Five games into an NHL season account for 6.1% of the 82 games. This is a small sample, but we can discern certain trends.
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These trends tend to hold up when compared to some data from the last four seasons since Martin St. Louis took over the team.
After five games, the most surprising thing is the number of shots allowed. The Canadian is in 4th place.e ranks in the NHL with an average of just 24.2 shots per game.
This is an impressive jump compared to the previous four seasons, when the Canadian showed a decline each year.
The Habs have allowed an average of 34.4 shots in 2021 (30e), this figure increased to 33.6 (28e) in 2022 by 33.4 (30e) in 2023 and in 29 (23e) last season.
Best Organization
If you have a short memory, you'll remember that last year's start to the season was marked by the team's defensive generosity. The players sometimes seemed mixed up, like a deck of cards in defensive territory.
It took time for the group to internalize the defensive concepts developed by St. Louis and its coaching staff.
In the first 41 games of the season, the Canadian allowed an average of 28.6 shots and 3.34 goals per game. In the second half of the season, the average number of shots conceded increased by one per game, but the average number of goals conceded dropped to 3.05. The principles began to come home. And that continues this season.
“We are very organized when we return to our zone, we are very focused on the work ahead,” Martin Saint-Louis stressed at his press briefing after Thursday's victory. We are organized based on whether we have the first touch or the other team has the puck. We know how to release the puck under pressure. We are patient and not just looking for a lift.”
To be corrected
If the team's goals allowed a 2.80 average after five games, Martin St. Louis noted Thursday afternoon that the offense should continue to improve. An idea he put forward again in the evening.
“I knew we were going to be a little late in the offensive zone, but I prefer that to being late in the defensive zone. We have a lot of room to improve.”
And yet the Canadian ranks 7th in the NHL in average goals scored per game (3.60).
St. Louis said he doesn't necessarily want his team to spend much more time in the opponent's zone, but that time should lead to more scoring opportunities.
In this regard, it is true that the average number of shots on goal is the same as last year at the end of the season, that is, 25.6. In fact, since 2021, this figure has decreased slightly year on year. However, the Canadian is 14 years old.e in the NHL in scoring chances (96), according to Natural Stat Trick. And the team is 13.e for high-risk chances (41). So the picture is not too bad, but as Martin Saint-Louis said, there is room for improvement.
