The theory that the Canadian systematically plays well against good teams took a hit against the Bruins. Saturday evening, in the middle of TD Garden in Boston, the Habs were humiliated 9 to 4.
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Humiliated is not a weak word. While their favorites were beating their long-time rivals, Bruins fans began chanting, as a sign of derision, the famous “Olé!” Olé! Olé” so dear to those of the Canadian. We even waved for several seconds. Another custom specific to Montreal hockey fans.
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Embarrassed by the way his troops behaved, Martin St-Louis called on their pride, while the employees of the TD Garden were busy collecting the dozens of caps that littered the ice rink.
Danton Heinen had just scored the first hat trick of his career.
“Show some fucking pride (Show some fucking pride) », We could read on the lips of the coach, who was ruminating on his anger.
St-Louis was right to be angry. His teammates had then visibly thrown in the towel.
Samuel Montembeault, who made his seventh start in the last 10 games, was shown the way to the showers after allowing eight goals on 30 shots. We were then about halfway through the third engagement. But the Quebecer is not the only player dressed in red to be responsible for this setback.
The Maginot line
In the morning, St-Louis defended his team’s defensive play by emphasizing that he was comfortable with the way they were doing in their territory. However, it seems that his men did everything to make him look bad. Six of the Bruins’ nine goals were scored on shots taken near the Montreal net. Another was from the top of the enclave.
And that’s without counting the occasions when Montembeault had the last word. Because he saved his teammates on a few occasions during the first two periods. In short, the enclave was as well protected… as the Maginot Line.
On certain goals, we were hypnotized by the puck carrier, forgetting that there was an opponent in our blind spot. On other occasions, Canadiens players have lost coverage by simply stopping skating. This was the case for Jordan Harris on Brandon Carlo’s goal and Nick Suzuki for Charlie Coyle’s goal.
Speaking of the captain, he received another penalty in offensive territory. A punishment for laziness which allowed Heinen, a few moments later, to take advantage of the massive attack to complete his hat trick.
Casually, the Habs had just conceded a 15th goal in two games.
A little positive
The score does not indicate it, but the Canadian was in the game for 40 minutes of play. And it is, curiously, thanks to his massive attack, the Habs took advantage of two of their three numerical superiorities. It was only the fifth time this season that the rushing offense produced a double. Against the best penalty kill unit at home, no less. It’s worth pointing out.
In this losing cause, Cole Caufield became the youngest Canadian player, since Steve Shutt (1974-1975), to move the strings in a fifth consecutive game. Sean Monahan had three assists (good for his value) and Joshua Roy had the second point of his career.
You cannot accuse me of only seeing the negative. But there is work to be done.