Special teams play has Canadiens on track
Montreal puts 3-game win streak on line against visiting Islanders
Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 | 2:34 PM ET
By Doug Harrison, CBC Sports
Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges, top, says more aggressive play on the penalty-kill has been a big factor in the team's recent succees. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)The Canadiens' quick turnaround from a five-game losing streak can be summed up in a few words: Stay out of the penalty box and reap the rewards.
Special teams has been a hot topic in Montreal through the first month of the NHL season, an October that has included a five-game losing streak followed by three consecutive victories.
The Canadiens' success of late can be attributed, to a large degree, to their penalty-kill unit. The opposition has scored just once in 18 power-play chances in the first five games of Montreal's six-game homestand, which ends Monday night against the New York Islanders.
Only Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, with a 95 per cent success rate (one goal in 20 power-play opportunities), have been more effective on home ice this season than the Canadiens.
"We've been more aggressive on the PK, but the key is to work as a unit," Montreal defenceman Josh Gorges told reporters on the weekend. "You can't have one player being aggressive unless he gets help from the other three guys."
The 5-5-0 Canadiens have killed off 78.4 per cent of the opposition's power plays to rank 17th in the 30-team NHL.
Maintaining success in this area will depend on Montreal's ability to reduce the number of unnecessary penalties. The New York Rangers went 0-for-2 with the man-advantage in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Canadiens, who have allowed an average of 3.6 power plays during the current homestand.
As for the power play, newcomer Marc-Andre Bergeron scored his second such goal in as many games on Saturday. Signed as an injury fill-in for Andrei Markov, the 29-year-old former Islanders blue-liner has scored 51 goals since the start of the 2006 season, compared to Markov's 44.
Montreal has also tightened up defensively, averaging 22.5 shots against since it was manhandled 7-1 by the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 7.
Isles drop 5 of 6
In goal, Jaroslav Halak will start for the fourth game in a row. He made 23 saves against the Rangers after stopping 21 of 22 shots versus the Islanders, the Canadiens' first regulation win of the season.
New York, meanwhile, has dropped five of six, including a 3-2 OT setback against Washington on Saturday in which the Islanders blew a 2-0 lead in the third period.
"Given the fact that we're certainly not a dynamic offensive team, it's probably going to happen to us more than we'd like," said head coach Scott Gordon.
"That killer instinct … that comes from burying your chances. We've got to find a way to be a little bit tighter defensively."
New York was never in Thursday's game against Montreal, giving up three goals on 30 shots in the first two periods.
Forward Trent Hunter has a torn pectoral muscle and won't play, while veteran centre Doug Weight is battling flu-like symptoms and didn't make the trip.
The Canadiens are down two defencemen with Markov and Ryan O'Byrne (knee).
