Canadiens Hold Destiny In Their Hands Versus Sabres
Now that the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres have each managed to win a pair of games in their second-round […]
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Now that the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres have each managed to win a pair of games in their second-round series, it’s time to take a look at some of the numbers behind the exciting match up. While the Canadiens have outscored the Sabres considerably, especially at 5v5, it’s worth noting the underlying numbers point to a Buffalo team that has the ability to regain control of the series. Canadiens Vs.
Sabres At 5v5 Unlike the series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canadiens are actually outshooting their opponents in the second round, but not by a very wide margin. As it stands, the Habs have a 51. 9% advantage in shots (162-150), not to mention a 55.
7% advantage in shots on net (78-62). This has led to a 9-5 advantage in goals scored at 5v5, a very solid output from a team that has received little to no 5v5 goals from its first line. Once we dig a little further, it becomes clear the Sabres have done more with their shots, as they have managed to generate a couple more high-danger scoring chances than the Canadiens (38-36), giving them a 52.
8% share of the expected goals. Simply put, the Canadiens are working off quantity, while the Sabres are focusing on quality. Special Teams Impact Head coach Martin St-Louis did not mince words when discussing the Game 4 loss.