1) There are three reasons why the Canadiens have had a drastic turnaround, seemingly without any transition between terrible and great play. They are:
-Health
-Chemistry
-Bench Management
Over the last three games, the Canadiens have given us a glimpse of who they can be. We know who they are when the lines get offset by injuries to key players, and it's going to take great focus and determination to carry forward on the same page they're on right now.
And it's not just because they won three games that they deserve some good press, it's how they did it, and who they did it against that impresses.
2) To start with, the only thing that's changed has been their offensive output. Going from 18 goals in 11 games, to scoring 12 goals in their last three games has been the difference between losing close games and winning them.
The powerplay has been hot all season, currently ranking at 4th in the league.
The penalty kill ranks 11th in the league, half a decimal point out of 10th where St. Louis resides.
They've moved up to 2nd in the league in goals against, tied with Colorado, behind Boston.
Brandon Prust returned to health, so did Alexei Emelin, and Max Pacioretty's clearly looking healthier.
The changes Therrien made after last week's ugly 1-0 loss to the Rangers were controversial but necessary. Yes, Eller, Galcheyuk and Gallagher were the engine that kept the team afloat, but there was nothing clicking on the other lines. Breaking this trio up was hard to justify, considering the aim would've been to give Desharnais more to work with, but it's worked masterfully.
Desharnais, Pacioretty and Gallagher was a combination that worked extremely well last season. Rene Bourque's lower-body injury paved the way for trying Briere on the left of Plekanec and Gionta, and it's given him the opportunity to help them provide offense in spite of their defensive role. They haven't lit up the scoresheet, but Prust, Eller and Galchenyuk are poised to break out soon, and they don't cost you very much in your own end. And then you have the fourth line of Bournival, White and Moen--there's speed, jam, intensity, and far less liability there.
Therrien likes to have four lines going, and he's achieved it with this composition.
3) Andrew Berkshire of Habs Eyes on the Prize has a great little piece on bench management, and how much of a difference it's made over the last week.
4) Five goals for Max Pacioretty, points for David Desharnais, Michael Bournival making a huge block against Washington, Alexei Emelin's comfort level increasing, Peter Budaj and Carey Price, and Tomas Plekanec's masterful game against Pittsburgh; the highlights of this week.
Two of Pacioretty's five goals weren't scored from the goalmouth. They were shots, albeit from dangerous scoring zones, and not from the sideboards. But I had a very interesting conversation with Max after the Pittsburgh game, and he says he understands why people obsess over him shooting pucks from all angles. At the same time, like I posited in theory here last week, he also knows that his shots generate rebounds, and with a linemate like Gallagher crashing the net, it opens up space for him to follow his own shots and get there too.
The chemistry between Pacioretty and Desharnais is undeniable, and it's not the size of the player next to them that counts, it's the willingness of that player to hunt for the garbage goals. It's what Erik Cole did so well, regardless of his size, it's what Gallagher does even better, and it's what you wish Rene Bourque would do effectively.
5) What a block that was by Bournival, and he's lucky it didn't break his foot. This kid has won points with his teammates for everything he's done. He's got tons of heart, and this experience has to be better than he ever could've imagined.
6) Emelin's giving the team the opportunity to spend more time up the ice, rather than in their own zone. That's the difference between him and Murray or Bouillon--among everything else that differentiates them! And because he hasn't had too many opportunities to throw major hits, he's showing everything else he does to help stabilize the team.
When he got in a little over his head, next to Gorges against Sidney Crosby's line Saturday, Therrien got him out of the matchup. Emelin and Gorges ended up doing a great job against Malkin's line. Neal managed one of the powerplay, and later in the game, Diaz and Bouillon were exposed by Malkin to set Neal up for his second of the game.
Emelin's +2, and he's played some hard minutes. He hasn't been on the ice for an even strength goal against through four games.
7) Saturday's game was Tomas Plekanec's best of the season, and it may very well have been one of the best games he's played in the NHL.
For just the fourth time against the Canadiens (all of them at the Bell Centre), Crosby was held off the scoresheet (stick-tap to Dave Stubbs). Plekanec--the Canadiens worst faceoff man going into Saturday's game--won 76% of his draws, many of them against Crosby, who finished at 22%.
Plekanec was in Crosby's face for the whole night, shutting him down at every turn, adding a goal of his own--turned out to be the winner.
It was a sensational performance.
8) As you know, shutting down Crosby's not a one-man job. With Gionta and Briere, Plekanec's line spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, and after they got a substantial lead and Travis Moen joined the line for defensive purposes, the job that Markov and Subban did on Crosby was unbelievable.
We're seeing a lot less flash and dash from Subban lately, but the way Therrien sees it, we're seeing his very best hockey. He's not taking a lot risks out there, and he's showing he can be just as effective playing that way.
As Brian Wilde tweeted after the game, the biggest story in the NHL on Saturday was Subban's use against Crosby, and his dominance in that situation. Let's hope Yzerman, et al. were watching. We know they were...
9) Peter Budaj has been just ridiculous for the Canadiens. Don't even need to quote the numbers; the guy just steps up and delivers nearly every time they put him in the net.
After the Canadiens got scored on with seconds left in the first period against Washington, they allowed six shots on net, up until the final five minutes of the hockey game. Two of them were breakaways Budaj seemingly turned aside with ease.
As for Price, Sidney Crosby was mocked for calling him the best goalie in the league before the season started.
Maybe Crosby knows what he's talking about...
10) Habs are in Buffalo Wednesday, Washington Friday, and back home for the Leafs on Saturday.
They got an extended weekend to revel in some good vibes from a week of well-done work. They cannot get trapped into thinking they've figured it all out.