Examining the Montreal Canadiens numbers

Advantage Margin: -41
The Canadiens got a lot of practice killing penalties. They allowed their opponents an extra 14 power plays at home and had to kill off an 27 more chances than they received in their 41 games away from the Bell Center.

Even-Strength Goals Margin: -40
It’s almost amazing that the Canadiens went down to the final weekend before being eliminated from the playoff race. Montreal’s three top scorers (Saku Koivu, Sheldon Souray and Michael Ryder) were a combined minus-71 and had just 27 even-strength goals. 

Special Teams Goal Margin: +28
No club lived off its special teams the way the Canadiens did. They were tops in the NHL on the power play (22.8 percent) and tied for the League lead with 17 shorthanded goals while allowing only six.

Goals by defensemen: 58
The Canadiens led the League in goals by defensemen thanks to Souray’s big shot, which resulted in 26 goals (a record 19 on the power play) — and a big free-agent deal with Edmonton. Newcomer Roman Hamrlik is good defensively, but can’t match Souray’s offense.

Goals by forwards: 181
Bring back the Flying Frenchmen! Ryder (30) was the only 30-goal scorer on the team. The Canadiens hope to use depth to make up what they lack in big-name firepower — five players had 20 or more goals, including youngsters Chris Higgins (22) and Tomas Plekanec (20). One who has to step up is Alex Kovalev (only 18 goals).

Overtime Record: 8-1-5 (OT: 2-1, SO: 6-5)
A Montreal game that ended in a tie after regulation was a great bet to reach a shootout: The Canadiens had fewer games decided in OT than any other team and were one of only three teams that didn’t lose a home game in overtime — though they did lose three shootouts at the Bell Centre.

Times Scored First/Record: 31 (Record: 23-6-2)
Only the woeful Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes opened the scoring fewer times than the Canadiens. Montreal led the NHL with 19 wins when allowing the first goal, but that’s partly because the Canadiens got a lot of practice playing from down a goal.

Best 06-07 Number: 24
Points earned by the Canadiens when they trailed after two periods, the most in the NHL. Montreal tied for the League lead with 10 comeback wins when trailing after two periods, and forced four others into overtime or shootouts.

Worst 06-07 Number: 24
Margin by which the Canadiens were outscored in the first period. Montreal had only 62 goals and allowed 86 in the opening period. The Canadiens outscored their opponents in the second and third periods, but not by enough to make the playoffs.

Scheduling:
The Canadiens open with three straight road games before their first contest at the Bell Centre against Carolina on Oct. 13. Montreal has six trips of three or more games, including a six-gamer that surrounds the Christmas holidays.