Game 45: Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the Red Wings region: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
When the Detroit Red Wings lost 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in their first game of the season, there was concern that they were once again due for a mediocre season, just good enough to challenge for a playoff spot without making the post-season. It was an understandable feeling from the fans as Detroit hasn’t played a playoff game in nine years.
They went on to win their next five games, but then struggled to get in the win column for the next several weeks. On American Thanksgiving, a date that has often seen enough of the season played to determine the majority of playoff teams, Detroit was fifth in the wild-card race with a 4-5-1 record in its previous 10 games, getting about as close to mediocrity as a team can get.
Instead of resigning themselves to their usual fate over the past decade, they tried to change it. Detroit has been a very different team since the start of December, with a 13-4-2 record over what comprises about a quarter of the season. Now they’re not in the mushy middle of the Eastern Conference, but right near its top.
Tale of the Tape
| Canadiens | Statistics | Red Wings |
|---|---|---|
| 25-13-6 | Record | 26-15-4 |
| 49.0% (22nd) | Expected-goal share | 49.8% (18th) |
| 3.39 (4th) | Goals per game | 3.09 (17th) |
| 3.18 (21st) | Goals against per game | 3.11 (16th) |
| 22.7% (10th) | PP% | 24.8% (6th) |
| 78.7% (20th) | PK% | 80.2% (15th) |
| 1-0-0 | Head-to-Head Record | 0-1-0 |
| Cole Caufield (21) | Most goals | Alex DeBrincat (22) |
| Lane Hutson (36) | Most assists | Lucas Raymond (34) |
| Nick Suzuki (48) | Most points | Lucas Raymond (47) |
The Canadiens have followed along on that journey with a similar 12-5-3 record for the fifth-best points percentage since the end of November. Four of the top six teams on that list are in the Atlantic Division, which has suddenly become the NHL’s most competitive section.
As the season goes on, the Red Wings’ turnaround may get credited to some harsh words from the coach or a rousing speech from a veteran. What has really happened for them is a sudden return to form for John Gibson. On November 30, the player Detroit brought in during the off-season to stabilize its goaltending had a season save percentage of .865, one permillage point above Samuel Montembeault’s as the two netminders occupied the bottom two spots in the league among goalies to play at least 10 games. In 13 starts since, Gibson’s efficiency is .927, bettered only by two goaltenders who receive regular starts. That sequence began with a personal eight-game winning streak that included two shutouts, and he enters tonight’s game with no worse that a .919 mark in his past four games.
Goaltending has been the main talking point for both clubs and has turned the corner at just the right moment. The Canadiens weren’t being of much help to their struggling netminders early in the season, but have begun to play more stable defence, not nearly so panicky in their own zone, and have largely been able to outscore any defensive issues that remain. That improved play also applies on the penalty kill, which has operated at 81.7% since December 1.
Montreal will need to maintain that strong play while down a man because the Red Wings make teams pay for taking penalties. Detroit has earned the seventh-most power-play opportunities this season with 141, and has the third-highest goal total of 35, much more likely to score in a game on the man advantage than not. It’s difficult to contain and, other than Gibson in the net, presents the greatest threat to Montreal in this head-to-head battle for top spot in the Atlantic, and potentially the Eastern Conference.
