The clock finally struck midnight on a Cinderella season for the Ottawa Senators, but not before they were able to push the Montreal Canadiens to their absolute limit. Games 1-3 saw the Canadiens able to push the pace against their divisional foes. Montreal was able to exploit Ottawa in the second and third periods of all three games and raced out to a commanding 3-0 series lead. It took a goaltending change and a screened wrister from Mike Hoffman to give the Sens all the hope they would need. A decisive game 5 Senators’ victory forced the Habs back to Ottawa for game 6. Suddenly, a series that looked like a sweep, was threatening to go to a winner take all game 7. The story of game 6 was simply Carey Price. After a poor showing in game 5, Price turned in a larcenous effort to steal one in the Sens backyard. A herculean effort by Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring and the Canadiens headed to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. From there, the Habs rode their stud goalie the rest of the way to an absolute nail-biting win. The Sens peppered Price with 30 shots over the final two periods. An Ottawa power play with 3:14 remaining in the game saw MacArthur, Hoffman, Ryan and Zinbanejad all come within inches of tying the game. Montreal had no business winning this one and held on for dear life to claim both the game and the series. First off, full marks to the Ottawa Senators for a phenomenal run to make the play offs and a gritty battle to extend this series. The series finished 4-2 for Montreal, but goals were knotted at 12 apiece. The Canadiens claimed two victories in overtime as well. The difference between winning and losing this series was razor thin. Ottawa coach Dave Cameron was masterful. Staring with inserting Craig Anderson in game 3, Cameron pushed the right buttons all series long. After almost coming unravelled following the PK/Stone incident, Cameron was able to regain his composure and set the tone for his team. His discussion with the refs following Pageau’s disallowed goal on a quick whistle, should be required viewing for any coach, in any sport, on any level. A total class move, that didn’t let his team use a bad call as an excuse. He turned his daily press conferences into must see TV and you get the sense that this team loves to play for him. How could you not? Little known fact, Cameron lead his St. Mike’s team to 4-3 series victory over a talented Sudbury squad in the OHL play offs in ’01. After trailing 3-0, St. Mike’s rallied to win 4 straight including a game 7 victory on the road. He was inches from potentially repeating that script again this year. Craig Anderson is also worthy of mention. Anderson started in game 3 and promptly gave up a short side goal in overtime to put the Sens in a 3-0 hole. However, games 3-6 saw him give up a grand total of 4 goals. Part of that can be attributed to an anemic Montreal attack. But Anderson deserves credit for getting into the heads of the Canadiens shooters and finding a way to get in the way of almost every shot he saw. Judging by his playoff history versus Montreal, this is not a guy the Habs want to see again come April. For the Habs, it must feel as though the piano was lifted off their backs. They showed great character and resolve to win game 1 without Subban and Pacioretty. Game 2 was a dominant performance. Game 3 saw them take all of the Senators best shots and come back to take over the game before triumphing in overtime. At that point, it felt as though Montreal had stolen Ottawa’s will and would cruise through the formality of closing out the series. The emergence of Anderson and the disappearance of their power play ensured that there would be no formality and introduced the threat of seeing the season disappear. Let’s break down the positives first. The first positive is simply winning the series. The core of this Canadiens team (Price, Subban, Pacioretty, Plekanec, Markov, Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Eller) has advanced again to the second round. This will be their 6th series in the past three seasons, including a trip to the conference finals last year. This experience is invaluable. Look at all the franchises stacked with talent (St. Louis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, potentially Tamp Bay) that have not been able to get through the first round in the past few seasons. It is an accomplishment to move on in the salary cap era. More importantly, each game, each series, each play off run helps to build a template for future success. The young veterans of Montreal are learning how to win. In 2015, they will have a chance to take their case one step further. Future editions will also benefit from the knowledge these vets will one day pass down. Chicago and LA are driven by their leaders and their collective resolve. You cannot buy that resolve in free agency. You can only build it through the fire each spring. The next positive is #31. Ottawa’s biggest problem was putting themselves into a position where they to beat Carey Price 4 straight games. Price was solid in game 4. The Habs were content to counter attack all match, believing that with Price behind them, they could sit back and bid their time to win the game. A screened shot from Hoffman was the difference, but I do not believe the temperature rose too much in the Canadiens room. Game 5 was after all, in Montreal. Price was not very good in game 5 and the Senators, despite being massively outshot, crushed the Habs on home ice. If the temperature did not rise after game 4, the burner was certainly on high for the final 10 minutes of game 6. It was all Price. He stole it plain and simple. After a season of heroics, it is hard to find new ways to compliment Price’s game. Yet in a game they had to have, in the other team’s building, facing a red and black onslaught, Price barred the door for the final forty minutes. The Habs missed a number of chances to give themselves some breathing room, but at the end of the day, they were fortunate not to need it. This is thanks to #31. The negatives are threefold: goal scoring, tactics and power play. Or perhaps more accurately, they are all one problem that shows up in 3 phases of their game. This edition of the Habs, for better or worse, is comfortable in tight games. They have won them all season long. They win them by chipping pucks into areas; winning battles and having their all universe goalie make saves. Yet this is not a team without skill. They had 7 players with 45 plus points this season (Pacioretty, Subban, Plekanec, Gallagher, Markov, Desharnais, Galchenyuk) including four 20 goal men. They are however, forced to play a grind ‘em out style. If you look at the results (second place overall, a berth in the 2nd round), it is hard to argue with their systems. But as the play offs go along, how long can they gamble on winning foot races and winning 50/50 puck battles? At some point, long shifts of chipping it out along the boards and chasing it down to cycle it around, do not provide the scoring opportunities this team needs to win. A style played close to the vest is certainly a skill needed for a championship contender. But a team also needs to be able generate offence. It needs the ability to move the puck and take the play to your opponent. The Rangers are able to take the puck end to end stringing passes together. They have high end speed and scoring depth. Montreal boasts similar speed with excellent depth, but their game is predicated on eliminating risk, not driving the play. Montreal’s system has produced results. The question remains, is this system too limiting to allow them to win their ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup? Final thoughts: There are players who get you into the play offs and players who help you win once you are there. Put Lars Eller in the latter category. Desharnais, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk. These three need to take the puck to the net. They cannot be effective from the perimeter. Desharnais has been great winning battles down low, but too few end up with scoring chances. #67 and 27 both need to seriously elevate their games if the habs are going to see round 3. Nice work by young D-men Pateryn and Beaulieu in this series. If Tinordi can come back healty, the Habs have a nice surplus of young defensemen for next season. That was a great show of patience by the Habs brass with #64. Tom Gilbert had a nice series. I don’t love him on the PP, but he will take a hit to make a play, blocks shots and has played his off side real well. Brendan Gallagher. The refs hate him, goalies despise him and opposing d-men try to kill him, but there is not a greater warrior night to night than #11. Perhaps the habs wait to name their next captain until ’16 or ’17. Good chance it may be Gallagher.
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