In hockey, as in life in general, bad starts are rarely survived.
In our case, bad starts refer to this propensity to start something after everyone else, late and behind. Often a bad start leads to disaster, for example when Axl Rose started a show with a big delay in August 1992 at the Olympic Stadium, which led to nothing less than a riot.
Fortunately, there was no riot this Saturday night at the Bell Center, but there was a bad start, and also a victory for the Los Angeles Kings, by a score of 4-2.
The bad start was that of the Canadian, behind by two goals after some 10 minutes of play. For long minutes, the Canadian’s shot counter remained stuck at the same number: 5.
The start of the match was difficult. We had no energy. It’s a bit normal when you come back from a long trip in the West; the first encounter afterwards is difficult. We continued to push afterward despite everything. But with their 1-3-1 game system, the Kings defended the red line and their blue line really well.
Martin St Louis
There has also been a lot of talk about the Kings’ game system at the end of the evening in the Montreal locker room. All the players present spoke of the many headaches caused by this kind of iron curtain in hockey, which forces everyone out of their own system of play.
We saw that amply in the 1990s, but obviously, the players of the Canadian did not expect it.
The Kings waited back and forced us to shoot the puck deep in the end, with one of their defensemen waiting far behind to get it…it’s not a fun style of hockey.
Cole Caufield
It is perhaps in such a game that Martin St-Louis’ lack of experience behind a bench may seem a bit. As a player, St. Louis has seen teams play like this before, but as a coach, the reaction time is different, and the strategic adjustments must also come from him.
“I have to do a better job than that to help the guys,” he admitted. I’ll take the blame for that, that’s for sure. The idea is to send the puck to the right places because the last defender is hollow in his zone. We’re going to study that…”
But deep down, maybe the stories of bad starts and hard-to-fight systems aren’t among the biggest issues to pin down at the Canadiens.
On this Saturday evening, the goals came from the same (Caufield, then Hoffman, who was playing very well before his injury), while they are still the same as we expect. The top line was defeated and then remade, but in the end, players like Armia and Dadonov, who should produce more, are a drag.
“There are no excuses,” said Kirby Dach. We have to be better than that, especially early in the game, and we weren’t. It’s a match that we could have won…”
The presence of Martin St-Louis has proven to be a remedy since he landed here, but now, for the first time perhaps, we see players turning to him in search of answers.
Rising
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Mike Hoffman
Mike Hoffman
In his first game back, the forward picked up exactly where he left off with another goal, his sixth of the season.
Falling
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Joel Armia
Joel Armia
He still hasn’t scored since the start of the season, and his presence in the line-up is becoming harder and harder to justify.
The number of the match
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Arber Xhekaj, ahead of Blake Lizotte (46)
5
Number of Canadian shots in the first period
They said
It’s not easy to recover after starting a game late in this league…
Martin St Louis
The Kings have a club that is very well structured. Their game system is difficult to break through, especially in the neutral zone. It’s a team that’s similar to the Calgary Flames: they’re bigger, they’re heavier.
Jake Allen
It’s difficult to play against a club like the Kings…
Mike Hoffman
I once played for a club that played a game system similar to the Kings, and I can tell you that it gives opponents headaches…
Chris Wideman
In details
Less stress, more fun
Phillip Danault was only on his second visit to the Bell Center since leaving the Canadiens and signing with the Kings in the summer of 2021. On his first visit, on November 9, 2021, he had only registered no points in a 3-2 overtime victory. On Saturday, he had an assist on the Kings’ second base, in addition to directing three shots on net and winning 54% of his faceoffs (14 of 26). He also came very close to scoring on a nice pass from Trevor Moore early in the game. The Quebecer was satisfied with his performance and that of his team after the game. He also played in front of his family from Victoriaville. “It was still solid. Better than last year’s game. It was a little less stressful and more exciting, he said. […] I was stronger, I was winning my battles and my face-offs. These are small details. My passes were better too. I just had more fun to play than the last time. »
Straight from the North Pole
Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley blocked 20 of the Canadiens’ 22 shots in the win. Besides how he spells his name, there are several interesting facts about Copley. First, he is from the North Pole, in Alaska; two candy canes have also been painted on the front of his helmet, in reference to his part of the country. At 30, Copley was recalled from the American League on 1er last December. His last game in the NHL was then on February 8, when he belonged to the Washington Capitals. Since his recall, Copley has scored two wins in two games. “He shines, honestly,” Phillip Danault said of the Cerberus. He is solid for us. […] I think he was solid in the American League as well. He fully deserved his place. You see he is hungry. He wants to become better and make a difference. That’s what he does. »
boos
For a rare time this season, the Bell Center crowd made their team feel their impatience. Boos were heard a few times, especially at the end of the first period, when the Kings had possession of the puck in the CH zone for the last 2 minutes 30 seconds of the engagement. “We were happy that the period was over! launched Martin St-Louis on this subject. […] I don’t think we brought that in the second half. With the punishments, it was hard to give yourself a chance. Indeed, after 25 minutes of play, the Canadian had directed only five pucks on goal. Then, in the third period, despite being down 2-0, he took 11 minutes 41 seconds before hitting two shots. Sequences that can be described as not very thrilling.
Katherine Harvey Pinard