There have been a total of nine goals through two games in this series, and that includes an empty netter with two seconds left in Game 2. Low-scoring games haven’t been anything new for these squads either. Both the Capitals and Canadiens faded down the stretch of the regular season with their goal-scoring drying up. Dating back to April 6, the Capitals have scored three goals or fewer in seven of eight contests with a total of 18 goals in that span. The Canadiens have scored more than three goals just once in their last six games and twice in their last nine. In total, Montreal has 21 goals in its last nine games. Logan Thompson and Sam Montembeault have been able to erase chances at both sides of the ice in this series, and there’s no reason to think that won’t continue.
After stopping 29 shots in consecutive games, I’m surprised Montembeault is trading at a 24.5 saves total for Game 3. Not only has he posted an excellent .921 save percentage with 2.12 goals saved above expected, the Canadiens allowing shots in bunches dates back to the regular season. Montreal finished the regular season with a 28th-ranked 47.5 Corsi For percentage and five-on-five, and the Habs allowed the ninth-most shots per game (29), after all. The Capitals have also sat on a lead in consecutive games with a 41.1 CF% in the third period to start the series. I’m expecting Washington to tidy that up, which should also result in a few more late shooting opportunities for the Caps.