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Canadiens Look To Build On 2 Game Win Streak And Stats Show They Should |
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The Montreal Canadiens have found the cure for what ailed them in the form of the Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens took both halves of their home and home with the Sens this past week by a combined score of 10-4 and did so in convincing fashion.
The Sens had admitted that they took the Canadiens for easy pickings after the first 5-2 victory in Montreal on December 4th. A mistake that gave the Habs a valuable 2 points and bulletin board material for the rematch 48 hrs later in Ottawa.
One would presume the Sens would be mighty pesky when the puck dropped in Ottawa for round 2 but, in fact, the Canadiens spanked the home team even more soundly than the first game.
In the first half of this home and home the Canadiens outshot the Sens 41 to 30 while posting a dominant 64 CF% and 61.4 FF%. The second game, with the Sens apparently putting an emphasis on preparedness at home, saw the victors outshoot OTT 43 to 21 and post a 65.6 CF% and 69.6 FF%.
Total Domi-nation ...
I had written in a previous blog about how the Canadiens advanced statistics showed they were outplaying their opponents during the losing stretch prior to these wins and that should the goal dam break we could see the Habs go on a run. Here's hoping I was foreshadowing a fresh win streak for the Canadiens, but as always it depends solely on the teams ability to focus and maintain the level of pressure and energy they have been giving so far this season.
A big part of the turn around is obviously from the Habs top 6 forward group. Domi has posted 2 G's and 2 A's in the last 4 games and Drouin has put up 1 G and 5 A's in the same time frame. Both are on pace to destroy their old career bests in points as well with both producing at, or near, a Point Per Game pace.
Not to be forgotten is Gallagher and Tatar who have both put up 3 points each over the last 4 games. The team has been solidly outplaying the competition and the stars are heating up. Let's see if they can keep the production consistent heading into the new year.
As of today, the Canadiens ares sitting tight in 7th place in the East and 13th overall in the NHL. With the Sabres holding a 5 point lead on the Habs for 3rd in the Atlantic, the Habs are hoping to leave the Bruins (32 its), Red Wings (29 pts), and Penguins (27 pts) in the rear view mirror heading into the middle section of the season. I'll be honest, there aren't many teams behind them that should be able to catch them so I'll bring the optimism into the holidays. It's a nice change from the last two Decemeber's that's for sure...
OUELLET TO WAIVERS
Off season UFA signing X Ouellet has fit in well in MTL so far, in my opinion, but unfortunately Bergevin is handcuffed by the contracts of Benn and Schlemko and has had to make sacrifices to the NHL waiver wire and hope he can squeak players through.
Last week after being unable to find a taker for the injured Scherbak, Bergevin was forced to put him on the waiver wire hoping he wouldn't be snagged. In all honesty, I expected him to clear. But the last place Kings grabbed him, and the next few waiver wire drops (that's a great sign for their fans *eye roll*). I'm not sure how Scherbak will fare in LA, but I hope he does well. He seems like a quality guy and he just couldn't keep healthy enough to stick in MTL so maybe some California sun will do wonders for the boy.
Ouellet hits the wire after posting 3 Assists, a -3 rating, and 17:01 TOI in 19 games. His advanced stats were more favorable to his case to play at identical 53.8 CF and FF %'s but he did play sheltered with over 60% of his starts coming in the offensive zone.
We will see what tomorrow brings for Ouellet, but I hope he stays. The waiver wire hasn't been kind to Bergevin losing De La Rose and Scherbak, but an impartial fan might point out neither of these players have done anything special so far.
ONTO THE NEXT ONE
Next game for the Canadiens is Satur.... wait... oh snap. No Saturday game for the Habs this week. Good thing for me, I've been crazy busy this holiday season and have a ton of errands to run Saturday before checking out The Tenors in Calgary (seen them for about 4 years in a row now back when I would catch their final show of the tour in Windsor, ON.).
Sunday is a shopping day but I will definitely catch the Habs afternoon game against the Chicago Blackhawks after a presumed LONG DAY.... Have to see if the Canadiens can stretch this win streak to 3 and thus improve to 4-1-0 in the process, but I'll try not to get ahead of myself.
Enjoy the weekend and stay safe out there.
Go Habs Go
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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