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The Canadiens missed Joel Armia’s puck management in Game 1

Montreal missed Joël Armia in Game 1.

Jake Evans brings a different set of skills to a line than his large Finnish counterpart. The young forward adds quickness, backchecking pressure, and a playmaking touch, but some of these abilities are redundant inside the team — or at least, they aren’t as unique as Armia’s. No one can protect the disc and keep defenders at bay low in the offensive zone as effectively as him. His presence adds a whole new dimension to the formation; it diversifies its attack.

The more diverse an offence is, the harder it is to shut down.