Vs. Pittsburgh 3-1 Loss October 20, 2011

Habs manage team's lowest risk/reward rating of season


The Montreal Canadiens powerplay once again failed to produce, as the Habs lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The overall team grade of 62 was 6 percentage-points below their season average. The only bright spot was on the penalty-kill, where 6 players had risk/reward ratings above their season-averages.

Only six players posted overall grades higher than their season average. Mike Cammalleri returned from an injury to post the team's lowest grade. Erik Cole and David Desharnais had grades just slightly better than Cammalleri. Lars Eller had the top grade. Other players with grades above 70 include Hal Gill, Yannick Weber, Andreas Engqvist, and Mathieu Darche.

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Eller also managed the top overall risk/reward rating. Eller's rating was double his season average. Expressed differently Eller's rating shows that he made 3 successful plays for every 1 mistake or lost puck-battle. The only other player with a risk/reward ratings above 2.00 was Hal Gill. There were points in the game, particularly on the penalty-kill and later in the game, where Gill seemed to be the only player working hard enough to produce any level of success.

Mike Cammalleri had the lowest risk/reward. Erik Cole's risk/reward rating was only slightly better. Other players with exceptionally low ratings include Brian Gionta and David Desharnais.

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As a team, the Habs managed their lowest EVEN-STRENGTH risk/reward rating of the season.
Eller earned the top EVEN-STRENGTH risk/reward rating, followed by Engqvist. No other players had risk/reward ratings above 2.00. Eller earned his best rating in the offensive-zone, while Engqvist's best numbers were produced in the neutral-zone. Engqvist's had a perfect night in the neutral-zone; producing 10 successul plays and zero mistakes or lost puck-battles.

Brian Gionta had the lowest even-strength risk/reward rating. Gionta's r/r rating of 0.00 indicates that he made only 1 successful play for every 1 mistake or lost puck-battle. Other players with low even-strength risk/reward ratings include Travis Moen and Erik Cole.

Despite, or possibly due to an early exit, Scott Gomez engaged in the most events per-minute played. Other players with high event averages include Eller and Gill.

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The Habs EVEN-STRENGTH offensive-zone risk/reward rating was only slightly lower than their season average. showing once again just how important it is for the Habs to find success on the powerplay. Eight players had ES offensive-zone risk/reward ratings above their season average. That said, four of those players were defensemen.

Lars Eller had the top o-zone risk/reward rating. Eller's rating was twice his season average, and substantially better than any other player. He competed 6 of 9 o-zone passes, while beating opposing players 1on1 (deaks) 5 times.

Brian Gionta had the lowest even-strength offensive-zone risk/reward rating. Gionta was unable to win any of his 3 o-zone puck-battles, and failed to hit the net with 3 shots. Other players with low o-zone risk/reward ratings include PK Subban, Yannick Weber, Andreas Engqvist, and the usually solid Tomas Plekanec.

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Montreal's EVEN-STRENGTH defensive-zone risk/reward rating was substantially lower than their season average. Nine players had d-zone ratings below their season average. In fact, four players had negative defensive-zone risk/reward ratings including Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta, Travis Moen and Erik Cole.

PK Subban had the top d-zone risk/reward rating. Slightly better than both Hal Gill and Yannick Weber.

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The Canadiens EVEN-STRENGTH neutral-zone risk/reward rating was also below their season average. Engqvist's perfect night in the neutral-zone earned him the top n-zone r/r rating. The neutral-zone was the only place Plekanec managed a solid rating. In fact, his n-zone rating against the Penguins was higher than his season average.

Mike Cammalleri had the lowest neutral-zone risk/reward rating. Cammalleri won only 33% of his n-zone puck-battles, and was not able to complete either of his 2 n-zone pass-attempts. Other players with low neutral-zone risk/reward ratings include Darche, Cole, and Alexei Emelin.

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Despite not allowing a powerplay goal, the Habs short-handed risk/reward rating against the Penguins was actually lower than their season average. Six players had r/r ratings above their season average. Mathieu Darche and Raphael Diaz had the top short-handed risk/reward ratings, but played limited minutes. Among players with substantial PK minutes, Hal Gill and Travis Moen produced the top numbers. Gill won 5 of 6 PK puck-battles and completed 3 passes and 2 dump-outs. Moen blocked 1 pass, while also recouping 3 loose pucks. In fact, Moen had a perfect night on the PK, as he was successful with all 8 of his SH events.

Mike Cammalleri continued his tough return, as he produced the lowest PK risk/reward rating. Other players with short-handed ratings in the negative include Andreas Engqvist and PK Subban. Subban uncharacteristically lost all 3 of his short-handed puck-battles.

The Habs struggles on the powerplay continued. The team powerplay risk/reward rating was well below the season average. Mike Cammalleri and David Desharnais struggled the most on the powerplay. Cammalleri killed numerous powerplay setups with low-percentage passes in the offensive-zone. In fact, Cammalleri failed to complete 5 of his 8 o-zone pass-attempts while on the powerplay. He also lost 2 of 3 o-zone puck-races. Quite frankly, Cammalleri's poor passing killed the powerplay.

Despite his poor rating, Desharnais should still be considered as a solid piece of any first-wave. He, along with Pacioretty, Plekanec, Subban and Weber have created far-and-away the most PP scoring chances. The numbers show that it is through a combination of these 5 players that the powerplay will find success.