Outshot By 20? In The NHL Playoffs, That’s Not Always A Problem

BusinessSportsMoneyOutshot By 20? In The NHL Playoffs, That’s Not Always A ProblemByGiovanni Malloy,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Giovanni Malloy, Ph.d, is a data scientist and sports analyst.Follow AuthorMay 08, 2026, 10:52am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 03: Jakub Dobes #75, Alexandre Carrier #45 and Kaiden Guhle #21 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 03, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe push notification looked like a glitch. The Montreal Canadiens had beaten the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series despite being outshot 29-9. Montreal had only nine shots on goal, went nearly 27 minutes without one, failed to register a single shot in the second period, and still won 2-1 on Alex Newhook’s third-period goal. It was the lowest shot total by a winning playoff team since shots on goal became an official statistic in 1959-60.That would be strange enough as a one-off. But it was not even the first time in this postseason that a team won a playoff game while being outshot by 20. On April 24, the Utah Mammoth beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their first-round series. Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves for Utah, while Vegas goalie Carter Hart made only eight, and Utah won its first home playoff game in franchise history despite being outshot by the same 20-shot margin.SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 24: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera.) Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a goal during the second period against the Utah Mammoth in Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center on April 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Hunte...