Predicting Which 5 Montreal Canadiens Will Have the Best Plus/Minus in 2014-15

The Montreal Canadiens are currently enjoying a Thanksgiving-week gift from the NHL schedule-makers, as they are in the midst of a four-day break between games. The Habs will return to the ice on Nov. 28 in Buffalo to kick-start a home-and-home series with the Sabres. 

The Canadiens are winning this season, with 33 points in 23 games. Based on that, you'd expect a solid plus number under goal differential and, by extension, some impressive individual plus/minus stats. 

But that hasn't really been the case. The Canadiens have lost just seven games but have been blown out in five of those, which has led to a mediocre plus-four goal differential. As a result of those lopsided losses, players' plus/minuses have taken a hit as well. 

There are, however, a couple of impressive numbers, notably from a pair of top-line forwards. But can they continue their excellent plus/minus pace to begin 2014-15? 

Here's a prediction of which five Montreal Canadiens will lead the team in plus/minus this season. 

Max Pacioretty

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Max Pacioretty

Max Pacioretty is generally known as being an offensive player. You earn that reputation when you score 39 goals, as he did last season. But Pacioretty is also a responsible defensive forward, and he has numbers to prove it. 

Pacioretty has been excellent in the plus/minus department throughout his career, finishing at plus-eight in each of the last two seasons. His career worst was a minus-five, which he recorded during the 2009-10 campaign. 

Through 23 games played this season, Pacioretty leads the Canadiens at plus-10. His ability to put the puck in the net obviously helps, but that doesn't always lead to a good plus/minus. Just ask Alex Ovechkin and his minus-35 rating last season. 

Pacioretty's plus-10 to start the season is no fluke. He's a scorer who can play in his own end, too. 

David Desharnais

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David Desharnais

David Desharnais is another player who might not get the full credit he deserves for his defensive play. So far this season, he has a solid plus-nine rating, just one back of Pacioretty. 

Obviously, getting to play with Pacioretty helps. But Desharnais plays a big role himself in his line's defensive success. For a small, skilled center, he holds his own defensively. 

His career numbers also prove that it's not just the Pacioretty effect driving up his plus/minus. The worst he's been in his career is a minus-three, back in 2010-11 when he split the season between Montreal and Hamilton. Since then, he has twice finished the season at plus-10 or above. 

While their right winger might change a few times throughout the season, Pacioretty and Desharnais will play together when healthy. They'll both continue to score and play defense, meaning they'll both be among the Canadiens' plus/minus leaders at season's end. 

Andrei Markov

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Andrei Markov

At just plus-two, it hasn't been the expected start for Andrei Markov in the plus/minus category. He was, after all, Montreal's best at plus-12 a year ago. So what's different this season?

Well, despite a dip in overall points, his even-strength point production on a per-game basis is exactly the same at 0.26. So he's doing his part offensively. 

Defensively, Markov has been solid...for the most part. 

The Montreal Canadiens have lost seven games this season. Five of those losses were absolute blowouts at the hands of the Rangers, Penguins, Blackhawks, Flames and Lightning, a series of games in which the Habs were outscored 27-3.

Those games hurt a lot of players' plus/minus ratings, but Markov has been hit especially hard. In those five losses, Markov was a combined minus-eight. 

And there lies the problem. Take away those blowout losses, and Markov is plus-10.

The Canadiens, for whatever reason, have lost by four or more goals in 71.4 percent of their losses so far this season. That number is ridiculous and won't last. The Canadiens will start to limit their goals against in their losses. 

When they do, Markov's (and others') on-ice goals against will drop and his plus/minus will rise. Expect him to be among the top five at season's end. 

P.K. Subban

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P.K. Subban

Through 23 games, P.K. Subban is an even zero in the plus/minus department. That number's not good enough, especially when you consider the fact that only Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi have worse numbers among defensemen who have played more than two games. 

Like Markov, Subban has suffered from terrible minus numbers in those five blowout losses previously mentioned. He was a minus-two against Tampa Bay and New York, a minus-three against Chicago and Calgary and a minus-one against Pittsburgh.

Add it all up, and P.K. is a minus-11 in those five games alone. 

The offense is always going to be there for Subban, perhaps even more so now that Markov seems to be his regular partner. He just needs to limit his goals against to get his plus/minus rating on track. 

Montreal will lose some lopsided games again this season, but not at the rate they have been. And as the goals against shrink, Subban's plus/minus will rise. He should be among the top five by April. 

Tomas Plekanec

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Tomas Plekanec

Let's ignore the 2011-12 season for a minute. You know, the one where the Canadiens finished dead last in the Eastern Conference and Tomas Plekanec finished minus-15 on the season.

Excluding that horrific year, Plekanec has just one other season in the minus side of things and has finished plus-10 or higher four times. He's terrific defensively and knows how to score, too. But if you're a Habs fan, you didn't need to be told that. 

So far this season, the 32-year-old sits tied for fifth on the team with a plus-three rating. He's tied for third (with Dale Weise) among forwards, behind Pacioretty and Desharnais. 

His current plus/minus pace (plus-three through 23 games) would have him finishing the year at just under plus-11. That number seems completely realistic for Plekanec, especially given his offensive output and his defensive abilities. 

Plekanec is Montreal's best two-way center, and his plus/minus usually reflects that. He'll likely be a leader once again at the end of the 2014-15 season.

All stats from NHL.com. 

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