The Montreal Canadiens are Canada's only hope of winning the Stanley Cup, and a faint hope they are. They were the last Canadian team to win the title, in 1993, but this year's edition is highly unlikely to be the next.
On Wednesday night, I watched Montreal play in Chicago.
Montreal’s style of play is not aggressive; they read and react, a strategy suiting a team who lack size. When they win back the puck, their positional discipline enables a no-hesitation break-out pass; from a defender in the corner to a forward at the midpoint of the blue line was a favourite route.
Through two periods, there was one big discrepancy. Montreal had blocked 18 shots, Chicago three.
Late in the third, Montreal led 2-1. Then the game changed. Now it was the Blackhawks blocking shots, diving frantically into the puck’s path. And as Chicago started playing a tougher, faster game, Montreal’s players had less time and ability to read the play and assume their positions.
Marian Hossa scored with 47.7 seconds left to tie the game, and Patrick Sharp scored in the first minute of overtime to seal the deal for the Hawks.
In the play-offs, everybody blocks shots and everybody plays physically. The Canadiens' advantages will be negated. They can beat Tampa Bay in the first round, but to get further than that, they will need their goalkeeper, the Team Canada star Carey Price, to steal a series for them.
rmckenzie@thenational.ae
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