Fifteen: Montreal (1st Atlantic)

Montreal still plays a really good system for their personnel. They are a tough team to play in a best of seven series. P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov are easily one of the top d-pairs in the league. Their forwards are speedy and plenty can finish. All the ingredients that got this team to 9-0-0 to start the season are still here. I think they have another streak in them but I don't think this group gets the cup as they currently sit.

Record: 19 - 7 - 3 41pts ( projected: 22 - 8 - 6 50pts)

Significant Injuries:
Torey Mitchell RW
Brendan Gallagher RW
Carey Price G
Devante Smith-Pelley RW

I would say any time 3 guys in the same position are injured, there has to be an impact. Carey Price is certainly better than Mike Condon, but so far Condon has played well.

Next Fifteen Days 12/10/2015 - 12/24/2015:
Thursday at Detroit
Saturday Ottawa visits
Tuesday San Jose visits
Thursday Los Angeles visits
Saturday at Dallas
Monday at Nashville
Tuesday at Minnesota

The loss streak could go to 4 pretty easily tonight. Detroit is playing really good hockey. Overall this is not an easy 15 days. Ottawa, San Jose, Nashville and Minnesota should be 7 or 8 points. If they grab 3 points from Detroit, LA and Dallas, they are "righting the ship" so to speak.

9 out of 14pts

3 - 1 - 3

Last Fifteen Days 11/25/2015 - 12/09/2015:
WIN 5 - 1 at Rangers
WIN 3 - 2 (SO) at New Jersey
LOSS 2 - 3 (OT) New Jersey
WIN 2 - 1 Columbus
LOSS 2 - 3 Washington
LOSS 2 - 3 at Carolina
LOST 1 - 3 Boston

3 - 3 - 1

7 out of 14pts

 

After a torrid start, the Habs are kinda just better than most. I think this is worse than they really are. Depth of scoring and depth on defense could cost them playoff position, but once in the playoffs, they'll shorten their bench and be a very tough group to win against.