2010 NHL Playoffs: Sharks and Habs in Tough, Down 2-0

Peter Laviolette has figured out how to beat the Montreal Canadiens and make it look so easy that both Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, and Penguins bench boss Dan Bylsma are probably smacking themselves in the forehead wondering "why didn't I think of that?"

The magic formula doesn't involve out working them, and out hitting them is of little consequence. Out shooting them?, you're getting warmer.

No, in fact the magic formula for beating the Montreal Canadiens is none of those things, and the Flyers bench boss has figured it out.

The Montreal Canadiens achilles heal in these 2010 NHL playoffs is none other than their savior, Jaroslav Halak.

Right now, I'm trying to avoid a barrage of profanity laced remarks and sharp object being hurled in my direction by fans of the Habs who think I'm either nuts, or stupid and they may be right, but before you judge me just hear me out.

The numbers don't lie. Bruce Boudreau either didn't see the numbers, or didn't think that they mattered with the offense he had.

Dan Bylsma was under the assumption, I think, that despite the numbers his Penguins could overcome anything by double shifting Sid the Kid and Malkin.

It's simple really. When Jaroslav Halak faces 35 shots or more, when he's busy, he is almost unbeatable with a playoffs record of 8-1.

On the other hand, when he faces fewer than 35 shots, he is an incredible 0-6. 

Now of course it may not be that simple. The Flyers need some one to keep the puck out of their net too, and Leighton is doing a good job of that.

He has stopped 70 consecutive shots, and has not allowed a goal since Boston's Milan Lucic scored 14:10 into the first period of the Flyers record setting game 7 against the Bruins.

The streak of 165:50 is the second-longest in franchise history behind Boucher, and he is the first Flyer goalie since the legendary Bernie Parent in 1975 to post consecutive playoff shutouts.

It may not be much of a surprise that goal tending is the key, in one way or another, to winning in these 2010 NHL Playoffs.

If Montreal is to mount a comeback and win this series, and let's face it, they can, they will need to find a way to get Halak more involved by allowing more shots to get through.

The San Jose Sharks are starting to head down a path that is all too familiar to both the team, and their fans.

It's too early to say that they are choking, but one has to wonder what happened to the team that we saw in the first round?

Joe Pavelski, for example, has scored only one goal since game two against the Detroit Red Wings and hasn't recorded a single point since game six of that same series.

Yet, he still leads the team in both goals and assists. This is not a good sign for Sharks fans.

The answer for the San Jose Sharks is an easy one, they need more scoring. Nabokov is a skilled enough goalie to keep them in a game but hasn't been great, and certainly not in the Halak's neighborhood. However, he has a .907 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average.

Not stellar numbers by any means but not bad either. What should be of bigger concern to Todd McLellan is the consistant drop off of goal production.

In round one against the Avalanche, the Sharks scored 19 goals or 3.16 goals per game. In the playoffs with an average goalie, that's good enough to win on most nights.

However, round two spelled trouble for an already unbalanced offense. The Sharks scored 15 goals in five games for a goals per game of three, which for the playoffs should guarantee a win.

So far in the third round against the Chicago Blackhawks, they have only mustered three goals on 72 shots.

If the Sharks don't find a way to get the puck past Chicago goalie, Antti Neimi, their season will be over before you can say, "Hey, has any one seen Jumbo?"