The Montreal Canadiens are not equipped to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in blow-for-blow combat. They’re overmatched in skill, depth and competitive experience. In this matchup, only discipline and preparation will earn the red, white, and blue team the victory.
Fortunately, Montreal doesn’t head into this series blind. It’s unlikely that the Penguins have changed the formula that earned them success during the regular season. The Habs know their opponents — how they attack, how they defend, and specifically, how they defeated them in previous encounters. The tapes of those matches will have been dissected by a coaching staff searching for key strategic elements to relay to their team.