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***Benpachi*** · 10-30-2023, 02:31 PM

The Montreal Patriotes were, in several seasons, the best team to not win the cup. This article will be focusing on Season 71, where the Patriotes finished 3rd in the League, with a record of 50 - 15 - 1, and a Goal Differential of +132. We will explore the individual performances that brought them as far as they did, as well as what made the team succesful. Now, before we dive into looking at stats, I should specify that Season 71 saw the Patriotes have their best REGULAR SEASON finish. If we have time, we will examine the Season 70 playoffs, where the Patriotes fell to New England in game seven of the second round.

To begin, the Season 71 Patriotes were lead by a number of strong individual performances. First, selfishly, let's look at Roderic Banes. Playing team-high minutes, he averaged just over 23 minutes of ice per game, including 3:18 with the man advantage, and 2:04 on the penalty kill. He finished with a career high, for his years as a defender, with 57 points (16G, 41A). He also lead the team in Takeaways with 76. As a cherry on top, he also finished the season going 100% in the face off circle, descending from the blue line to take exactly 1 face off.
In the playoffs, the numbers tell a different story. Despite great success in the regular season, Roddy was unable to produce in post season play, putting up only 1 Assist in their first round sweep by the Buffalo Stampede. He held the team lead in ice time once more, with 23:13, and lead again in Takeaways, with 6, and held a share of the team lead in Hits with 7.

Alongside Banes, their leading RHD in Jonathon Hagan had an excellent season, matching his then career high Assists in a Season with 36, and showing a respectable +40. He trailed Roderic Banes by less than half a minute, coming in 2nd on the team with a ATOI of 22:44. Second on the team in Blocked Shots, with 128, and 5th on the team in Hits with 83, his physical, defensive game stood out from his peers.
Next, let's look at the dynamic goalie tandem of perennial superstar Brick Wall, and the Robin to his Batman: Valerian Sauveterre. Brick posted an excellent 38 - 15 - 1 record in regular season play, facing over 1700 shots and holding a respectable 2.78 GAA, a SV% of .914, capped off with 5 shutouts. Behind him, Savueterre was no slouch, going an eye watering 12-0, picking up 4 shutouts, and posting a healthy 1.55 GAA, and a SV% of .936. How did these two fare in the post season? Not great. Brick went 0 - 3, with a 4.34 GAA, and a SV% of .885, and Sauveterre lost the one game he started, with a GAA of 3.04 and a SV% of .912.

Let's take a look at some standout performances from the forward group. While many Patriotes would post career years later in Season 72, this season had its share of strong performances. Montreal finished the season with 3 Forwards in the top 12 in league scoring. Groguup Mandosson with 96 (32G, 64A), Sconnie McHits with 96 (36G, 60A), and Mads McBride with 95 (48G, 47A). With five 30 goal scorers, and five PPG+ players, the Patriotes were a well-rounded team, with a dynamic and exciting top 6.

So what happened? So dominant in the regular season, to get swept in the first round of the playoffs is a mighty fall. Let's dive into their opponent.
Buffalo finished 5th overall, with a +96 Goal Differential, and were aided by the strong performances if Konstantin Selich, who finished 7th overall in league scoring with 103 (47G, 56A), and Greyson Cooper who finished 7th in league Goals, with 61. Collectively, the Stampede were the best defensive team in the regular season, finishing with a 3.05 GA/GP, the lowest in the league, and a 30.27 SA/GP, good enough for 8th. These defensive metrics, combined with their goaltending, show how they were able to stymie the Patriotes offense in the playoffs.
Buffalo's starting goaltender, Casey Fantobens, had a career year for SV% with .911, with 2.94 GAA.

Between goaltending falling off for the Patriotes, and the strong defensive numbers from the Stampede, combined with a career year from HOF-likely Konstantin Selich, the Patriotes simply couldn't compete.
Was bad luck a factor? Probably. Did Montreal go too hard in regular season, and run out of steam in post? Also probably.
Were the S69-S72 Patriotes one of the best teams to never win the cup? Again, probably. Hars fought series, conceded to opponents who went on deep runs, if not to win it all. Here's hoping the rebuild is swift, and playoff hockey returns to the great hockey city soon.

chetib · 11-01-2023, 05:35 PM

Approved @Benpachi @CptSquall

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