New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens Possession Preview
The New York Rangers are preparing themselves for a first-round clash with the Montreal Canadiens in the upcoming 2017 NHL Playoffs. In another Blue Line Station playoff matchup breakdown, we will examine the major players involved in the possession battle.
The path’s taken by the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens to the playoffs were much different. New York thrived behind opportune scoring, meanwhile, Montreal was among the league leaders in carrying play in their opponent’s zone.
As a whole, the Canadiens ranked third in the NHL in Corsi For%, pushing the play at a 52.54% clip. Alain Vigneault’s Rangers, on the other hand, were in the bottom-10 of the NHL. Their 47.95 CF% ranked them 24th overall in the league.
Top-6
This may be the Rangers’ only group that has an opportunity to stand out in the possession battle looming with Montreal. Behind Chris Kreider’s (54.5%) breakout season, his line alongside Derek Stepan (50.7%) and Mats Zuccarello (51.9%) has been the team’s most dependable line.
Outside of that trio, the Rangers’ only consistent force at driving possession has been newcomer Mika Zibanejad (49.9%). In order for the Rangers to be successful, Zibanejad will be asked to bring up the game of his linemates.
The task at hand for the Rangers’ top-6 forwards is a large one. No player in the Canadiens’ top-9 has a Corsi For% below 50%. Montreal’s top offensive players, including captain Max Pacioretty and former KHL star Alexander Radulov, both are above 54CF%.
Bottom-6
As mentioned earlier, the Rangers have thrived on opportune scoring for large stretches of the regular season. No trio of players represented that theme better than Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, and J.T. Miller. New York’s most dangerous trio combined for a 43.23CF% while together this season.
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Outside of those three, the Rangers’ bottom-6 saw action from a variety of players. Jesper Fast and Oscar Lindberg represent the two most consistent fourth-liners New York has to offer. Head coach Alain Vigneault’s tendency to deploy gritty winger Tanner Glass does not bode well for their chances against Montreal.
Montreal’s depth will be on display as they roll out a dynamic player in Alex Galchenyuk on their third line. Amazingly enough, Galchenyuk sports Montreal’s worst Corsi For percentage of any of their top-9 forwards with a 50.4 CF%.
Defense
It’s easy to see where the Rangers will fall behind in the possession battle against Montreal in their upcoming series. The Rangers’ defensive group is among the league’s worst in containing their opposition.
The Rangers’ top pairing of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi have played together to the tune of 43.42 CF%. That will be a far cry from the Canadiens’ top pairing of Shea Weber and Andre Markov. Those two, while not consistently paired together, have carried the possession of play with a 53.17 CF% when together.
Outside of rookie Brady Skjei (50.6 CF%), the Rangers’ boast no regular defenseman above 50 CF%. In fact, New York’s top defensive possession player Adam Clendening (56.7 CF%) is no sure bet to even make the starting lineup this postseason.
Conclusion
In order for this team to make a push during this season’s Stanley Cup playoff run, they will need top performers such as Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh to carry the load. The Rangers must hope that opportune scoring and consistent goaltending will help lead them to their end goal.
Next: New York Rangers vs. Canadiens Defense Preview
While possession numbers are not to be used as an ultimate determinant in team strategy, it is a useful tool in predicting success. As it stands now, the New York Rangers face an uphill battle in their upcoming battle with the Atlantic division winning Montreal Canadiens.