Key metrics in quantifying team-play include; time spent defending, as well as time spent with possession. Because I track all puck-possession plays during games, these metrics can be quantified within this system. The more time a team spends with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone, the more opportunity they will have to produce scoring-chances. Conversely, the less time they spend defending in the defensive-zone, the less opportunity their opponents will have to produce scoring-chances.
This post will focus on puck-possession tendencies through each of the Habs first 3 games of the season. It will also communicate the number of scoring-chances produced for and against in each game, the percentage of events with possession in the offensive-zone, and the percentage of events spent defending in the defensive-zone.
It will also communicate the puck-possession success-rates in each zone during each game.
OFFENSIVE-ZONE TENDENCIES
Montreal averaged 21.4 even-strength scoring-chances per-60 against Toronto (second-most of the 3 games), and had an offensive-zone puck-possession success-rate of 53.4%.
Montreal players chose to take a shot from the outside 13.9% of the time they had possession of the puck in the offensive-zone, while 6.8% of the time they attempted a shot from the slot. In terms of passing, 6.4% of their o-zone possession plays were passes off of the rush, while 10% were passes to the slot, 6.4% were east/west passes (cross-ice), 23.9% were north-bound cycle passes, and 12.7% were south-bound cycle passes.
*a north-bound cycle pass is a cycle pass that is made in the direction of the opposition's net, while a south-bound cycle pass is made toward a team's own net (generally in the direction of a defenseman at the blueline.
Montreal averaged 9.78 even-strength scoring-chances per-60 against Washington (fewest of the three games), and had an offensive-zone puck-possession success-rate of 48.2%; also lowest of the 3 games.
Montreal players chose to take a shot from the outside 15.6% of the time they had possession of the puck in the offensive-zone, while 5.6% of the time they attempted a shot from the slot. In terms of passing, 10% of their o-zone possession plays were passes off of the rush, while 6.3% were passes to the slot, 7.5% were east/west passes (cross-ice), 20% were north-bound cycle passes, and 10.6% were south-bound cycle passes.
*a north-bound cycle pass is a cycle pass that is made in the direction of the opposition's net, while a south-bound cycle pass is made toward a team's own net (generally in the direction of a defenseman at the blueline.
Montreal averaged 28.92 even-strength scoring-chances per-60 against Philadelphia (most of the 3 games), and had an offensive-zone puck-possession success-rate of 59.5%; also the top success-rate of the 3 games.
Montreal players chose to take a shot from the outside 15.3% of the time they had possession of the puck in the offensive-zone, while 5.7% of the time they attempted a shot from the slot. In terms of passing, 7.3% of their o-zone possession plays were passes off of the rush, while 5.7% were passes to the slot, 6.2% were east/west passes (cross-ice), 23.1% were north-bound cycle passes, and 15.6% were south-bound cycle passes.
*a north-bound cycle pass is a cycle pass that is made in the direction of the opposition's net, while a south-bound cycle pass is made toward a team's own net (generally in the direction of a defenseman at the blueline.
DEFENSIVE-ZONE TENDENCIES
Montreal averaged 16.62 even-strength scoring-chances AGAINST per-60 against Toronto, and had a defensive-zone turnover-rate of 30.5%.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck out through open ice 19.6% of the time they had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone, while 8.6% of the time they attempted a dump-out off the boards or glass. In terms of passing, 23% of their d-zone possession plays were passes made d-to-d, while 35.4% were outlet passes, and 8.1% were stretch passes.
Montreal averaged 15.9 even-strength scoring-chances AGAINST per-60 against Washington, and had a defensive-zone turnover-rate of 30.2%.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck out through open ice 8.7% of the time they had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone, while 7.9% of the time they attempted a dump-out off the boards or glass. In terms of passing, 27.2% of their d-zone possession plays were passes made d-to-d, while 44.1% were outlet passes, and 6.3% were stretch passes.
Montreal averaged 16.2 even-strength scoring-chances AGAINST per-60 against Philadelphia, and had a defensive-zone turnover-rate of 24.1%.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck out through open ice 9.2% of the time they had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone, while 5.1% of the time they attempted a dump-out off the boards or glass. In terms of passing, 25.5% of their d-zone possession plays were passes made d-to-d, while 44.9% were outlet passes, and 8.2% were stretch passes.
NEUTRAL-ZONE TENDENCIES
Montreal engaged in 33% of their overall even-strength events with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone against Toronto, while 13% of their overall events were spent defending in the defensive-zone. The Habs had an neutral-zone puck-possession success-rate of 71.3%, and a neutral-zone turnover-rate of 28.7%. The Canadiens had 1.09 controlled o-zone entries for every 1 successful dump or chip-in versus Toronto.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck into the offensive-zone 25.6% of the time they had possession of the puck in the neutral-zone, while 6.8% of the time they chipped the puck into the zone. In terms of passing, 12.8% of their neutral-zone possession plays were passes made east/west (cross-ice), while 28.2% were north-bound passes, and 14.5% were south-bound (regrouping passes).
Montreal engaged in 21.3% of their overall even-strength events with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone against Washington, while 18% of their overall events were spent defending in the defensive-zone. The Habs had an neutral-zone puck-possession success-rate of 59.3%, and a neutral-zone turnover-rate of 40.7%. The Canadiens had 0.935 controlled o-zone entries for every 1 successful dump or chip-in versus Washington.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck into the offensive-zone 35.1% of the time they had possession of the puck in the neutral-zone, while 8.1% of the time they chipped the puck into the zone. In terms of passing, 14.4% of their neutral-zone possession plays were passes made east/west (cross-ice), while 23.4% were north-bound passes, and 11.7% were south-bound (regrouping passes).
The Habs high neutral-zone turnover-rate during this game was the product of a low 65% success-rate when attempting to chip the puck into the offensive-zone, and a 65% success-rate for dump-ins. They also produced their lowest success-rate for north-bound neutral-zone passes in the game against Washington (50%).
It's no coincidence that Montreal engaged in their lowest percentage of even-strength events with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone during the same game where they had their highest neutral-zone turnover-rate and produced their lowest controlled offensive-zone entry to dump/chip-in ratio of the three games. Strong play (both offensive and defensive) in the neutral-zone minimizes the time spent defending in the defensive-zone, while maximizing possession time in the offensive-zone.
Montreal engaged in 43.5% of their overall even-strength with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone against Philadelphia, while 11.1% of their overall events were spent defending in the defensive-zone. The Habs had an neutral-zone puck-possession success-rate of 68.5%, and a neutral-zone turnover-rate of 31.5%.
The Canadiens had an incredible 2.04 controlled o-zone entries for every 1 successful dump or chip-in versus Philadelphia. This aspect of the Habs play during this particular is great fodder for those who hold strongly to the link between controlled o-zone entries, offensive-zone possession-time, and scoring-chances.
Montreal players chose to dump the puck into the offensive-zone 22.9% of the time they had possession of the puck in the neutral-zone, while 4.8% of the time they chipped the puck into the zone. In terms of passing, 24.8% of their neutral-zone possession plays were passes made east/west (cross-ice), while 28.6% were north-bound passes, and 8.6% were south-bound (regrouping passes).
The Habs excelled at pushing possession through the neutral-zone by way of east/west and north-bound passes during this game.
