It was an improbable feat for the Montreal Canadiens, however, the underdogs came out on top again as the Habs swept the Jets in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They dominated the Jets for the entirety of Game 4, however, still needed an extra session to put the team away as Connor Hellebuyck showed up for the Jets. Despite his efforts, it was Tyler Toffoli who got the last laugh. He put away a beautiful feed from Cole Caufield to eliminate the Jets. It was the seventh straight win for the Canadiens in these playoffs, as they dominated from start to finish in this series.
Tyler Toffoli Puts the Dagger Into the Jets Season
The Tyler Toffoli signing just keeps looking better and better by Marc Bergevin as the 29-year-old led the Canadiens in points during the second round with two goals and three assists in four games. He also leads the team through the playoffs with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 11 games. He along with linemates Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have been driving the offence for the Canadiens. The trio combined for 12 points in four games during the series, and are playing a huge role in the success of the Canadiens during the playoffs. The series winner was Toffoli’s second game-winner of the series and came off an absolutely beautiful feed from Cole Caufield. Leaving Hellebuyck with next to no chance of stopping it.
Toffoli’s play in both ends of the ice and his ability to find the back of the net has been a huge storyline for the Canadiens the entire season. Now, he continuing his strong play throughout the playoffs, helping lead his team to victory in the second round.
Price Shuts the Door
Of course, none of this could have been accomplished without the play of Carey Price. While Toffoli leads the team in points, Price has been the team’s MVP. Though he wasn’t tested much in Game 4, only having the make 14 saves, he made big saves when he needed to. He was like having another defenceman back there for the Canadiens. Helping them break out of their zone numerous times throughout not only the game but the entire series. Price posted a 1.49 goals-against-average in the series to go along with a .942 save percentage. His play has helped the Canadiens play with the lead for a staggering 437:53 minutes straight. This is now the second-longest streak in Stanley Cup Playoff history. A record the team currently holds at 488:38 which was set back in 1960.
Canadiens Depth Prevails
In the series preview, we spoke of how both teams had incredible forward depth. However, it was the Canadiens who came out on top. The Canadiens managed to score 14 goals in four games on reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Getting goals from 10 different players along the way. All but two forwards managed to register a point in the series. Those players being Josh Anderson and Paul Byron. However, both played a key role in the series, throwing the body and wearing out the Jets’ defence. Byron also was key on the penalty kill. A penalty-kill unit that was 100% in the series and outscored the Jets powerplay 3-0.
Playing the Waiting Game
With the series now over, the Canadiens will get a much-needed rest. They went the distance in the first round and immediately headed to Winnipeg to start up their series against the Jets. It also gives Jeff Petry time to heal, as he was unavailable for Game 4 after suffering an injury to his hand in Game 3. He’s a huge piece of the Canadiens back end. They’ll surely need him if they want to have success in the semi-finals.
However, the road gets a lot tougher for the Canadiens in the semi-finals. They will face-off with the winner of the Colorado Avalanche/Vegas Golden Knights series. Both teams were projected as Stanley Cup Contenders prior to the season and are still viewed as that today. However, the Canadiens have been the underdogs the entirety of the playoffs and will continue to be even if they get to the Stanley Cup Final. It hasn’t phased them to this point. They’ll surely be up to the task once the semi-finals get underway.
Main Photo
