Leading their Stanley Cup Qualifiers series against the Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference) with a count of 2-1, the Montreal Canadiens (No. 12 seed in the East) will try to wrap up the proceedings in Game 4.
Pens Drop Game 3
The Pittsburgh Penguins (1-2-0) have found themselves one defeat away from being eliminated from the current postseason without even reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs after dropping Game 3 in their qualifying-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a count of 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday. The Pens, who tied the series at 1-1 with a 3-1 victory two days prior, erased Montreal’s opener with two first-period power-play markers courtesy of Patric Hornqvist (1 goal, 2 points during the ongoing postseason) and Jason Zucker (2 goals, 2 points) before Teddy Blueger (1 goal, 1 point) made it 3-1 at the start of the second frame, only for the Habs to bank three unanswered snipes subsequently.
Goalie Matt Murray made 27 saves against the Canadiens, taking his performance total since the restart of hockey to 1-2 with a 2.50 GAA and a .914 save percentage. He has recorded a 29-21 career postseason total with a 2.18 GAA and a .921 save percentage, and is 4-1-0 against Montreal historically with a 2.19 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The Penguins are scoring the joint-10th highest quantity of goals per game during the qualifiers (2.67), while allowing the joint-10th highest amount on the defensive end (2.67). The team is 12th in power play (20.0%) and top of the bunch in penalty kill (10-for-10).
Habs Stun Pittsburgh Again
Goalie Carey Price stopped 30 shots on Wednesday and has now gone 2-1-0 for the current postseason with a 2.19 GAA and a .937 save percentage. He has picked up a 27-32 previous playoff tally with a 2.52 GAA and a .915 save percentage, and has registered a 13-14-5 career record against Pittsburgh with a 2.95 GAA and a .907 save percentage. The Canadiens are netting the joint-10th highest number of goals per game since the NHL Return to Play Plan (2.67), while conceding the joint-10th highest quantity defensively (2.67). The Habs are bottom of the league in power play (0-for-10) and 12th in penalty kill (80.0%).
Notable Trends
Montreal
- Canadiens are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Metropolitan.
Pittsburgh
- Penguins are 1-8 in their last 9 postseason games.