that each player has made progress in his area of weakness, this pairing can reconnect and help the team get back on track and stay in an ever-tightening playoff race.
