The Montreal Canadiens had an incredible playoff run last year, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a five-game Stanley Cup Final. One thing that stood out about the Canadiens was how good their penalty killing was. Finishing first in the playoffs at 91.8% is truly something else. At one point, they even killed over 21 straight penalties.
Let’s look at some key points Montreal used during the 2020-2021 playoffs and why it had a lot of success by doing a few simple things. The penalty kill is all about details, and the Canadiens are an example of what happens when a team is doing those little details perfectly.
Faceoff
I know I talk a lot about faceoffs, but they could be the difference maker on the PK. Whether you win or lose the draw, you must always have a plan. If we look at the Canadiens lost draws, the winger is always jumping for the loose puck, and they were able to clear the puck right there. If not, the winger will take one side and the centreman will pressure high, shutting down the d-to-d option. On the flip side, winning a faceoff and clearing the puck can give you up to 20 seconds before the opponent is able to enter back in your zone.
The penalty kill is all about details, and the Canadiens are an example of what happens when a team is doing those little details perfectly . . . SEE MORE OF THE COACHES SITE Join The Coaches Site to access the latest drills, tactics & leadership lessons from hockey's top coaches. Already a member? Login
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Mitch Giguere
Mitch Giguere ChPC, is the father of four children and a passionate hockey coach. Assistant Coach for Carabins Université de Montréal (USports W). Former Assistant and Video Coach in the KHL. Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada and has an Advanced Coaching Diploma (NCCP4) from the Canadian Sports Institute. You can reach out to Mitch via email at [email protected] or SMS 450-578-1187
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Videos were great! Keep the tapes rolling.
I love the Videos, but there are a number of times when they are not long enough. More time at the start and end of the video to analyze what they doing better, and see the total end result. Thanks!!
excllent presentation