As the regular season has come to an end, Last Word On Sports analyzes every playoff series heading into this week’s action. In the first installment, we take a look at the matchups in five categories: Offense, defense, goaltending, coaching and special teams. We also run down the players to look out for and give our final assessment on how the series will pan out. In the second portion, we will analyze what went down in the series, how the matchups led to the outcome and cover all important storylines.
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators in six games to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This was a hard fought series with both teams putting up great efforts in all games, and could have gone either way.
The Series: Montreal versus Ottawa
Game 1: The first game was exciting to the last whistle, seeing seven goals scored in the first 40 minutes. Brian Flynn was player of the night, notching a goal and two assists in just 10:17 in ice time. This game also saw P.K Subban get ejected after slashing Mark Stone on the wrist. Subban wasn’t disciplined further and Stone was able to return to play out the game and the series. This game was also highly physical, both teams reaching over 40 hits.
Game 2: This game was even more physical than game 1, with the Sens dishing out 53 hits and the Habs firing back 41 of their own. The Habs were able to hold on for an exciting 3-2 OT win, with Alex Galchenyuk scoring on a turn around wrister only 3:40 into the first OT period. Max Pacioretty made his return from missing the last two games in the regular season and the first game in fashion, scoring a powerplay goal (the Habs only powerplay goal in the series) in the second period to tie the game up at 1-1.
Game 3: More physicality followed to this game with Ottawa having an astonishing 61 hits and Montreal a paltry 36, but they were able to claw back from a deficit. With Craig Anderson replacing Andrew Hammond, Clarke MacArthur scored in the first period and it stayed 1-0 until 9 minutes into the third period when Dale Weise scored a game tying goal with Anderson trying to make a desperation save, but failing to get it in time. The game headed into OT for the second consecutive night and ended in Montreal’s favor, again, with 8:47 left in the extra frame, when Weise came up on the right side and shot a hard snap shot right past Anderson for his second goal of the night and giving Montreal a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Game 4: With the danger of being swept by the Habs upon them, the Sens pulled together for a 1-0 win. Mike Hoffman scored his first career playoff goal late in the third period while Anderson made 28 saves for his third playoff shutout in his career. In this do-or-die game, it was relatively tame on the hits and penalties, but we did see a rare penalty handed out to Bobby Ryan for being the second Senator thrown out the face off circle in one face off attempt. The series went back to Montreal with Ottawa seeking another win.
Game 5: Ottawa stormed back with a convincing 5-1 win over Montreal and showed the hockey world just what they have been doing since February; finding ways to keep their season alive. Bobby Ryan added two, while Erik Condra, Erik Karlsson, and Patrick Wiercioch each added a goal. The Habs effort was only there however, firing 46 shots at Anderson, with Tom Gilbert scoring the lone Habs goal. Two things attributed to this loss: a lack of strategy change on Michel Therrien‘s part and a hot goalie. It’s a sure recipe for a blowout loss, which was the story.
Game 6: Many in the hockey world expected the Sens to pull off the near impossible and tie up the series after being down 0-3. But the Habs pulled a win out of their arses and rose to the occasion. Brendan Gallagher scored a jaw dropping, incredible hand eye coordination goal in the first period to put them ahead. Late in the second period, it appeared as if Jean Gabriel Pageau had tied the game on an error by Price, who thought he had the puck but it had fallen off his arm. Pageau dove for the puck and tapped it in but the referees had already blown the play dead and rendered it a no goal. The Sens were not able to add another goal, despite pulling Anderson with 1:40 left and stayed in the Habs zone for near all of it and kept Price busy. Price finished with 43 stops for the shutout. Pacioretty dumped it with less than 3 seconds left and scored into the empty net with just .3 seconds left in the game, giving the Habs a 2-0 win and a 4-2 series win.
Storylines of the Series
Burnt Hamburglar
The Senators miracle worker, Andrew Hammond, went into the playoffs with a stellar 20-1-2 record, but was unable to continue his play, instead letting in 7 goals in 2 games and allowed the Habs to get the momentum early on in the season. In the OT period of game 2, he was visibly upset after letting in the goal and let it show. He was then replaced by Anderson.
The Price Is Right
After having the best statistical year of his career, Price was relied upon for more of the same fantastic play and making eye popping save after save. Despite dropping two straight games, he kept his numbers similiar to his seasons totals with a .939 SV% and a 1.94 GAA. While he did let in 5 goals in game 5, it should be noted that the defense wasn’t all there for him and caused a couple goals. While playoffs numbers have no bearing on the Vezina trophy, it’s easy to see why he was named a finalist, and is the expected winner of the award.
The Myth Is Dead
Many Habs fans, myself included, believed that it would be a hard feat to advance past the Sens in the post season. With a 3-1 record in favour of the Sens versus the Habs in the 2014-15 regular season, and 8-5 in last three seasons, it wasn’t hard to believe it, Price or no Price. But the Habs kept strong and rallied past them. The myth that the Habs can’t beat them is now dead.
Sens Never Gave Up
Since February 2015, the Sens had been fighting for a playoff spot and they only made the postseason in the final week of regular season. Hammond, Stone, and Hoffman were a huge part of the revitalized Senators. They tried their best, but their best just wasn’t good enough. They displayed the same do-or-die mentality numerous times in the series, but they just couldn’t execute it 100% of the time.
