What's the biggest factor for the new Habs momentum ?

[Milhouse40]

What's the biggest factor for this year's turnaround ?

At the end of November, Habs were at the bottom of the standings at 31.
And then, a lot of things happened in the same months.

Now the Habs are looking like a whole different team out there.
I'm sure it's a combination of many things, but if you have to put one on top of the other, which one is it?

This is the Habs since Laine returned from injury
Of course his return mark the beginning of this year's turnaround but let's be honest here, Laine has been tremoundous on the PP but somewhat average at 5-on-5.

Laine missed 4 games and the Habs were 3-1-0 in those 4 games.

This is the Habs since Kent traded Barron for Carrier.
It's a good trade for the Habs but Carrier is Carrier....not Hedman. At the moment of the trade, Carrier had 7pts in 28 games and he already have 7 pts in 12 games with the Habs.

There's only 20 D in the league with more points during that stretch.
Is it on Carrier or Hugues.....or even MSL ?

This is the Habs since Dobes joined the team.
Small sample for Dobes and even if he didn't play in most games, he still took 33% of them since he is here.
With 3-0-0 record
0.97 GAA and 95.9% SV

All against top teams, all on the road......If those W were L, we would singning a very different tune in here.

And there's the other option.
Since Laine's return, there's only one player that is at the top of the NHL at his position.
Lane Hutson....he's even slightly outproducing Makar since December 3rd.

Mostly impressive, he put up points in 14 games out of the 19.
That's not everyday that an all-star is explosing before our eyes and it surely affect all the team.

One pick only!
Feel free to add others.

Click to read more...

 

[the]

A bit of every thing but it’s mainly because of Patrik Laine.

 

[Frankenheimer]

MSL

 

[LesCactus]

If this continues, surely MSL could take home the Jack Adams?

 

[boompuffboom]

Patty, Laner, Kaiden, Cole and Nick, Carrier, Sam, MSL, Jake the Snake and the 4th, Kirby fighting his way back, and all the boys playing fast and hard, playing with BALLS.

 

[morhilane]

November 11th marked when the team started to gel defensively and putting on a much better collective effort and stopped the hemorrhage.
December 3rd was Laine's return, which resulted in the forwards all falling into the right chair allowing the team to roll 4 lines.
December 18th was Carrier's acquisition, which resulted in the dmen all falling into the right chair allowing for a very stable defense.

Every players in the right chair means everyone is in the right spot to succeed, but also better energy management all around. When Pezz/Struble have to slot in, it start to break a bit and you see more errors and more tired players.

After they started to win more often and in more convincing manner, the players's confidence in their abilities also grew. Dach started to return to form. Slaf as well. Soon it will be Laine who's still not 100% at 5v5. They started to become more physical. It's a snowballing mental effect.

 

[Milhouse40]

If this continues, surely MSL could take home the Jack Adams?

I added MSL to the poll.....He does deserve credits for how he turned that season around.
Once Laine's return, he stick to the lines he had already planned in preseason and it's paying.