New York Rangers: 5 Resons They Defeated Montreal in Round 1

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Apr 14, 2017; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; linesman Mark Shewchyk (92) escorts Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber (6) to the penalty box during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Shea Weber and Max Pacioretty not Stepping up

While he didn’t have a bad series, per se, Shea Weber needed to be more of a focal point of a struggling Montreal offense, so in many ways, this part of it falls on Claude Julien.

Weber posted one goal, two assists and 15 shots on net in the six games of the series. While his shot total comes out to just below three shots a game (2.5) he needed to shoot more, especially on the power play.

Claude Julien should have known this. For 10 years, he coached Zdeno Chara in Boston, a very similar all around player to Weber from the big bruising body to the big bruising shot.

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Chara has seen plenty of power play time over the years at the point, ready to riffle his cannon of a shot towards the opposing goalie, or he would be stationed in front of the net, screening the goalie.

If I’m running a power play and I have Shea Weber on my team, I am literally camping him out at the point and having my forwards get him the puck so he can wire up his slap shot pretty much for two minutes straight until we score a goal.

The other guy I mentioned at the top was Pacioretty, who didn’t score a goal in the series and is probably getting eaten alive in Montreal right now. Pacioretty did come out and say that he knows what the narrative is going to be and he accepts it, and good for him. But yes, he needed to be better and produce and he didn’t.

Don’t look now, but there is cause for concern with him in the playoffs. Pacioretty has only 10 goals in 38 playoff games.

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