Just about everybody has counted out the Montreal Canadiens at some point or another during the 2021 postseason. It could have been in the opening round versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, the second round against the Winnipeg Jets, or, over the past few days, Round 3 opposite the Vegas Golden Knights.

But Montreal is still kicking and enters Friday's Game 3 at the Bell Centre in decent shape after splitting the first two games of its series against a heavily favored Vegas team. Let's look at this with the glass half-full, shall we? Here are three reasons for optimism.

'Playoff Price' in full form

Let's start with some Carey Price stats.

Ahead of Game 3, Price owns a postseason save percentage of .930. Among the six goalies who have appeared in 10 games or more this postseason, he is bested in that regard by only Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy. Price has recorded a "quality start" - a game in which his save percentage is greater than the league average for the year - in eight of 13 playoff games, according to Hockey-Reference.com. Pretty good. What's more impressive is that Price has avoided a "really bad start" (posting single-game save percentage below .850). Each of his peers, including Vasilevskiy, has recorded at least one poor outing.

Put another way, the 33-year-old has been masterfully consistent, particularly since the Habs fell behind 3-1 against Toronto. Named the league's third-best goalie in a recent poll of NHLPA members, Price has been so technically sound and mentally sharp between the pipes that his teammates should have nothing but the utmost confidence in his abilities. That's huge; not having to worry about goaltending can do wonders for a team's psyche.

Speaking of psyches … Price is clearly in the heads of Vegas' triggermen. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone looked rather frustrated following a huge glove save in Game 1. Same for Jonathan Marchessault, whom Price also stoned in the opener, and Alec Martinez, whose incredible backdoor chance in Game 2 became yet another clip for Price's postseason highlight reel.

The Habs are now 9-1 when scoring the first goal of the game. Half of that equation is the goal; the other half is Price. From Vegas' perspective, slow starts have set the wrong tone. The Golden Knights conceded seven high-danger shot attempts in the first 20 minutes of Game 1, and they allowed a pair of goals in Game 2's opening period. Then, of course, they were faced with trying to solve Price.

"Chasing the game is not an easy task against anybody, but these guys play a good team game when they get the lead," Stone told reporters. "We've got to do a better job with our starts, and we've got to find our preparation."

Vegas' nagging scoring problem

From a roster-construction standpoint, Vegas is an imposing squad: a top-tier goalie tandem, a stacked defense corps, and depth up front. Fan bases across the league would kill to cheer for such a well-rounded, entertaining outfit.

Really, the only glaring weaknesses are the absence of a true No. 1 center (more on that later) and a lack of world-class finishers. The latter deficiency has been on full display against the Habs, with just one of the Golden Knights' six goals thus far in the series credited to a forward.

While Price and Montreal's defensive structure deserve kudos, there's some historical precedent for Vegas' struggles. Failing to capitalize on a boatload of scoring chances was a key reason the Golden Knights were bounced by the Dallas Stars in the 2020 Western Conference Final. The forward group, which features one pure goal-scorer in Max Pacioretty, bagged only five goals in that five-game series.

It's not as if Vegas' centers and wingers have contributed nothing in these playoffs. Marchessault leads the team with six goals in 15 games. Stone has five tallies, and four others have four each. Finding a way to convert on a higher percentage of opportunities from Game 3 onward is the challenge. (And perhaps a run of bad bounces has something to do with it? The Golden Knights' forwards have combined for 10 posts and crossbars during their run.)

That said, does it actually matter who scores? It matters how many and when; a goal is a goal - right? But it can also be true that relying on defensemen to carry the attack this deep into the playoffs is risky business. It feels like an unsustainable way to try to win another best-of-seven series.

Interestingly, three of Vegas' six goals have been the result of a well-executed sequence immediately after a faceoff win. One can assume the Habs have been trying their best to adjust to this development between Games 2 and 3 and, at the very least, identified a way to stop losing defensive-zone draws cleanly.

Everything's coming up Habs

No matter how well they've played over the past month, there's no denying the Canadiens have been the beneficiaries of a few random and unfortunate events.

All three of their opponents lost a top-six center early on. Toronto's John Tavares was hurt in Game 1 and never returned due to injury. Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele was ejected in Game 1 and never returned due to suspension. And, now, Vegas' Chandler Stephenson is at risk of missing consecutive games after getting hurt in Game 1 and sitting out the entirety of Game 2. (Yes, the player Scheifele hit, versatile Montreal forward Jake Evans, is sidelined with a concussion right now. It's not all good for the Habs.)

No offense to Keegan Kolesar - Stephenson's replacement on the Stone-Pacioretty line - but Vegas' depth chart thins out quickly after No. 2 man William Karlsson. All of a sudden, the Canadiens have an easy top-line matchup and can get creative with last change over the next two games.

That's especially true with stud blue-liner Jeff Petry back in action for Montreal after missing the final game of the Winnipeg series and the Vegas opener. Petry may be dealing with a hand injury (and bloodshot eyes), but he was quite effective in Game 2, finishing with a 66% expected goals share during 20 minutes of five-on-five play alongside Joel Edmundson.

"He's an important player for us on both sides," Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters Wednesday. "The way he defends, the way he moves, the way he moves the puck is really good. And he's a gamer. Every time you get in the critical moments, the big games, you see him at his best."

Ducharme has seen players at their best throughout this run. Joel Armia has five goals after a seven-goal regular season; youngster Jesperi Kotkaniemi has blossomed into a star; veteran Corey Perry has found another gear as a grinder; rookie Cole Caufield has been flashing serious playmaking chops; captain Shea Weber looks locked in. To name just a few standouts.

Sometimes seemingly everyone hits at the same time. Sometimes everything comes up Habs for a stretch of time. For pessimists, the tidal wave is about to come crashing down. For optimists, the wave is still cresting.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a focus on the four teams still standing in the 2020-21 NHL playoffs, here's what we've learned during the first month of action and what it means for the rest of the third round.

Habs' formula getting tested

Over the past month, the Montreal Canadiens have developed a distinct formula for winning playoff games against opponents who, on paper, possess more than enough offensive talent to overwhelm them.

The formula involves scratching and clawing for an early lead, clogging up the neutral zone and insulating goalie Carey Price to keep the puck on the perimeter of the defensive zone, and then relying on Price to make a big save now and then.

This approach worked beautifully for seven straight games, from Game 5 of the first round to the end of the second round. Montreal didn't trail on the scoreboard for a single second during that stretch - a crazy accomplishment that made series victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets extra impressive. Sure, an injury to a star player on both teams helped them advance, but the Habs still earned their place in the NHL's semifinal round.

Unfortunately for them, the formula hit a snag on Monday in Game 1 against a deep, well-structured Vegas Golden Knights squad.

For a second straight game, No. 1 defenseman Jeff Petry was sidelined by injury, and his absence had a noteworthy ripple effect on a blue line that thins out significantly after Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber on one pair and Petry and Joel Edmundson on another. Third-pair staple Brett Kulak skated for nearly 17 minutes; rookie Alexander Romanov, a healthy scratch for 10 of 11 previous games, played 15:11; the one-dimensional Erik Gustafsson played 13:45, elevating his playoff average to just 10:30.

The Habs lost 4-1 to the Golden Knights, and one of Kulak or Gustafsson was on the ice for three of the four goals. Kulak, in particular, looked a step behind everybody else throughout Game 1. On Vegas' second goal, the 27-year-old was cluelessly out of position, and on the 3-1 marker, he got outmuscled at the goalmouth by Mattias Janmark, the eventual goal-scorer.

Making matters worse for Montreal, it was the opposition's defense corps that tilted the ice this time around. Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Alec Martinez combined for two goals, one assist, and 12 shots on goal. Overall, the Golden Knights' six defensemen were credited with 33 of the team's 62 shot attempts while keeping the Habs to 53 total attempts of their own.

Now, it would be foolish to suddenly write off the plucky Habs. They rallied to beat Toronto in seven games after falling behind 3-1. At worst, Montreal deserves a game to redeem themselves.

That said, Petry's status (which is unclear for Game 2) is so critical to the direction of this series. Vegas is a different kind of challenge than Toronto or Winnipeg because its defensemen are constantly in the thick of the action. Keeping the opposition to the outside, away from Price, is a less effective approach if the opposition is skilled and smart enough to turn perimeter possession into goals. Plus, Petry can skate the puck out of trouble or get it in the hands of a capable forward better than any other Montreal defenseman. He's essential to what the Habs are trying to accomplish, period.

Vegas continuing to adapt

The Golden Knights have evolved into a model franchise. Everything from game presentation and social media to roster building and player development is top tier for the 4-year-old team. And this postseason it's become abundantly clear coaching is yet another area in which Vegas excels.

Head coach Pete DeBoer, who in January 2020 took over for Gerard Gallant, is now fully settled into his role - and it's showing. In Round 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, he decided to fight fire with fire by counterattacking the counterattack-happy Avs, and it paid off en route to a 4-2 series victory.

Yes, Vegas was a counterpunch team under Gallant. Against the Avs, though, it felt as if the club took its identity to the extreme in an effort to put Colorado on its heels as often as possible. DeBoer didn't want to play it safe or give the opponent too much respect. He gave his players the green light to rush the puck in numbers whenever the Avs coughed it up in transition.

There's some logic behind the approach. If what typically makes the Avs so deadly (that mobile defensive corps working hand in hand with an abundance of speed and skill up front to smother the opposition with offense) is disrupted, the team must adapt. In other words, if pace-pushing blue-liners like Cale Makar and Sam Girard are forced to play transition defense every time their own offensive sequence goes awry, how much time and energy is left for a second rush?

Of course, DeBoer wouldn't have leaned into this game plan if the Golden Knights hadn't been effective in the aggressor role in the past. Vegas is the heaviest group in the entire league, its system offers ample puck support on both offense and defense, and there's plenty of depth throughout the lineup. Truly, they have been built to trade fast-break chances with the opposition.

Like captain Mark Stone, the Golden Knights don't necessarily skate fast but they play fast. They defend well and make you pay off the rush.

This, in a nutshell, is why the margin of error is so small for Montreal.

Isles charting Cup path?

Game 1 of the Tampa Bay Lightning-New York Islanders semifinal couldn't have gone much better for the well-oiled machine from Long Island.

Tampa wasn't able to generate a ton of prime looks at five-on-five, registering just eight high-danger shot attempts in 47 minutes of action, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Lightning often turned the puck over, too, and the Isles capitalized on one particular gaffe midway through the second period, with Mathew Barzal opening the scoring off a Steven Stamkos giveaway.

The process (a relatively low-event game) and the result (a 2-1 win) should give Isles coach Barry Trotz plenty of confidence heading into Tuesday's Game 2. If the Isles didn't believe it prior to the series, they now know containing the powerhouse Lightning isn't an impossible task at five-on-five.

This matchup is very much an immovable object (New York's five-on-five defense) versus an unstoppable force (Tampa's five-on-five offense). There is a full range of outcomes, but a nightly split in goals might be the most likely.

Which brings us to special teams. Will a trip to the Stanley Cup Final ultimately come down to the battle between New York's penalty kill and Tampa's power play? The Lightning converted one of two opportunities in Game 1 to improve their playoff success rate to a ridiculous 42%. There are simply too many options on their top unit of Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and Alex Killorn. Yet, if the Isles stay out of the penalty box, which they are quite good at (they took the fewest penalties in the NHL during the regular season), the Lightning's advantage is useless.

Conn Smythe front-runners

There are a few weeks left before the Conn Smythe Trophy is handed out to the playoff MVP, so much can change, but here are two front-runners per team:

Islanders: Barzal (10 points in 13 games, including seven in his last seven), Ryan Pulock (excellent defensive play, plus three game-winning goals)

Lightning: Kucherov (playoff-high 19 points in 12 games), Andrei Vasilevskiy (playoff-high 8.86 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey)

Golden Knights: Stone (dominant two-way force, heart and soul of team), Pietrangelo (top shutdown option, plus eight points in 14 games)

Canadiens: Tyler Toffoli (team-leading 11 points in 12 games, including series-clinching goal in Round 2), Price (4.3 goals saved above expected, per Evolving Hockey)

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After upsetting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets are competing for North Division supremacy. So far, the upstart Canadiens have gained a convincing 2-0 series edge. Here are three looming questions in the leadup to Sunday's Game 3 at the Bell Centre:

Did we sleep on Habs' ceiling?

Perhaps five playoff games isn't long enough to judge a hockey team one way or another, but what the Habs have accomplished over the past 10 days should be turning heads. Not only in Canada, either - across the NHL.

Since Game 5 of the first round, the Habs have limited the Leafs and Jets - two teams armed with plenty of offensive talent - to a grand total of nine goals in 316 minutes of action. The Jets so far have been minimized at five-on-five, generating only eight total high-danger shot attempts through two games, according to Natural Stat Trick. Montreal has controlled the neutral zone, outmuscled opponents in 50/50 puck battles in the corners, and generally played a responsible, predictable brand of hockey in front of Carey Price.

It's boring to watch (Friday's Game 2 versus the Jets was a snoozefest) yet also damn effective; over the past five games, the Habs haven't trailed for a single second. Montreal, who entered the postseason as the North Division's No. 4 seed following a rollercoaster regular season that included a coach firing and an uninspiring 24-21-11 record, has found its game at the ideal time.

"We're really playing together," defenseman Ben Chiarot told reporters Friday after shutting out the Jets, 1-0. "Everyone's supporting the puck, coming back in the D zone. There's easy outs all over the place. They have an aggressive forecheck, we're doing a good job of supporting each other and defending well in our own zone. It's a big key to why we're having success."

Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme is getting the veterans and rookies to buy in, and the contributions are coming from every part of the lineup. The entire group seems to be on the exact same wavelength.

Youngster Jesperi Kotkaniemi is now at eight goals in 18 postseason games. Corey Perry, a savvy offseason pickup, has looked like an entirely different player in the playoffs. Physical blue-liner Chiarot, two-way sniper Tyler Toffoli, and cerebral center Nick Suzuki are also among the standout performers.

The X-factor will always be Price - and the $10.5-million netminder is completely dialed-in at the moment with a .935 save percentage. He's been squaring up to shooters perfectly, controlling rebounds with precision, and rising to the occasion when the moment calls for a big save.

"We're sticking to what’s working. Hockey's kind of a funny thing that way. You never know when you heat up at the right time," Price said Friday.

When will Dubois show up?

Pierre-Luc Dubois may be the most frustrating player in the 2021 postseason. Seriously, where in the world has Playoff Warrior Dubois gone?

You know the guy. Dubois was the dominating two-way force of that Columbus-Toronto series in the 2020 bubble and also the kid who helped guide the Blue Jackets to a shocking sweep of the mighty 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning. His history of leveling up when the stakes rise made the 22-year-old an appealing midseason trade target for the Jets.

However, after a lackluster showing post-trade (20 points in 41 regular-season games), the playoff energy, enthusiasm, and engagement typical of Dubois - not to mention the clutch scoring - hasn't been evident through five games.

On Friday, with a brilliant opportunity to shine thanks to a suspension to Jets No. 1 center Mark Scheifele and an injury to No. 2 Paul Stastny, Dubois was about as invisible as a strong-skating 6-foot-2 pivot could be. He recorded one shot attempt in 20 minutes despite lining up alongside stud wingers Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor for his even-strength shifts. Dubois did draw an assist on Derek Forbort's Game 1 goal, but that's about it against the Habs.

Seeing as he missed the first game of the playoffs with an undisclosed injury, Dubois could be dealing with something. Still, if he's healthy enough to warrant first-line minutes, he should be producing at a higher rate. He has recorded three total assists, and those other two helpers came on the power play against the Oilers.

In other words, Dubois hasn't shown up yet and is running out of chances. If Stastny returns to the lineup for Game 3, some of the pressure to produce will be reduced. Yet that shouldn't matter for Dubois, a guy with so much to give.

Can the Jets tighten up?

Listen, the Jets must press early and often to climb back into this series. They need to infiltrate the Habs' structure to generate higher-quality looks on Price.

That's absolutely crucial - and so is tightening up their own defensive work.

Despite trailing 6-3 in total goals, Winnipeg has allowed only three even-strength markers in two games. Not bad, right? Well, the tricky thing is, the three goals - all scored in the first period of Game 1 - can be blamed on the five skaters, not reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.

To recap, Kotkaniemi redirected a beautiful shot-pass to make it 1-0; he was left uncovered just outside the crease. Then Eric Staal shoveled in a cross-crease pass to make it 2-0; he was left uncovered in pretty much the same spot. And then Suzuki tucked the puck past Hellebuyck during a two-on-one to make it 3-1; he was left uncovered on his way to the side of the net.

If you're splitting hairs, maybe Hellebuyck should have stonewalled Suzuki. Maybe. Still, that's one "miss" on the 49 even-strength shots Montreal has generated over two games - many of which have been of the dangerous variety, usually off odd-man rushes. In total, the Habs have accumulated 5.33 expected goals at even strength, according to Natural Stat Trick, which suggests Hellebuyck has turned aside the equivalent of roughly four extra goals based on the quality and quantity of shots he's faced.

Plain and simple, the dude in goalie gear needs help.

All of this is not particularly surprising given the personnel of Winnipeg's blue line, and it doesn't help that top-four defenseman Dylan DeMelo is out. However, the Jets are undoubtedly playing too loose in front of Hellebuyck - heck, Shea Weber had a breakaway in Game 1! - and it could prove especially costly in Game 3 and 4 when Montreal gets last change and can dictate matchups.

With Price in the other net and the Habs rolling as a group, relying on Hellebuyck - and not much else - is not a recipe for success.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three years.

After failing to escape the initial round of the NHL postseason for a fifth straight year, three is the magic number for this Toronto Maple Leafs era.

That's how many seasons the Leafs have left with this core group of players. Auston Matthews is an unrestricted free agent following the 2023-24 season. So is William Nylander. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are UFAs following the 2024-25 campaign. Other key veterans - Zach Hyman, Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, TJ Brodie, Jack Campbell - are free at different points over the next three years as well. Some will sign extensions, and others will leave.

The Stanley Cup window is already shrinking for a team that, on paper, should challenge for Cups every year. Fresh off Monday's Game 7 loss to the underdog Montreal Canadiens, let's break down the three different paths the Leafs' brass could take this offseason. For the purposes of this exercise, we'll assume the leadership group of president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas, and head coach Sheldon Keefe remains the same.

1. Major changes

On its own, the Maple Leafs being eliminated by an inferior team shouldn't cause mass panic; the series went seven games, and sometimes the favored team loses.

Yet, given the tortured recent history of this franchise and the Cup-contending potential of its star-studded core, what unfolded over the past two weeks set off alarms throughout Leafs Nation. This roster established a new team high in points percentage, and multiple players dominated individually in the regular season. But that means squat without results in the playoffs.

Ahead 3-1 against Montreal - a solid but largely unremarkable squad - the Leafs fell apart at the seams. They were inconsistent in Games 5 and 6 and then showed little urgency in Game 7. The Carey Price-led Habs deserve credit for the upset, but Toronto's inability to finish the job was the story of the series.

A pattern has emerged, too. In seven closeout games from 2018-21, Matthews has one goal and two assists, Marner has two assists, and Nylander has two goals and two assists. Sure, seven games isn't a large sample size - but there aren't that many elimination games in a player's career.

In terms of significant changes, a trade involving Alex Kerfoot, Justin Holl, or even top prospect Nick Robertson won't move the needle. Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, and Marner would be the pieces in question.

Matthews isn't going anywhere. Trading a generational scorer would be a colossal mistake, no matter the circumstances. Nylander's stock has never been higher after he scored five goals in this series. Then again, the $7-million AAV of his deal has become a bargain, and the cap-strapped Leafs need bargains. Meanwhile, Tavares' hefty contract is basically immovable.

That leaves Marner, who looked like someone in the middle of a psychological struggle during seven lackluster playoff games. He was a shell of his regular-season self, gripping his stick too tightly and not shooting when he should. His playoff goal drought has now stretched to 18 games.

If, as many outside observers proclaim, Marner doesn't have "it" - the killer instinct and playing style that translates to playoff success - perhaps it's time for the Leafs to ship the playmaker elsewhere and reallocate his $10.9-million annual salary to multiple players. Even with his reputation in tatters, the market for Marner would be piping hot, and the Leafs need an injection of depth.

A second option could be Rielly. The club's No. 1 defenseman has just one season left on his deal and carries a manageable cap hit of $5 million. Rielly was one of the Leafs' best players versus the Habs, which makes the idea of trading him appear ridiculous on the surface - but if management feels the need to make a seismic change, Rielly qualifies as a legitimate trade chip.

2. Minor changes

The best counterargument to making a major change is that trading a Marner or a Rielly means losing a high-impact player for the next regular season and beyond. Trading for equal talent isn't an impossible task in the NHL, but it's not easy.

And the grass isn't always greener: Look no further than the recent blockbuster between the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets. Neither Patrik Laine nor Pierre-Luc Dubois excelled after a change of scenery.

With Marner, Dubas must weigh the pros and cons of bidding farewell to Matthews' top-line running mate. Marner is an exceptional talent, a game-changer, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he gets over his playoff yips next year and the Leafs are fine.

So, if a major move is deemed too reactionary, Dubas will probably shift his focus to the rest of the operation to find a formula that can end the organization's 17-year run of playoff incompetence. Dubas has already adjusted his original plan, bringing in veteran leadership, toughness, and defense over the past couple of years after starting his tenure as a GM willing to bet almost exclusively on skill.

A few minor changes that come to mind:

• A new power-play coach after assistant Manny Malhotra was unable to fix what was ailing the Leafs down the stretch and in the playoffs;

• A fresh crop of depth forwards after a few bottom-six guys, including Joe Thornton and Pierre Engvall, contributed next to nothing in the playoffs;

• A new goalie partner for Jack Campbell, though pending UFA Frederik Andersen was on his way out long before the collapse against the Habs.

Tinkering is the least sexy path to take. However, it's the most likely approach.

3. Staying the course

This is the path 99% of Leafs fans don't want Dubas to even think about.

The fan base has every right to feel that way. This core hasn't lived up to expectations, period. There's no denying the reality of the situation.

Ignore those emotionally charged thoughts for a moment, though, and there's a case to be made for maintaining the status quo. It would be the least satisfying, most criticized path, but is it the most rational one too?

Tavares got hurt in Game 1 and never returned. Jake Muzzin got hurt in Game 6 and never returned. Nick Foligno played hurt. At least a portion of Matthews' and Marner's struggles can be traced back to Montreal's shutdown efforts. It's not as if the Leafs choked all on their own.

There aren't five teams in the NHL more talented than the Leafs. Not only should they escape the first round with regularity, but they should be going on deep runs. Execution is the chief issue, and there are a few recent examples of teams that knocked on the door for years before breaking through.

It took last summer's Cup winner, the Steven Stamkos-led Tampa Bay Lightning, seven years. The 2019 champs, the Alex Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals, waited a full decade. Even this year's trendy Cup pick, the Colorado Avalanche, endured plenty of lows during the Nathan MacKinnon era.

It's nice to suggest seismic change, but what would markedly improve this team? What's fundamentally wrong with the roster? (The rebuttal that Toronto "needs more toughness" doesn't hold up in today's NHL. Have you watched the 2019-20 Lightning or 2020-21 Avs? Skill and speed for days.)

Really, it all comes back to the contention window: Three years.

Three years is both a short time and a long time.

Now what?

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What happened?

Less than a week ago, a not-insignificant portion of NHL fans and media (myself included) were convinced the Toronto Maple Leafs had the Montreal Canadiens right where they wanted them: Down 3-1 in a first-round playoff series and frantically searching for answers ahead of Game 5 in Toronto.

Then, the Habs were the more opportunistic, steady team in Games 5 and 6. They deserved to win two straight - and did - and now, with Game 7 set for Monday night, all the goodwill the Leafs built up over the first four games is gone. It's Toronto who's frantically searching for answers.

Will the Leafs reverse course, or is this the latest collapse in the franchise's tortured history? Will the Habs complete the comeback, or is this just a matter of an underdog pushing a series to seven games but no further?

These questions are why sport is the greatest form of reality TV.

Here are the top-five storylines for what could be a Game 7 for the ages.

5. The early edge

The Habs have done one of two things in the opening frame of each game: Dictated play and opened the scoring, or kept the Leafs honest by heading into the intermission with, at worst, an even score. They've carved out a 4-1 advantage in goals and lead 63-56 in shots over those six first periods.

In the second frame, the Leafs have responded with a commanding 11-2 advantage in goals and 90-48 advantage in shots, while Toronto has strung together a 5-3 lead in goals in the third period despite getting outshot 61-46.

Period-by-period breakdowns aren't usually super instructive or useful. However, this may be an exception to the rule, given the persuasive evidence and toll a weak start in Game 7 could have on the Leafs' collective psyche.

Can you imagine what kind of thoughts might enter the minds of longtime Leafs Morgan Rielly, Zach Hyman, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner - heck, everybody on the bench - if the Habs once again push play in the first 20 minutes Monday and/or open the scoring?

For whatever reason, the Leafs didn't seem focused at the start of Game 5; perhaps they were dreaming of a second-round meeting with the Winnipeg Jets. In Game 6, the presence of fans in the building for the first time in more than a year probably had a psychological effect; it's hard to say for certain.

Monday will be a different environment altogether, of course. There'll be no time to warm up to the moment - no room for error - because regrouping with a 3-1 or 3-2 series lead is far easier than regrouping in a do-or-die Game 7.

4. Price vs. Campbell

Goaltending was a bit of a wild card going into this Leafs-Habs matchup.

Interestingly, it's become arguably the most reliable position for each club, with Montreal's Carey Price entering Playoff Price mode and Toronto's Jack Campbell picking up where he left off following a breakout regular season.

Neither netminder has been dominant, per se, but both have saved their team's bacon on more than a few occasions. Take Game 6 - Campbell was seemingly the only Leaf to show up for the first period, and in overtime, Price turned aside 13 shots in the lead-up to Jesperi Kotkaniemi's game-winner.

Overall, Price has been slightly better, at least according to MoneyPuck.com's goals saved above expected statistic. Prior to Sunday's games, Price boasted a 5.6 rating, ranking him third among the 14 goalies who appeared in four playoff games or more. Campbell (3.8) sat fourth on the list.

Based on reputation and experience, the smart money is on Price - winner of Hart and Vezina trophies and owner of an Olympic gold medal - outdueling Campbell on Monday. Then again, it's nearly impossible to handicap single-game goaltending. One bounce can change the direction of an entire contest and, with the heat turned up in Game 7, momentum likely will swing wildly.

3. Potential Muzzin void

Jake Muzzin leaving Game 6 with an injury was as big a blow as the loss itself.

The 32-year-old blue-liner is the glue that holds Toronto's defense corps together, and now he's dealing with an apparent groin injury that may keep him out of Game 7. If the Leafs advance to the second round, his status becomes an even larger story with a rested and healthy Jets squad waiting.

The immediate conundrum isn't only about who might fill Muzzin's spot in the lineup (probably youngster Rasmus Sandin). It's also about how his 21-plus minutes might be dispersed in Game 7. All of a sudden, ice time for top-pair guys Rielly and T.J. Brodie could be through the roof, and Justin Holl, Muzzin's partner on the second pair, could be tasked with a heightened role.

Of note up front for the Leafs: Nick Foligno doesn't appear to be 100%, Joe Thornton has been ineffective most of the series, and Alex Galchenyuk has been hot and cold. Does coach Sheldon Keefe slide trade deadline pickup Riley Nash into the bottom-six and take one of them out (Foligno likely stays in but the possibility remains) after sitting Nash for Games 2, 4, 5, and 6?

Boy, a team's depth can get tested quickly in the playoffs. While William Nylander's terrific play (series-high four goals) doesn't necessarily show it, the Leafs are really missing injured captain John Tavares heading into Game 7.

2. The Caufield factor

Cole Caufield is one of those players who's so obviously talented with the puck that even somebody watching him for the first time can identify his offensive chops. He's surely turned a lot of heads outside Quebec this series.

Caufield will probably score 40 goals in an NHL season one day. He was a prolific scorer at every amateur level, and he bagged seven in his first 12 regular-season games as a pro (10 in the NHL and two in the AHL). No big deal.

So far versus the Leafs, zilch; the Wisconsin native has yet to capitalize on myriad scoring opportunities in the four games he's drawn into Montreal's lineup. He's dinged the crossbar twice - in the first period of Game 3 and then in the second frame of Game 6 - and recorded his first career playoff point off a nifty give-and-go with sophomore Hab Nick Suzuki on the Game 5 winner.

Kotkaniemi, Montreal's other young stud forward, enjoyed his big moment with an overtime tally in Game 6. So will Game 7 be Caufield's night? At five-on-five among Habs forwards, he ranks third in shots on goal per 60 minutes, fifth in shot attempts per 60, and fourth in scoring chances per 60, according to Natural Stat Trick. In other words, it feels like the 5-foot-7 sniper's due.

1. Matthews and Marner

Nobody's reputations are hanging in the balance quite like Nos. 34 and 16 on Toronto. Matthews, the sport's best goal scorer, has just one goal in six games. Marner, one of the sport's top playmakers, has collected four assists.

Matthews has been fairly dangerous, racking up a series-high 2.6 expected goals during five-on-five play, per Natural Stat Trick. He's a career 16.2% shooter in the regular season, but he's shooting 3.1% in all situations this series on 32 shots on goal. Needless to say, Matthews' process ultimately doesn't matter if he can't produce actual goals when his team needs him most.

Marner, on the other hand, has looked out of sorts pretty much from the series' opening faceoff. He seems afraid to shoot the puck, even when it's on his stick and he's staring down a prime scoring opportunity. The 24-year-old winger hit a low with a puck-over-glass penalty late in Game 6.

Four first-round exits in the past four seasons have set the stage for questions about the two superstars' killer instincts - or lack thereof. And if the Leafs can't win Game 7 against the Habs, the current chatter around these two core pieces could very well evolve into outright kicking and screaming. It won't be without sustenance, either, seeing as Matthews and Marner are paid a combined $22.5 million annually to guide their team deep into the postseason.

How will Leafs Nation and the greater hockey world view Matthews and Marner if they produce in Game 7 and Toronto advances? Admirably, no doubt. These are likable young men who are exceptionally gifted. Monday presents an incredible opportunity for both of them. Can they seize it?

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a perfect world, a rare playoff series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens would go the distance. Yet, unless something unforeseen occurs in the next 24 hours, we probably won't even see a Game 6.

The first four games of the North Division matchup have left no doubt the Habs are in way over their heads against the significantly deeper and more balanced Leafs. With Toronto up 3-1 heading into Thursday's Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena, a series victory for the home team feels inevitable.

Here's why the Leafs appear primed to win a playoff series for the first time since 2004 - and also a few glimmers of hope for the Habs and their fans:

Leafs' attack overwhelming

Anybody who's watched William Nylander relatively closely knows he's been building toward this moment. So his four goals in four games - including the openers in Games 3 and 4 - shouldn't register as some shocking development. What's notable instead is the energetic lead-up to his tallies.

By controlling possession in transition, blazing to the net with no fear, and putting absolutely everything into his wrist shot, Nylander's been driving a second line that lost center John Tavares to injury 10 minutes into Game 1 and was short left-winger Nick Foligno for Games 3 and 4. Nylander's been doing these things off and on throughout his entire career, but rarely has it all come together so seamlessly and consistently over a string of physically demanding games.

"To me, he's competing a lot harder, he's really engaged, and with that, offense comes," Keefe told reporters following Game 3. "You look at losing Tavares and then you lose Foligno, two guys that Will started out with on a line, and he's just continued on and produced and played hard and given us real good shifts."

Meanwhile, the ageless Jason Spezza has been brilliant in his own right, looking closer to 27 than 37 as he bolts up the right wing, handles the puck in tight spaces, and engages in battles in the corner. He ranks second on the Leafs in goals with two, and there are six others with one - Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Alex Galchenyuk, Rasmus Sandin, Joe Thornton, and Alex Kerfoot. That's the team's first-line center, first-pairing defenseman, second-line winger who was scratched for Game 1, third-pairing defenseman who was scratched for Game 4, fourth-line winger, and third-line center who was elevated to the 2C spot after Tavares went down, respectively.

As a team devoting half of its annual payroll to four stud forwards, the Leafs don't necessarily need production from all four lines to win games. However, these past four contests have demonstrated how overwhelming Toronto can be when the bulk of its forward group - which is filled with guys boasting offensive chops - is weaponized.

Of course, the Habs were supposed to be the team in this series that leaned on its depth. What Montreal lacks in elite finishers, it makes up for in uniformity from lines one through four. That just hasn't been the case so far, though, with the squad recording a grand total of four goals in four games. At five-on-five, the Habs trail the Leafs in shot attempts, shots on goal, scoring chances, high-danger chances, and expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick. In Game 4, specifically, Montreal chased the game, and the Leafs, most of the night.

A glimmer of hope? In theory, the reins will be loosened in Thursday's do-or-die setting. Defenseman Jeff Petry, who has zero points this series after 42 in 55 regular-season games, should have the green light to join the rush early and often. Cole Caufield, the organization's purest goal-scorer, should skate more than 17:41 a night (the fact he didn't draw into the lineup for Games 1 and 2 is another story). Power forward Josh Anderson, who's failed to mark up the scoresheet following a fantastic Game 1, should be encouraged to fly the defensive zone to create odd-man opportunities the other way. Overall, the Habs need to throw something different at the Leafs.

Goaltending's a wash

We heard it before the 2020 postseason, and before this series: the Habs' playoff success largely hinges on Carey Price's work between the pipes.

Price has played well against the Leafs, turning aside 115 of 125 shots for a cool .920 save percentage. You can't expect much more from the 33-year-old former superstar, especially considering the high volume of quality looks he's faced thus far. Arguably, Price is to blame for only two of Toronto's 10 non-empty-net goals (Spezza's in Game 2 and Rielly's in Game 4). Too often a Leafs player has gone uncovered in premium scoring areas, leading to an easy goal.

Jack Campbell has gone save for save with Price, posting an eye-popping .965 save percentage on 114 shots. Though, on aggregate, the Leafs' new No. 1 goalie hasn't faced scoring opportunities as dangerous as Price has, Campbell's reliable play has basically minimized the Montreal goaltender's impact on the series.

"We've got to find a way to get to the inside," Petry told reporters after Game 4. "A lot of our shots are coming from the outside and he's sucking up the puck and not allowing rebounds. So we've got to find a way to get in his eyes, get tips, get some sort of greasy goals here to get us going."

At the end of the day, Price has proven he's capable of keeping the Leafs to two or fewer goals per game in a best-of-seven series. Yet, if you were to replay this series 100 times, the Habs wouldn't win four of seven many times with the woeful goal support they've offered Price.

Put another way, can Montreal win 1-0 on Thursday? Yes. There's always a real possibility of that final score with Price in net, even this late in his career. But to what end if it's an unsustainable brand of hockey? Based on what we've seen, the Leafs will just outscore the Habs in Game 6 and/or Game 7.

Habs' power-play drought

In the regular season, Montreal's power play generated 5.1 expected goals per 60 minutes to rank 29th in the league. It led to the NHL's 17th-ranked power play (19.2%). Somehow, the Habs have been worse in the playoffs, at 4.4 xG per 60 and zero goals on 14 power-play opportunities.

Entering the zone with possession has become a struggle, and zipping the puck around the 1-3-1 setup in the Leafs' end has been an even rarer sight. The Toronto penalty kill deserves credit but, mostly, the Habs' power play, whether it's the top unit or second, has simply looked out of sync.

An optimist might suggest it couldn't get any worse for the Habs' power play and the table is set for a breakout in Game 5. This isn't a delusional thought, either. Power plays go cold, and all it takes sometimes is a clear lane and the puck on the stick of the right shooter (say, Caufield or Tyler Toffoli) for the floodgates to open. Montreal fans can only hope.

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two games into an all-Canadian playoff matchup 42 years in the making, neither Original Six franchise can be too upset over the results thus far.

After losing a somber Game 1, the top-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs rebounded to take Game 2 of the North Division series. The fourth-seeded Montreal Canadiens, meanwhile, return home having won one of two on the road.

This dynamic sets the table for an intriguing third contest - which is set for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop on Monday. Here are three things to watch in Game 3:

Montreal's deployment

Over to you, Dominique Ducharme.

The Canadiens' head coach owns last change in each of the next two games, meaning all eyes will be on Montreal's bench whenever Auston Matthews takes the ice.

Matthews, who scored a ridiculous 41 goals in 52 regular-season games, has looked terrific to begin the playoffs. He has just a single goal to show for his efforts (the eventual game-winner in Game 2), but he's been highly effective in all three zones through 46-plus minutes of action.

The Maple Leafs' agile superstar has leveraged his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame to outmuscle opponents for the puck - and deliver the odd body check - while recording an average of 11.5 shot attempts and six shots on goal per game, according to Natural Stat Trick. He's also contributed a pair of assists, won 59% of his faceoffs, and drawn a minor penalty while taking none himself.

"To see (Matthews) physically engaged, he's a big dude, so when he plays that intensely, it kind of bleeds into the group ... it's a trickle-down effect," Leafs blue-liner Zach Bogosian told reporters Sunday. "It's awesome to see."

Ducharme's best hard-match option is Phillip Danault, quietly one of the NHL's elite shutdown men. Danault was on the ice for a little over half of Matthews' five-on-five minutes in Game 1 (8:40 of 16:03). In Game 2, the 28-year-old center was on for just under half of Matthews' five-on-five minutes (6:49 of 14:22). For Montreal, those aren't concerning ratios with respect to chasing the matchup on the road. But it certainly wasn't an ideal setup, either.

On the blue line, the Habs have used a by-committee approach to cover Matthews, though the pairing of Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson has found itself staring down Toronto's No. 34 slightly more often than Montreal's other two duos.

Something to keep in mind: Not only do the Canadiens have the hammer over the next couple of games, but they can also justify shadowing Matthews with greater precision since Toronto's No. 2 center, John Tavares, is out indefinitely. When Tavares is in the lineup, hard-matching can be a delicate task; on any given night, Tavares and William Nylander might be as or more difficult to contain than Matthews and Mitch Marner. When Tavares is sidelined, there's no question which line is worthy of extra attention.

That said, Matthews will likely generate a handful of quality looks for both himself and his linemates regardless of who's attempting to shut him down. Canadiens goalie Carey Price, then, is the true X-factor. As unfair as it may seem, the pressure is on Price every game to make a few saves he wouldn't normally be expected to make.

Toronto's power play

Before Saturday's power-play breakthrough, which saw the Maple Leafs score two goals on six opportunities, Toronto hadn't scored more than a single power-play goal in a game since March 3. Over that 34-game stretch, the club converted on eight of 87 opportunities for a brutal 9.2% success rate. It was an embarrassing spell.

What should give Toronto fans optimism is who scored those goals in Game 2: Rasmus Sandin and Nylander, not Matthews. As the Washington Capitals have shown over the course of Alex Ovechkin's career, boasting a generational shooter is merely the starting point for a dominant power play.

Yes, Matthews is a fantastic central threat and catalyst (he played a starring role in Sandin and Nylander's snipes), but he can't be the sole shooting option - especially for a Maple Leafs roster littered with proven finishers. The in-zone puck movement Toronto's power play displayed before Sandin's marker is essential to outduelling the modern penalty kill.

Mind you, the Leafs had plenty of practice in Game 2's second frame, with the Habs taking all four of the period's penalties. Those middle 20 minutes were disastrous for Montreal, sinking any and all hope of a 2-0 series lead.

"I think it got to us a little bit, with the calls. We lost our main focus there for a little bit," Habs defenseman Brett Kulak told reporters Sunday, alluding to the fine line between leaning on the Leafs physically and avoiding infractions.

On the flip side, the Canadiens' power play has failed to convert on any of its six opportunities and hasn't looked dangerous in the process. Natural Stat Trick has Montreal down for just eight scoring chances in 13 five-on-four minutes.

Expectations are lower for the Habs in this area of the game. But as the old cliche goes, special teams performance can determine the outcome of a playoff series, and the Canadiens haven't done themselves any favors on the PP or PK.

Montreal's stud of the game

In each of the first two games, one Habs forward has put on a show.

In Game 1, it was Josh Anderson, who was a menace in transition throughout Montreal's 2-1 win. He scored the opening goal and probably deserved another two. In Game 2, it was Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was a menace in his own right after subbing in for Jake Evans. He notched Montreal's lone tally in a 5-1 loss.

Who's next for the Habs? Which forward will rise to the occasion in Game 3 against an opponent who, on paper, has more firepower and game-breakers?

Brendan Gallagher is a prime suspect. The 29-year-old winger has mustered a paltry two shots on goal in nearly 20 minutes of five-on-five action, but with seven shot attempts, he's tied with Petry for the team lead. Gallagher is the type of goal-scoring agitator who's built for postseason hockey - someone who, as Habs general manager Marc Bergevin once put it, "drags his team to the fight." (On brand, Gallagher drew blood in his first shift of the series.) If he continues to battle deep in the Leafs' zone, the goals will eventually come.

Tyler Toffoli is another possibility. While he picked up secondary assists on two of Montreal's three goals in Toronto, the sniper hasn't scored in his past six games; in the playoffs, he's generated one lonely five-on-five scoring chance, according to Natural Stat Trick. Toffoli led the Habs in goals by a wide margin in the regular season (28 versus second-place Anderson's 17), and they need his best ASAP.

Then there's rookie Cole Caufield, a reliable goal-scorer at every level of hockey he's played - including the NHL, albeit in a small sample size - who watched the first two contests of this series from the press box. For a team that generally struggles to score, and particularly one that has struggled to score through two playoff games, Caufield absolutely should be in the lineup for Game 3. Four goals in his first 10 NHL games, and there isn't a spot for him on any of Montreal's four forward lines?

Ducharme hasn't ruled out the possibility of Caufield making his playoff debut this season, though Habs fans don't appear to be holding their breath. The decision on Caufield alone is something to watch intently in the lead-up to Game 3.

John Matisz is theScore's senior hockey writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How much influence can one skater have on the outcome of a hockey game?

That question has become especially relevant at the sport's highest level thanks to Connor McDavid's transcendent play in the NHL's pandemic-shortened season.

In 56 regular-season games, McDavid accumulated 33 goals and 72 assists for 105 points - a points-per-game average of 1.88, the highest such rate since Mario Lemieux's 2.30 in 1995-96. Over a full season, McDavid was on pace for an eye-popping 154 points. After adjusting for era, he racked up the equivalent of 159 points in 82 games, tying him with 1982-83 Wayne Gretzky for eighth on Hockey Reference's list of the greatest offensive seasons ever.

McDavid was far and away the most outstanding and valuable player in the NHL this season, recording 83 primary points while shoring up his oft-criticized defensive game. There'd be no gripes if his name happened to be engraved on the Hart and Ted Lindsay Trophies before award winners were announced. His brilliance led the Edmonton Oilers to a sparkling 35-19-2 record, a plus-29 goal differential, and the North Division's No. 2 seed.

Hockey is often billed as the "ultimate team sport" - Oilers starting goalie Mike Smith even dropped that phrase last week - and here's Edmonton, a solid but flawed team latching onto a generational talent playing out of his mind. With the Oilers opening their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night, how much influence can one skater have on a playoff series? And, if the Oilers manage to defeat the Jets: How much influence can one skater have on a potentially deep playoff run?

The NBA is a star-driven league where the outsized contributions of two or three players can lead a team deep into the postseason and often to a championship. The NHL will never be exactly like the NBA for a multitude of reasons, but McDavid's utter dominance, mixed with contributions from super sidekick Leon Draisaitl, No. 1 defenseman Darnell Nurse, and Smith, bridges the gap.

The main problem is: The Oilers simply aren't a good hockey team when McDavid is catching his breath on the bench. That characterization may seem harsh for a squad fresh off a regular-season points percentage of .643, but the numbers are too extreme to ignore.

According to the advanced stats website Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers finished plus-607 in shot attempts when McDavid was on the ice and minus-714 when McDavid was off the ice. They were plus-384 in scoring chances with McDavid and minus-431 without him. They were plus-50 in expected goals with him and minus-37 without him. And, most crucially for wins and losses, they were plus-68 in goals scored with him and minus-39 without him. There's an absolutely stunning contrast between McDavid's minutes and the rest.

The Oilers ranked No. 1 in the NHL in power-play percentage, with McDavid running the show, so the all-situations numbers may be a tad skewed.

Let's then look exclusively at the five-on-five data:

Again, the difference over a 56-game sample is impossible to dismiss.

Based on the HockeyViz.com heat maps below, the 2020-21 Oilers overwhelm opposing defenders and goalies when McDavid is on the ice and barely produce anything dangerous in the offensive zone when he is off the ice. (Note: Red is above-average shot volume, and blue is below average.)

Oilers with McDavid (five-on-five)

Oilers without McDavid (five-on-five)

Luckily for Oilers fans, McDavid is on the ice an awful lot. He averaged 22 minutes and 9 seconds and hit a season high of 28:38 in early April during an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. In the 50 Edmonton games that didn't require overtime, McDavid eclipsed 25 minutes on 10 occasions, topping out at 28:16 during a February loss to the Calgary Flames.

Oilers head coach Dave Tippett is clearly unafraid to squeeze every ounce of value from his best player, and McDavid is no doubt capable of handling the heavy workload. McDavid's regular-season splits were 17:52 at even strength (third among NHL forwards), 4:11 on the power play (fifth among forwards), and 0:06 on the penalty kill.

So, really, if McDavid is terrorizing the opponent for 25-28 minutes a night (it may climb closer to 30 in the playoffs), the bar can be relatively low for the rest of the game. Assuming the opposition is unable to contain McDavid, the Oilers can conceivably win playoff games - and series - by breaking even in the other 32-35 minutes, though in this scenario, Smith must continue to exceed all expectations for a 39-year-old goalie.

It's a perilous situation for the Oilers. This is a sport that tends to reward deep teams, not top-heavy outfits. Take last year's Stanley Cup winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa's roster was littered with impact players, from Nikita Kucherov to Brayden Point to Victor Hedman to Andrei Vasilevskiy; boasted a high-end supporting cast, including Anthony Cirelli, Blake Coleman, and Ryan McDonagh, to name a few; and employed effective bit guys such as Pat Maroon and Zach Bogosian.

The Oilers' potential second-round opponents this year, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are significantly deeper than them. In theory, Toronto could allow McDavid to do his thing for 25-28 minutes, otherwise manhandle the Oilers, and still win the series in five or six games. Beyond the two top forward lines and two top defense pairs, Edmonton's lineup is fairly thin.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact this could be the best version of McDavid we'll ever see. (Yes, he probably has more to unlock, but at 24, he also may be at his absolute peak.) Yet not until this coming offseason will Oilers general manager Ken Holland - who was hired in March 2019 to clean up the mess left by Peter Chiarelli - be able to truly put his stamp on the team.

Holland has been conservative so far, waiting for certain contracts to expire before making a big splash via free agency or the trade market. At the trade deadline in April, he was hesitant to part with the club's 2021 first-round pick and ultimately acquired only one asset, depth defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.

The Oilers' overall timeline isn't an issue. McDavid and Draisaitl are signed through 2025-26 and 2024-25, respectively. There will be more playoff runs beyond this year.

But there is no denying the uniqueness of what's right in front of them: The Oilers look unstoppable with McDavid on the ice and stoppable when he's not.

John Matisz is theScore's senior hockey writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boris Dorozhenko, the accomplished skating and skills coach based in Scottsdale, Arizona, can't help but think of fine art when tuning into Toronto Maple Leafs games. Watching his longtime student Auston Matthews, Dorozhenko sees an artist whose latest masterpiece - an absurd 40 goals in 50 games - is equal parts stunning and predictable.

"When we recognize the work of some famous painter, it's beautiful. And then the next one is even better," Dorozhenko said during a phone interview earlier this week. "So I think there's no limits to the type of improvement."

Dorozhenko uses the analogy to help contextualize the trajectory Matthews has been on since breaking into the NHL in 2016-17. Matthews arrives at training camp every year with something new to showcase: A mastered shooting technique, a greater dedication to defense, a leaner body. And every year, we're amazed, yet not necessarily surprised, by the improvement.

Dorozhenko believes Matthews is unique among most of his peers because whenever the 23-year-old adds something to his toolbox - say, a terrifying one-timer prior to the 2019-20 season - other parts of his game don't sag.

Matthews isn't simply satisfied with being elite. He continues to build on his base year after year, elevating his ceiling as an NHL player.

"Auston has a very analytical mind, and it's helped him every year to get better. There's no question," said Dorozhenko, who has been training Matthews for 16 years through his Next Generation Hockey school.

"I think," he later added, "we are observing a legendary player."

Good luck crafting a competent counterargument, given Matthews' prolific production this year. Heading into Toronto's final two regular-season games - Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators and Friday against the Winnipeg Jets - he's scoring at a pace we haven't seen since peak Alex Ovechkin.

With a goals-per-game rate of 0.80, Matthews' season is sandwiched between Ovechkin's 65 goals in 82 games in 2007-08 (0.79) and Mario Lemieux's 35 goals in 43 games in 2000-01 (0.81). And to think, Matthews was flirting with the elusive 50 goals in 50 games feat until a nagging wrist injury interrupted his blazing start to the season back in February.

Looking over Matthews' career shot profile, there are a few notable changes in 2020-21. First of all, he's pumping more shots on goal than ever before, averaging 4.3 per game. Secondly, according to MoneyPuck.com, he's been shooting the puck closer to the opposing goalie, with his average unblocked shot attempt distance now listed at 22.3 feet. Lastly, wraparounds: Despite appearing in just 50 games, Matthews has 11 recorded wraparounds, surpassing a previous high of 10 in his 82-game rookie season.

All three changes could be a byproduct of his ice time continuing to increase year over year; his wrist not being healthy enough to unleash as many long-range shots; and/or all-world facilitator Mitch Marner feeding him a variety of passes. It's most likely those things and Matthews' ability to burn the opposition in countless ways. He's the full package - a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder armed with a deceptive release and accurate shot, plus the skating, dangles, hand-eye coordination, and playmaking chops to keep defenses guessing.

Impressively, Matthews is credited with 12 game-winning goals but no empty-netters, suggesting he hasn't piled up a bunch of tallies in low-leverage situations. He isn't in the middle of a shooting percentage bender, either. At 18.7% for the season, he's up just 2.5% on his career average.

Ready for an unbelievable Matthews stat? When filtered through Hockey-Reference.com's "era-adjusted" equation, his production this year is tied for 12th all time in single-season goals, at 65. Let that sink in for a moment. Matthews, hurt wrist and all, managed to snag a spot barely outside the top 10 on a list attempting to fairly rank the greatest goal-scoring seasons ever.

If Matthews can remain healthy down the road, hitting the 50-goal milestone feels inevitable. How about 60 over a full season? Is that a realistic target?

"I believe he can score even more (than 60)," Dorozhenko said.

Best fits for Eichel

Now that the dust has settled on Jack Eichel's explosive comments regarding the "disconnect" between him and the Buffalo Sabres, it's time to identify some reasonable offseason landing spots for the likely-to-be-traded captain.

It's a complicated situation. There's no clarity on Eichel's neck injury, which presumably affects the market for acquiring his services. Also, who knows which direction Sabres brass wants to take this mess - full-on rebuild or significant retool. For this exercise, we'll assume they're tearing it down.

The one club Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams should be clamoring over is the Los Angeles Kings. L.A. is stocked with enticing prospects and first-round picks to build a trade package around. With the Kings on the rise again after taking time to retool for a second wind in the Drew Doughty-Anze Kopitar era, Eichel's availability aligns well with L.A. making a big splash.

The New York Rangers are in a similar spot to the Kings; another big-market franchise with a promising future and enough assets to chase an Eichel trade. Keep in mind that the rumor mill has linked Eichel to the Rangers in the past. Plus, bench boss David Quinn coached Eichel in college, and Eichel's agents represented general manager Chris Drury during his playing career.

The Detroit Red Wings can't be counted out, seeing as they have an abundance of cap space, draft capital, and plenty of desirable prospects. GM Steve Yzerman is methodical and patient, so it doesn't make intuitive sense. Then again, players of Eichel's caliber are rarely in play on the trade market.

The Vegas Golden Knights are always lurking thanks to the ballsy ownership and management trio of Bill Foley, George McPhee, and Kelly McCrimmon. The relatively new franchise has proven A) it isn't afraid to chase stars, and B) it can stickhandle its way around complications surrounding the salary cap.

The Columbus Blue Jackets seem destined for seismic change and desperately need a No. 1 center. They own five first-round draft picks over the next three years, including three in the upcoming draft, and could easily part with one of their NHL goalies - either Elvis Merzlikins or Joonas Korpisalo.

That's five teams and there's surely 10 more who will at least be kicking tires.

'Yotes got Chychrun's best

Hands up if you can name the goal-scoring leader among defensemen.

Anyone … ?

It's Jakob Chychrun, who scored 18 in 56 games for the Arizona Coyotes. The 23-year-old would be talked about far more often if he didn't play in Glendale.

This three-goal performance in early April shows off his lethal wrist shot:

It's easy to glean from the tape why outgoing Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet played Chychrun a team-high 23:23 a night - three minutes more than captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The two-way Chychrun loves to roam around the entire ice surface in a similar way to reigning Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi.

Chychrun, picked 16th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by former GM John Chayka, is already five years into his career. He missed a combined 82 games due to injury in his previous four seasons - which is a shame because he's developed a reputation for being one of the sport's fittest players.

"Injuries are something that's a part of the game. I have had a little bit of bad luck with a couple of them, but I don't get down on myself," Chychrun said in January when asked if getting through a season unscathed was a top priority.

"I continue to take care of myself, take care of my body, and just put myself in the best situations to be available for my team. I make sure I stay on top of my everyday rituals of staying healthy. For sure, that's a goal of mine."

Mission accomplished.

Will Kraken go local too?

Who's going to be the Seattle Kraken's Reid Duke?

Duke, you may recall, became the first-ever player signed by the Vegas Golden Knights in March 2017. Now a four-year AHLer, Duke has yet to make his NHL debut, but he'll forever be the answer to a popular trivia question.

There are many players who could, in theory, become the Kraken's first, though the Seattle Thunderbirds' Keltie Jeri-Leon has an especially compelling case - assuming the Kraken hope to check off similar boxes with their first signee.

Let's break down those boxes by comparing Duke and Jeri-Leon.

Duke, then a 21-year-old free agent in the middle of a point-per-game season in the WHL, wasn't local to Vegas, but Kelly McCrimmon knew him well. The Golden Knights' then-assistant GM owned the Brandon Wheat Kings, Duke's junior team, and the familiarity clearly factored into the timing of the signing.

"We're delighted he's actually the first guy," McCrimmon said after the historic deal was inked. "(Duke) embodies everything that we want in hockey players and sets a great example for all the other young men who are going to sign."

Pro potential: Check. Familiar face: Check. Role model: Check.

Jeri-Leon is 21, unsigned, and fresh off a strong showing in his fifth and final WHL season. On a mediocre Thunderbirds squad, the 5-foot-10, sharpshooting forward racked up 17 goals and 10 assists for 27 points in 23 games. Scouts like his hockey IQ and wicked wrist shot.

Team captain Tyrel Bauer spoke glowingly about Jeri-Leon this past weekend after Seattle's season-ending win over the Spokane Chiefs.

"That was an emotional one, and I’m super glad we could (get) that (win) for him," Bauer told 710 ESPN, referring to Jeri-Leon and his two-point WHL finale. "It's never easy to see. It's the hardest part of playing in the league, but at the end of the day, Keltie has so many opportunities ahead of him, and he’s a first-class person. There are only great things coming for that guy."

Pro potential: Check. Familiar face: Check. Role model: Check.

Revisiting predictions

In January, we published my 21 predictions for the 2020-21 season. Five months in, why not quickly revisit a handful of them - you know, for fun.

Prediction: Pierre-Luc Dubois stays longer than Patrik Laine

This one was a total fail, considering the two disgruntled 20-somethings were, in fact, traded for each other. The awkward part is neither Laine in Columbus nor Dubois in Winnipeg have found success in their new hockey homes.

Prediction: The Wild are exciting - for a change

Bingo. Wild games have been wildly entertaining in the Kirill Kaprizov era. Really, Kaprizov alone - with that mesmerizing skill set and those late-game heroics - has skyrocketed Minnesota up the NHL watchability rankings.

Prediction: Taylor Hall finds better chemistry with Eric Staal than Jack Eichel

Complete whiff. Hall's stay in Buffalo was disastrous, and a lack of chemistry was at least part of the problem; he's now thriving in Boston. Plus, Staal is in Montreal and Eichel wants out. Ah! Sabres issues used to be so quaint.

Prediction: Analytics darling Ondrej Kase (finally) breaks out

To be determined? Kase has played a grand total of three games this season - the first two in January, the third on Monday. The winger was injured and then injured again, so this supposed breakout has either been delayed or killed.

Prediction: Tkachuk brothers post Gordie Howe hat tricks in the same game

Super ambitious prediction, and it definitely didn't come to fruition. Brady Tkachuk recorded his first Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) versus the Vancouver Canucks in late April, but brother Matthew still doesn't have one.

Prediction: League save percentage dips below .910

Hit. The NHL SV% is currently .908, which matches the mark in 2008-09, the last time it dipped below .910. As an interesting side, goals scored per game dropped ever so slightly, from 3.02 per team in 2019-20 to 2.93 this year.

3 parting thoughts

Jack Adams: Writers don't vote on coach of the year. If we did, I'd go: 1. Joel Quenneville, 2. Rod Brind'Amour, 3. Mike Sullivan, 4. Dean Evason, and 5. Sheldon Keefe. Florida hasn't missed a beat since Aaron Ekblad's injury.

Ding!: With the regular season nearly over, the early winner of the Most Iron Hit Award is ... Nathan MacKinnon, who's dinged a league-high 10 posts or crossbars (eight posts; two crossbars). Kyle Connor and Leon Draisaitl have both struck iron nine times this season, while four others are tied for fourth.

Connor McDavid: Sorry, Devils fans, but this tweet from Monday afternoon is pure gold. Are we sure McDavid is mortal? Oh, and the Oilers captain went on to pick up another two points - including the overtime goal - a few hours later.

Takes, Thoughts, and Trends is theScore's monthly hockey grab bag.

John Matisz is theScore's senior hockey writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To understand who Joel Eriksson Ek is, one must first understand who he isn't.

The agitating Minnesota Wild center isn't a trash talker like Brad Marchand; he isn't a menace like Tom Wilson; he isn't a bull in a china shop like Matthew Tkachuk.

No, Eriksson Ek is a special breed of agitator: he's a 6-foot-3, 208-pound Swede who leaves little to no room between him and the other team's best players every shift - all while keeping his mouth shut and penalty tally low.

"If you ask top players, you'll hear a lot of the same things," Wild assistant coach Darby Hendrickson said of Eriksson Ek's burgeoning reputation. "He has his own way, his own style of agitating without running around or running his mouth. He just plays an in-your-face, hard, gritty game."

"There's guys that make a conscious effort to go out and be annoying and be that rat, that in-your-face guy," added Dean Evason, Minnesota's head coach. "He doesn't make an effort to do that, it's just who he is."

In a year where the Wild have been reshaped by the transcendent play of rookie Kirill Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek is enjoying a statement season, too. There's a decent chance he finishes in the top five in voting for the Selke Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward. He's also officially arrived as a goal-scorer, sitting tied for seventh in the league in even-strength goals with 19.

Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek have helped Minnesota accumulate a 35-14-5 record that translates to the third-highest points percentage in the West Division. In the first round of the playoffs, the Wild will likely meet the second-seeded Colorado Avalanche, a popular preseason Stanley Cup pick and offensive powerhouse. (There's still a chance for the Avalanche to win the division and push Vegas into the first-round matchup with Minnesota.)

However, if any Wild center has been primed for the shutdown assignment, it's Eriksson Ek.

His line - with Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno on the wings - has flourished this year against stiff competition. In the 296 five-on-five minutes they've been on the ice together, the Wild own 70% of the goals (19-8) and 67% of the expected goals (12-6), according to data at Evolving Hockey. Meanwhile, five-on-five shot attempts are close to even at 49% (222-210).

Those numbers suggest the trio - which has gone head-to-head with lines powered by Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan O'Reilly, Mark Stone, and Anze Kopitar - helps Minnesota suppress shots at the defensive end while converting a high rate of scoring chances in the offensive third.

"They're a line that we use defensively, they're a line that we use offensively, (and for) momentum shifting," Evason said. "Once we score, we like to put them on so that we have a shift in their end. They've just done everything for us; they've led our hockey club, no question."

Eriksson Ek, who's in the thick of the action seemingly every shift, is the line's fulcrum. The cerebral 24-year-old is positionally sound in all three zones, and his combination of above-average skating ability and strength gives him the inside track during puck battles. He's rarely, if ever, outworked.

The tension between him and his opponents tends to boil over between whistles. It's not uncommon to watch Eriksson Ek emerge from a scrum with a blank stare while the guy who just face-washed him emerges animated and fuming.

"He's a pain in the ass to play against," former Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He'll play you tough but he's not a fighter. Europeans, they don't fight over there. I think it frustrates an awful lot of guys who want to beat him up."

Eriksson Ek hasn't been assessed a single fighting major in 264 career NHL games - though there have been a few close calls over the years, including this memorable 2019 mugging courtesy of Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel:

Eriksson Ek doesn't let his emotions get the better of him, a temperament that gives him the rare ability to walk the line between legal and illegal defending. He boasts a career penalty differential of plus-19. In 2020-21 alone, he's impressively drawn 17 minors and taken only nine.

Eriksson Ek claims all of this - the irritating nature of his game, the complete disinterest in fighting, the night-to-night discipline - "comes natural."

"I try to play the right way and do the small things right. I try to play close to guys," he said in a recent interview with theScore. "It's not always about hitting someone as hard as you can. It's about making people stop and about getting in front of them to take away speed. I think it's very important."

Eriksson Ek is known for being unfailingly humble and, in Hendrickson's words, is "low maintenance." He redirects praise for his effective playing style to a Swedish hockey system that strongly encourages all skaters, even skilled forwards, to master the minutia of the game. "You learn how to play defense early, how to use your stick properly, how to be in lanes to take away passes and just be on top of guys defensively," Eriksson Ek said.

Like many Swedish kids born in the 1990s, Eriksson Ek grew up cheering for the Detroit Red Wings because of Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom. He and his younger brother Olle - who's now a goalie for the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate in San Diego - were raised less than a mile from a hockey rink in Karlstad, a mid-sized city a few hours west of Stockholm. Their father Clas played professionally for the local SHL team and coached for a few years after that, while mother Anna often worked at the arena, too.

When not in school or at the rink, the brothers shot pucks in the driveway or, when it was too cold outside, engaged in ball hockey battles in the garage. "Almost every night ended up with a fight," Olle, 21, laughed. "When you're a kid, you hate your brother and at the same time, you love him.

"Even now, in the summers, it can get heated," OIle added. "I think that's getting both of us better. We know each other so (well) that we can cross the line sometimes. But we'll always be fine afterward."

Olle is in no way surprised by his brother's offensive explosion, which is underlined by the fact Eriksson Ek scored only five more goals than the 19 he's bagged in 54 games this year in the previous four seasons combined.

"Every goal he has right now is at even strength, right?" Olle said. "Yeah, I've seen him put up a lot of goals in power play in juniors. I am 100% sure he can be doing that in the NHL, too."

For now, check out the list of players with more even-strength goals than Eriksson Ek:

Eriksson Ek isn't on the ice nearly as often as the top scorers listed above, though he does rank second among Wild forwards in ice time (17:04). Up until this season, Boudreau and Evason had veterans Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal ahead of Eriksson Ek on the depth chart, which limited his impact on the scoresheet.

"I always thought he could score. We just didn't see him getting it off or getting it away (fast or often enough)," Boudreau said. "And so this year he's obviously got the confidence because he started off so well. He's the No. 1 center on that team and it's really showing well for him."

Former Wild goalie Alex Stalock used the words "unbelievable" and "underrated" to describe Eriksson Ek's shot. "I wouldn't say it's the first thing that comes to mind when people think about him, but his shot is a weapon," said Stalock, who's now with the Edmonton Oilers. "Finally he's getting the opportunity where he can use it and be effective, and he's getting chances. You look at his point total (30) and his goal total this year and it shows that."

Eriksson Ek's 17th goal of the season, scored in late April against the St. Louis Blues, showcased his size, skating, and shot particularly well:

Even when Koivu and Staal were in St. Paul, the Wild seemed to be on a perpetual search for center depth and goal scoring. That's partially why ex-general manager Chuck Fletcher selected Eriksson Ek 20th overall in 2015 despite there being a strong case for drafting sniping winger Brock Boeser, a Minnesota native.

"There were always questions, people saying, 'Well, Brock Boeser's from here,' but in the back of your mind, when you're up close and seeing what he does every single day, you're happy to have him on your side," Stalock said of Eriksson Ek. "If you're building a team, you want a guy who plays his style on your roster."

Part of the appeal of Eriksson Ek is his outsized dedication to staying in peak shape. After "absolutely crushing" fitness tests in the Wild's 2019 training camp, Stalock and his old teammates honored the worker bee by wearing "Mr. September" T-shirts featuring a stoic Eriksson Ek riding a stationary bike.

"We can get off the ice and everyone is absolutely dead," Olle said of summer workouts in Karlstad. "And this guy is just out of his gear in five minutes and on his way out to the gym. He always needs to do something."

Eriksson Ek is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He's due for a sizeable raise after earning roughly $1.5 million annually over the past two years. Reached by text message, Eriksson Ek's agent Claude Lemieux told theScore extension talks are being saved for the offseason.

"I'm sure (Wild GM Bill Guerin) and I will talk when the season is over and look at different options," Lemieux said. "We are always open for long term … of course the terms need to work for both the team and the player."

(For what it's worth, Evolving Hockey's contract projection tool predicts Eriksson Ek's price will be about $4.4 million annually on a four-year deal.)

Of course, there are more pressing short-term matters for both player and team. The Avs defeated the Wild 5-3 in the season series, and MacKinnon racked up three goals and 11 assists in seven games. If the two teams meet, there will be no easy shifts against a Colorado squad that scores 3.44 goals a game.

That said, the playoffs are a different beast. Coaches switch to line-matching and the level of physicality ramps up. This, in theory, opens the door for Eriksson Ek and his linemates to frustrate the hell out of the MacKinnon trio … right?

"MacKinnon, of course, is a horse. But Ek is the type of guy you want in your lineup to go against him every night," Hendrickson said. "I think everyone on our team, including our staff, feels 100% confident in that. He understands how, with the defensive part of the game, to be on the right side of it."

After Eriksson Ek's breakout, it's no longer a farfetched ambition the Wild could be a problem in the postseason.

John Matisz is theScore's senior hockey writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com)

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.