Vs New Jersey 4-1 loss Feb. 6, 2011

It was a night of lows as the Montreal Canadiens lost 4-1 to the visiting New Jersey Devils. The Habs set season lows in many categories, including overall team grade (52), offensive-zone puck-battles lost (98), and neutral-zone puck-battles lost (23).

Mathieu Darche's benching can be easily justified. The hard-working forward had little success in situations where he usually shines; he won only 2 of 10 total puck battles on his way to a season-low grade of 20. Rookie Lars Eller also underperformed. Number 81 won only 3 of 13 offensive-zone puck-battles, and finished the game with a personal season-low grade of 26.

Andrei Kostitsyn finished the game with the Habs top grade (68); some 7 percentage points above his season average. AK was particular strong on the forecheck and along the offensive wall, as he won 10 of 12 offensive-zone puck-battles. Among defensemen, Alexandre Picard had the top grade (63). Picard's grade was equal to his season average, and was the result of winning 9 defensive-zone puck-battles.

The Habs were particularly ugly in the neutral zone. The Devils controled mid-ice throughout most of the game. Montreal lost 23 of 35 neutral-zone puck battles, while adding 17 neutral-zone give-aways.

	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	32	44	45	46	52	53	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT
OZPBW	8	7		12	4		8	2	5	4	10	1		1	1		16	9	8	5	3			OZPBW	104
OZPBL	7	8		9	3		11	5	3	1	2	2		8	4		11	4	4	3	10	3		OZPBL	98
SKI +		6		4			2			1	2			2	4		3	1		1	1	2		SKI +	29
SKI-		1					2	1	1		1			1	1		1				4			SKI-	13
DI+	1	6		4	3		5	3	3	1	1			2	1		4	1	2	1	1	1	1	DI+	41
DI-	1	1		1	1		1		2		2	1		1			1	2		7	1	1		DI-	23
DZPBW	2	3		4	5		1	1	5	9	1	1		2	2		3	9	8	8	1	1		DZPBW	66
DZPBL	4	1		2	2		2	5	3	5	1	2		2	3			4	5	9	1	2		DZPBL	53
NZPBW		1		2	1		1	2						2			1	1		1				NZPBW	12
NZPBL					1		3	1			1	3		5	1		2	1	2	3				NZPBL	23
DZTA	4	1							3		1			1	1			1					1	DZTA	13
DZGA	3							1	1	3	1							1	2		1			DZGA	13
NZTA	1			1	1				1		1			1			1		1					NZTA	8
NZGA	1			1	1		1	1		1				2	2			2	4	1				NZGA	17
DZFOW		4		2	1										2									DZFOW	9
DZFOL		4		3	3										1									DZFOL	11
DZPKFOW				2																				DZPKFOW	2
DZPKFOL				1	1																			DZPKFOL	2
OZPPFOW		2																						OZPPFOW	2
OZPPFOL																								OZPPFOL	0
OZFOW		2													1									OZFOW	3
OZFOL		2		3	2																			OZFOL	7
PS THRU	4								2	2	1			1				1		1				PS THRU	12
PS BL	1	1							3									5	1	2				PS BL	13
WINS	20	32	0	31	15	0	17	8	19	17	17	2	0	12	12	0	28	23	19	17	6	4	2	WINS	301
BATTLES	37	50	0	51	29	0	37	22	32	27	25	10	0	31	24	0	43	42	37	42	23	10	2	BATTLES	574
GRADE	54	64	0	61	52	0	46	36	59	63	68	20	0	39	50	0	65	55	51	40	26	40	0	GRADE	52
PLAYER	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	32	44	45	46	52	53	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM GRADE