Today I will begin looking at match ups. There's no question that in order for any team to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, a certain amount of "luck of the draw" exists. You see it every year. One or two teams gets further than a should, while one or two teams gets bounced.
The Montréal Canadiens have as good a shot as any in the Eastern conference. They have the number one goalie in the league, coupled with the group of the hardest working, most opportunistic surrounding cast. So so who does Montréal want to play?
The list below is an overview of how they have fared versus their possible first-round opponents.
Montreal vs.
Boston: this year: 4-0 (16GF-6GA) last three years: 10-2 (38-24) playoffs: 106-71 all-time: 355-264-103t-7OTL Advantage: Montreal
Tampa: this year: 0-3-1 (5-16) 1 Game to play last three years: 4-3-3 (19-28) playoffs: 4-4 (21-24) all-time: 40-32-6-5 Advantage: Tampa
Detroit: this year: 3-0 (8-2) last three years: 5-1-1 (20-15) playoffs:33-29 (161-149) Last played 1978 all-time:276-200-96-3 (1746-1473) Advantage: Montreal
Pittsburgh: this year: 1-1-1 (5-7) last three years: 3-4-2 (25-33) playoffs: 8-5 (37-33) all-time:118-54-23-6 (784-571) Advantage: Even
Washington: this year: 2-0 (3-1) last three years: 4-3-1 (15-20) playoffs: 4-3 (20-22) all-time:74-57-17-7 Advantage: Montreal slight
Ottawa: this year: 1-3 (9-14) last three years: 6-5-2 (38-45) playoffs: 1-4 (9-20) all-time:61-50-5-9OTL Advantage: Ottawa slight
Florida: this year: 1-0-1 (4-4) 3 more games this season last three years: 6-2-1 (22-15) playoffs: never played all-time:37-31-4 (206-196) Advantage: Montreal slight
So Who Does Montreal Want to Play?
#1 Boston #2 Detroit #3 Florida #4 Washington #5 Pittsburgh #6 Ottawa #7 Tampa
In my next blog i will look at one or two more teams and the way the match ups work for (or against) them.
We will discuss all this and more on today's podcast.