But above all, have you considered that the Capitals are… really big, really fat, really strong? We’re talking about an imposing, playoff-bound team that ranks second in average height and sixth in average weight in the NHL. The Canadiens, on the other hand, rank in the middle of the pack for weight, but second-to-last for height. And there are no players of the stature of Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson in the Capitals’ first two units. I’m not saying that the physical aspect is the whole equation, but one fact remains: it’s not necessarily the CH’s identity. In Montreal, we finish the checks, but we’re not mean. A lack of personnel, perhaps, but above all a decision by the coaching staff. We already knew that Xhekaj wasn’t the favorite. With Martin St-Louis’ six favorite defensemen, the Sheriff has skipped his turn in nine of the Canadiens’ last ten games. In a nutshell. Are you surprised that Montreal got its ass kicked by Washington? You shouldn’t be… And yet… The Habs took the best team in the East to overtime last night. If St-Louis and his assistants decided that their best way to win was without #72, it’s because they believe in this recipe. Let’s face it, spanking everything in your path isn’t the only strategy that works in the playoffs. The proof? I repeat: the Habs took the best team in the East to overtime last night, without Xhekaj, and thanks to a late-game domination of the Caps. The devil’s advocate would tell you that changing the lineup of a club that forced overtime against a superior club wouldn’t be the best of ideas. Let’s calm down a bit, and reassess after game #2. – Always good stories.