Vs New Jersey 3-1 win April 2nd, 2011

Gionta and Mara with top marks
New metrics added

Brian Gionta led all players, and Paul Mara had the top mark among defensemen, as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 3-1. The Habs final grade of 69 was 6 percentage-points above their season average.

New metrics were added to give even more detail to player grades. Marks should also increase with this system, as there are now more "positive" categories than there were previously. That said, grades should not increase that significantly, as most of these metrics were already being tracked, but credited to the battles won category within that specific zone.


Offensive-zone team totals by period

Montreal's success-rate for skating the puck into the offensive-zone increased substantially as the game wore on. The Habs final percentage in this metric was 8 percentage-points above their season average. All other percentage-metrics remained steady, and within the team's overall average throughout the game. With the metrics set up this way we also get a clear view of how much more high-risk it is to try to beat a player 1 on 1 (deak) than it is to pass it off to a teammate.

METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC
%OZPBW	56	56	55	%OZPBW
OZPASS%	69	68	69	OZPASS%
OZDEAK%	58	53	55	OZDEAK%
SKI%	77	87	87	SKI%
DI%	75	79	77	DI%
OZTA	18	23	45	OZTA
METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC

Offensive-zone player averages

Mathieu Darche had the top mark for offensive-zone puck-battles; number 52 won 69% of his OZPBs. Lars Eller (85) and James Wisniewski (89) had the top success-rate for passes attempted in the o-zone. Lars Eller also led the team with 4 offensive-zone takeaways. Followed closely by Mike Cammalleri and Hal Gill with 3 OZTAs each.

METRIC	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31	METRIC	TEAM TOT
%OZPBW		50	67	50		43	67	100	40		50		44			69	67	100	30	50				100	40	50	33		%OZPBW	55
OZPASS%		55	74	58		89	100	67	33		67		67			67	50	100	57	73				71	60	86	33		OZPASS%	69
OZDEAK%		100	50	0			100	0	100				50				100		100	60						50	0		OZDEAK%	55
SKI%		100	60	67			100	100	100							100	100		67	100					100	100	100		SKI%	87
DI%		67	50	67		57	100	100	100		50		75			100	100	100	50	0				67	100	100	67		DI%	77
OZTA		0	3	0		1	0	0	1		1		1			2	1	1	2	1				3	2	4	2		OZTA	25
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT

Defensive-zone team totals by period

Montreal's success-rate when engaging in defensive-zone puck battles decreased as the game wore on, and finished 6 percentage-points below their season average. The Habs were less successful making passes in the defensive-zone than the offensive-zone, but were substantially better at beating players 1 on 1 in the defensive-zone (deak%) than the o-zone; we'll call this the PK-effect.

Because the Devils were forced to take more chances in the third period to create offense, Montreal's totals for blocked shots and defensive-zone takeaways were higher in the final period than at any other point in the game.

METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC
%DZPBW	64	54	54	%DZPBW
DZPASS%	66	65	65	DZPASS%
DZDEAK%	67	60	71	DZDEAK%
DZTA	11	22	39	DZTA
DZ-BL-SHOT	2	7	15	DZ-BL-SHOT
DZ-BL-PASS	6	15	21	DZ-BL-PASS
METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC

Defensive-zone player averages

 Gionta and Mara were the top players in the defensive-zone, as they both won 83% of their defensive-zone puck battles. Kostitsyn's number in this metric is beguiling, as number 46 only engaged in 1 DZPB; which he won. David Desharnais (11%), Gomez (33%) and Darche (29%) struggled winning battles in the defensive-zone.

Mara and Gomez had the highest success-rate passing the puck in the defensive-zone, while Plekanec surprised with the lowest passing success-rate in the defensive-zone. PK Subban and Gill managed 13 defensive-zone takeaways between them, while also blocking 8 passes by New Jersey players in the d-zone.

	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT
%DZPBW		33	56	50		61	83	83	50		54		100			29	0	54	40	11				65	75	40	0		%DZPBW	54
DZPASS%		80	67	25		75	70	83	33		71		60			43	100	73	43	33				68	65	50	50	61	DZPASS%	65
DZDEAK%		100					67				100					0				0					86	100			DZDEAK%	71
DZTA		2	1	2		3	3	2	0		2		2			2	0	1	2	2				6	7	2	0	0	DZTA	39
DZ-BL-SHOT		0	0	1		2	0	0	0		3		1			0	0	1	0	2				2	2	0	1	0	DZ-BL-SHOT	15
DZ-BL-PASS		0	1	1		0	1	1	0		2		1			1	0	3	1	0				5	3	0	1	0	DZ-BL-PASS	21
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT

Neutral-zone team totals by period

Montreal struggled winning neutral-zone puck battles the entire game. Their final winning percentage (43%) was 13 percentage-points below their season average. That said, the Habs excelled while in motion, as they were successful with 82% of their neutral-zone passes and 90% of their neutral-zone deaks. Montreal tallied the majority of their neutral-zone takeaways during the first period. These metric shows just how important the Habs speed and skill is in the neutral-zone. A team in motion remains in motion, but struggles when forced to battle for loose pucks in the n-zone.

METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC
%NZPBW	36	32	43	%NZPBW
NZPASS%	83	82	82	NZPASS%
NZDEAK%	100	100	90	NZDEAK%
NZTA	18	24	28	NZTA
METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC

Neutral zone player averages

Gomez and Gionta struggled winning battles in the neutral-zone, as both players won only 20% of their NZPBs. That said, both players were perfect when passing the puck in the n-zone.

Travis Moen had the most difficulty passing the puck through the n-zone, as number 32 was only successful with 25% of his neutral-zone pass attempts. Cammalleri and Plekanec contributed 9 neutral-zone takeaways between them, while Subban led all defensemen with 4 NZTAs.

	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT
%NZPBW		20	40	83		0	20	100	0		33		40			100	33	100	75	100				50	33	0	50		%NZPBW	43
NZPASS%		100	71	78		100	100	100	25		83		75			100	67	0	80	100				100	88	100			NZPASS%	82
NZDEAK%		100	100	50			100												100						100	100			NZDEAK%	90
NZTA		2	5	4		0	3	2	1		3		0			1	2	0	1	0				0	4	0	0		NZTA	28
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT

Shots through / blocked / missed

This metric now includes shots from forwards, and also takes into account shots that miss the net from a position that is considered scoring-range.

METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC
SHOTS THRU%	61	63	60	SHOTS THRU%

Player shots through / blocked / missed

This metric shows what a difficult time Gomez is having getting the puck on net. 67% of Gomez's shots are either being blocked, or missing the net. The likely reason for this is Gomez's propensity to continually play from the perimeter. Gionta's low total is more a product of his tendency to opt for the slap shot coming down the wing on a rush; his shots miss the net more often than they are blocked.

	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TEAM TOT
SHOTS THRU%		33	67	50		50	25	100	100		100		0			67		0	100	50				100	83		100		SHOTS THRU%	60

Team faceoff percentage by zone and period

Montreal struggled winning defensive-zone faceoffs as the game wore on, but still ended the game within 1 percentage-point of their season average for the metric. The Habs biggest struggles in the faceoff circle came in the offensive-zone, as they ended the game 9 percentage-points below their season average for OZFOW%. I've added a separate metric for neutral-zone faceoffs.

METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC
DZFOW%	67	43	50	DZFOW%
DZPKFOW%	100	100	100	DZPKFOW%
OZPPFOW%	Na	50	50	OZPPFOW%
OZFOW%	50	46	38	OZFOW%
NZFOW%	50	40	44	NZFOW%
METRIC	AFTER 1ST	AFTER 2ND	TM WIN%	METRIC

Overall individual stats
 
Gionta's grade was 17 percentage-points above his season average, while Cammalleri's mark ended up 16 points above his average. Kostitsyn, Desharnais and Pouliot were the only players whose grade against New Jersey were substantially lower than their season averages.

*Carey Price is included in defensive-zone passing%*

	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
OZPBW		5	10	6		3	4	2	4		1		8			9	4	1	3	4				7	2	2	1		OZPBW	76
OZPBL		5	5	6		4	2		6		1		10			4	2		7	4					3	2	2		OZPBL	63
OZPASS+		6	14	7		8	8	2	1		2		6			4	2	3	4	8				5	6	6	1		OZPASS+	93
OZPASS-		5	5	5		1		1	2		1		3			2	2		3	3				2	4	1	2		OZPASS-	42
OZDEAK+		1	1				1		1				1				1		1	3						1			OZDEAK+	11
OZDEAK-			1	1				1					1							2						1	2		OZDEAK-	9
SKI +		4	3	4			8	2	2							1	1		2	2					1	2	1		SKI +	33
SKI-			2	2															1										SKI-	5
DI+		2	1	6		4	7	4	2		1		3			3	2	1	1					2	3	3	2		DI+	47
DI-		1	1	3		3					1		1						1	1				1			1		DI-	14
OZTA			3			1			1		1		1			2	1	1	2	1				3	2	4	2		OZTA	25
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
DZPBW		2	5	3		11	5	5	5		13		1			2		7	2	1				11	15	4			DZPBW	92
DZPBL		4	4	3		7	1	1	5		11					5	2	6	3	8				6	5	6	1		DZPBL	78
DZPASS+		8	4	1		15	7	5	2		12		3			3	1	11	3	1				15	20	1	1	11	DZPASS+	124
DZPASS-		2	2	3		5	3	1	4		5		2			4		4	4	2				7	11	1	1	7	DZPASS-	68
DZDEAK+		2					2				1														6	1			DZDEAK+	12
DZDEAK-							1									2				1					1				DZDEAK-	5
DZTA		2	1	2		3	3	2			2		2			2		1	2	2				6	7	2			DZTA	39
DZ-BL-SHOT				1		2					3		1					1		2				2	2		1		DZ-BL-SHOT	15
DZ-BL-PASS			1	1			1	1			2		1			1		3	1					5	3		1		DZ-BL-PASS	21
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
NZPBW		1	2	5			1	1			2		2			1	2	1	3	2				2	1		3		NZPBW	29
NZPBL		4	3	1		1	4		4		4		3				4		1					2	2	2	3	1	NZPBL	39
NZPASS+		6	5	7		7	4	1	1		5		3			2	2		4	2				4	7	1			NZPASS+	61
NZPASS-			2	2					3		1		1				1	1	1						1				NZPASS-	13
NZDEAK+		1	1	1			1												1						1	3			NZDEAK+	9
NZDEAK-				1																									NZDEAK-	1
NZTA		2	5	4			3	2	1		3					1	2		1						4				NZTA	28
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
DZFOW				2																3						1			DZFOW	6
DZFOL		2		1																1						2			DZFOL	6
DZPKFOW				1																									DZPKFOW	1
DZPKFOL																													DZPKFOL	0
OZPPFOW		1																											OZPPFOW	1
OZPPFOL				1																									OZPPFOL	1
OZFOW		1		2																3									OZFOW	6
OZFOL		4		1																3						1	1		OZFOL	10
NZFOW		3		5																									NZFOW	8
NZFOL		3		2																2						3			NZFOL	10
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
Shot THRU		1	4	2		1	1	1	2		1					2			1	1				1	5		1		Shot THRU	24
Shot BL/missed		2	2	2		1	3						1			1		2		1					1				Shot BL/missed	16
POINTS X2		2	2	2			4									4								2	2				POINTS X2	18
+/-		2				1	2		-1		1					2			-1	-1									+/-	5
SHOTS		2	7	4		1	1	1	2		1					3			1					1	4		1		SHOTS	29
	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM TOT
WINS	0	52	69	67	0	57	63	29	23	0	51	0	32	0	0	42	18	30	31	37	0	0	0	66	91	33	15	11	WINS	817
BATTLES	0	84	96	100	0	78	75	33	48	0	74	0	54	0	0	58	29	43	53	63	0	0	0	84	119	50	28	19	BATTLES	1188
GRADE	0	62	72	67	0	73	84	88	48	0	69	0	59	0	0	72	62	70	58	59	0	0	0	79	76	66	54	58	GRADE	69
PLAYER	6	11	13	14	15	20	21	22	32	34	44	45	46	47	51	52	53	55	57	58	63	67	68	75	76	81	94	31		TM GR

Why they won

-Price's "stop" on that early penalty-shot
-Montreal attacked the New Jersey zone with speed.
-Montreal scored first (you could feel the Habs getting their confidence back as the game progressed)