3 Reasons Canadiens Will Make 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs

4 years ago  /  The Hockey Writers  /  Read Time: 4 minutes 37 seconds

• (As long as the Canadiens actually end up reaching the postseason anyway).
• In effect, as one of the league’s dominant teams in terms of possession at five-on-five, there’s little reason for the Habs or their fans to be overly concerned with their brutal success rate winning games past regulation in the regular season (0% to be clear).
• Even backup Jake Allen, who has theoretically outplayed Price to start the season, was acquired for his benefit, to keep him rested.
• Case in point, the 4-2-3 record the Habs have in March, since Price found his form, may seem unimpressive, but it actually translates to a .611 points percentage.
• Needless to say, as long as the Canadiens and Price keep it up, they’ll be sweating in the face of unlimited playoff overtime instead in no time.
• Even if they’ve had some success against the Canadiens this season, 11 points back, they’re unlikely to catch up to say the least.
• That leaves the Vancouver Canucks (two points fewer than the Canadiens but four more games played) and Calgary Flames (three points fewer, one more game played).
• With only six points separating them from the top-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs (Habs have one game in hand, heading into action Friday night) and 27 games to play, including six between the two sides, the Habs are still fully capable of coming back to win the division.
• If the Canadiens were able to run roughshod through opponents under less than ideal circumstances to start the season, they can do it again as the playing field levels out1
• Furthermore, in spite of the fact the Habs have the most games left of any divisional rival heading into action on Friday (and most chances to collect points), they have “only” four sets of back-to-back games left.
• The Maple Leafs actually face the Canadiens in the final back-to-back for each team to close out the regular season.

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