Special teams and goaltending will play key roles in the third round between Montreal and Carolina. Right now, the playoff numbers greatly differ from the regular season numbers in both regards.

Montreal’s second-round series gets underway tonight in Buffalo. Here are some numbers to keep in mind as the series goes along.

The Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens series will probably be one of the most exciting series in the first round. Let’s take a closer look at some of the behind-the-scenes numbers of the series.

While there was a bit of a dip at the end of the season, consistency was a strong point for the Habs in 2025-26. That allowed them to blow past their 2024-25 numbers while allowing several key players to hit significant milestones as well.

In an Eastern Conference playoff battle that looks like it’s going to come down to the wire, Montreal’s consistency in several areas could ultimately be the key to help secure them a postseason position.

Montreal’s overall consistency this season has helped put them in a strong position heading into the final month and a very important stretch run. But, of course, there’s now a potential goalie controversy brewing.

At the 60-game mark of the season, nearly three-quarters of the campaign have come and gone. The Habs continue to play with plenty of consistency in five-game segments, even though their game-to-game performances can still vary greatly.

While the Habs have been a high-scoring team this season, they’ve also allowed quite a few. How do they stack up against the top defensive teams in the NHL and where are the areas for improvement?

The Habs have experimented with several wingers alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the top line so far this season. Which combination has been the best one?

At the Olympic break, the Habs are well ahead of their points pace from last season, putting them in a good spot in the standings. Some of their underlying stats, however, are a little perplexing.