Key stat shows the Canadiens have a serious team problem

The performances of the Montreal Canadiens in front of their fans at the Bell Centre have been inconsistent for nearly two months. There is an eye-opening statistic that helps to understand what is not working.

Because at first glance, the inconsistency of the Canadiens at home cannot be blamed on pressure from the fans. A visit to Madison Square Garden in New York or the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia is enough to understand what a hostile crowd is. It is not uncommon to hear Rangers and Flyers fans booing their own team when things are not to their liking.

In Montreal, it is not like that. Canadiens fans generally support their team through good times and bad. So it is by looking at the numbers that the picture becomes clear. Statistics can be made to say what one wants; that is true. However, some do not lie.

How the Canadiens lose games in the second period

Since Nov. 1, Martin St. Louis's men have experienced all sorts of difficulties in the second period at home, and a closer look reveals a striking observation.

• When the Canadiens have the upper hand in the second period (five times), they have collected nine points out of a possible 10 (90%).
• When they have been tied in the second period (twice), they have collected two points out of four (50%).
• When they have lost the second period (eight times), they have collected only one point out of a possible 16 (6.25%).

Note that these are statistics compiled since Nov. 1 and that also include Thursday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

In other words, since Nov. 1, when the Montreal Canadiens have not won the second period at the Bell Centre, they have collected only three measly points out of 20. The question, then, is why the Canadiens are having so much difficulty in the second period. An initial reaction might be that they must be getting completely dominated every time. Yet, that is not the case.

Still, since Nov. 1, the Canadiens have allowed 133 shots on goal by the opponent in the second period and have directed 133 themselves. However, they have allowed 25 goals on those 133 shots and have scored only 17. That represents a save percentage for their goalies, in the second period, of .812.

That is clearly insufficient. But it is not only the goalies' fault. The team simply makes life too complicated for itself. The inability to generate offense at home is partly explained by the fact that players are not regularly positioned in front of the net.

The team has a differential of -18 at home since Nov. 1, but +4 on the road. That is no coincidence. On Thursday against Chicago, it seemed the order had been given, and it was applied more regularly. But that is not the only issue.

The team attempts too many high-risk plays in the offensive zone, creating turnovers, and as a result, forwards and defensemen are often spread out, rather than being cohesive as a unit of five in the defensive zone. To achieve success, as was the case on Thursday, a return to a simple recipe is necessary: send pucks behind the defensemen, apply sustained forechecking using speed to put pressure on the opponent, and position players in front of the net.