Canadiens Can Their Offense Fuel a Playoff Push? Blackhawks Battling Offense

Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks: A Crucial Showdown for Struggling Teams

On Friday night, the Montreal Canadiens (17-17-3) are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks (12-24-2) in a matchup between two teams currently at the bottom of their respective divisions. While Montreal is on a hot streak with three straight wins, the Blackhawks are in a deep slump, having dropped their last five games. Montreal enters this contest sitting in sixth place in the highly competitive Atlantic Division, while Chicago holds the unfortunate distinction of the worst record in the Central Division.

Montreal Canadiens: Can the Offense Propel Them to Contention?

The Canadiens are quietly turning their season around, primarily thanks to a surge in offensive production. With an average of 3.03 goals per game, the team has managed to outscore their defensive liabilities in recent games, including a dazzling 12 goals in their last two outings.

The offensive charge has been led by the dynamic duo of Nick Suzuki (12 goals, 28 assists) and Cole Caufield (18 goals, 22 assists), who have combined for 30 goals and 40 assists this season. Their chemistry is a significant reason why Montreal is still in the playoff hunt. Additionally, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, and Juraj Slafkovsky have contributed to the scoring effort, accounting for 21 goals and 41 assists. On defense, Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson are showing promise, contributing a combined 4 goals and 40 assists from the blue line, pushing the offense forward.

Despite the offensive explosion, Montreal’s defense remains a weak point, ranking 25th in the league in goals allowed per game (3.41). Their defensemen, outside of Hutson and Matheson, have struggled with limiting shots on goal, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault has not been able to fully back up the offense, posting a .902 save percentage and a 2.87 goals-against average over 794 shots. For Montreal to make a serious push for a playoff spot, it will be crucial for the defense to improve and for Montembeault to raise his game.

Chicago Blackhawks: Struggling with Both Offense and Defense

The Blackhawks‘ season has been marred by underwhelming performances across the board. They have struggled significantly on both ends of the ice, ranking near the bottom in almost every statistical category.

Chicago’s offense is one of the least effective in the NHL, averaging just 2.50 goals per game, which is 29th in the league. The bright spots have been Connor Bedard (13 goals, 16 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (4 goals, 36 assists), who have combined for 17 goals and 40 assists. However, outside of this top pair, the offense has been anemic, with only five players having scored more than 8 goals this season. This lack of depth has made it easy for opponents to shut them down. On the other side of the puck, Chicago’s defense has been porous, allowing 3.39 goals per game, which ranks 26th in the league. Recent games have been especially tough, with the Blackhawks giving up 27 goals over their last five contests. Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy have been relatively solid defensively, posting a combined 10.6 defensive point shares. However, the rest of the defensive corps has failed to consistently shut down opposing offenses. In goal, Petr Mrazek has struggled mightily, with a 3.23 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage, allowing 4.8 more goals than expected this season.

Conclusion

This game is an important one for both teams, but Montreal appears to have the upper hand. While both teams struggle defensively, Montreal’s offensive weapons and recent form should give them an edge in this contest. If the Canadiens continue their goal-scoring ways, they should have no trouble handling a Blackhawks team that has yet to find its rhythm this season. For Chicago, it’s a matter of regrouping and improving on both sides of the ice, or their season will continue to spiral.

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