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The Most Surprising Statistic From The Habs Playoff Run
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- The Most Surprising Statistic From The Habs Playoff Run
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens are clearly among the most exciting teams in the NHL, powered by the fact that they're the youngest organization in the league.
And while they currently own a 2-1 advantage in their second-round series versus the Buffalo Sabres, there's one particular number that continues to stand out.
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Canadiens Star Players At 5v5
In 10 playoff games, some of their most electric point producers are yet to find the back of the net at 5v5.
Juraj Slafkovsky, who set a new career high with 73 points in 82 games in the regular season, has no points.
Cole Caufield, who finished second in goal scoring in the regular season with 51 goals, has no points.
Ivan Demidov, a finalist for the Calder Trophy, has no points.
It's the type of situation that would sink most teams, especially one like the Habs that tends to rely on the first line.
However, thanks to important contributions from Zachary Bolduc, Alex Texier, and Kirby Dach, among others, the Canadiens aren't just treading water, they've offered back-to-back dominant performances versus the Sabres.
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Of course, sticking to 5v5 ignores their powerplay production, with both Caufield and Slafkovsky scoring important powerplay goals in Game 3, an indicator that they may be finally turning the corner at even strength.
As head coach Martin St-Louis explained on Tuesday, powerplay touches can go a long way in restoring a player's confidence once the man advantage expires. He was talking about Dach in this particular case, but the logic applies to Slafkovsky, Demidov, and Caufield as well.
Depth Value
Here's how the 5v5 production breaks down throughout the lineup. Zachary Bolduc leads the charge with two goals and four assists, with Newhook, Dach, and Texier in tow.
If I had told you heading into the playoffs that the three players in question would remain scoreless at 5v5 through 10 games, you would likely have asked me how they possibly avoided elimination in the first round.
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And the answer is that the Habs have somehow managed to produce a hero every night, one that is not among the highest paid players in the lineup, and one that does not enjoy playing on the first line.
In other words, the depth players have reacted well above expectations given the circumstances.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick .
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