(Ottawa) With the time for assessments fast approaching for the Canadian, it will be interesting to hear the analysis that management will make of the many matches decided by a goal.
View the match summary
The Habs just had another one on Saturday, a 5-4 shootout loss at the hands of the Ottawa Senators, who erased four one-goal deficits.
This season, the Montrealers outrageously dominate the NHL with 42 of these games decided by a single goal – the circuit average is 31. For a long time, this statistic was seen as proof that Martin St-Louis’ men were getting closer to the good ones. teams.
Does this, however, demonstrate an improvement compared to last season? It depends from what angle you approach it.
In 2022-2023, CH has found itself in a match decided by one goal 31 times. He has won 17 of those (17-8-6). This season, out of 42 appearances, he has won… 17 (17-11-14). We might as well say that the success rate (.405) is considerably lower than last year (.548) when the meeting is particularly close. Note also that since Sean Monahan was traded, the record in this regard is 2-9-6 (rate of.118).
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Nick Suzuki scuffles along the ramp with defender Jake Sanderson
We will indeed recognize a virtue in finding ourselves in these duels fought until the end – in theory, at least. But what is the value of this experience if the proportion of victories in such circumstances, rather than increasing, decreases?
It comes down to the little details. We can tighten that up by next year to be on the right side. If we win more, we will be in a position to make the playoffs.
Alex Newhook
In fact, the Canadian currently finds himself 13 points behind the Washington Capitals, the last team drafted if the playoffs started today. If she had simply maintained her cruising speed from last season in matches decided by one goal, the Flannel would have six more points in the bank. This would of course be insufficient to stretch the spring, but it would mean that the number of matches with real stakes would have been higher.
Delays
Let’s continue. Last season, CH lost 45 games in regulation time and 6 in overtime or shootouts. This season, the split is more like 36-14. We will therefore deduce that setbacks in 60 minutes turned into setbacks in more than 60 minutes.
Again, it’s more or less exciting, especially when we see that after 80 games, the Habs are one victory (30) behind last season (31), and one victory in regulation time ( 20 against 21). In this last chapter, the team vegetates at 29e league rank, tied with the poor Anaheim Ducks, and ahead of the very poor Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.
After the defeat in Ottawa, Martin St-Louis clearly did not have a lecture to give on the subject of matches decided by one goal.
“The more we continue to improve as a team, the more we will be on the right side,” he predicted. This year, we were very competitive. These repetitions, at the end of the match, in close matches, whether you win or lose, you cannot buy them. It’s a great environment for our team to grow. »
PHOTO MARC DESROSIERS, USA TODAY SPORTS
Drake Batherson scores the winning goal in the shootout.
“Eventually,” he added, his group will be able to reverse the trend. How this will come to fruition is unclear. No clearer, in fact, than the collective growth of this team, whose offense will conclude the season with a similar number of goals scored to last year, and whose drop in the number of goals allowed is mainly attributable to brilliance of Samuel Montembeault and Jake Allen.
All is not gloomy, however. Cole Caufield, for example, scored his 26 on Saturdaye and 27e goals for the season, setting a new personal high. It took him 80 games to match and exceed his harvest over 46 games in 2022-2023, but hey…
PHOTO MARC DESROSIERS, USA TODAY SPORTS
Cole Caufield scores a goal past Joonas Korpisalo
In defeat, the main person concerned had absolutely no desire to celebrate this accomplishment. Martin St-Louis, for his part, recalled that “his whole game” had progressed this season, so much so that he was “happy that [Caufield] be rewarded.” His 37 assists, for a total of 64 points, confirm his coach’s words.
But again, this production, like those of Nick Suzuki, Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky, will have to be tested in a competitive context over 82 games.
We can only hope that this test will take place in 2024-2025. Because for a third year in a row, it’s about time for it to end.
Rising
Cole Caufield
Two goals, but also several good chances to score. If it weren’t for a wayward puck that slowly rolled across the goal line, he would have scored a hat trick.
Falling
Jayden Struble
His return to the left of David Savard was not very happy. The duels against the Senators’ first two lines were particularly difficult.
The number of the match
3
That’s how many penalties Ridly Greig has caused. Nick Suzuki, David Savard and Josh Anderson, respectively, were his “victims”. The Senators scored on the power play on all three occasions.
In details
Matheson in pursuit of Chelios
Obviously not satisfied with his already extraordinary haul of 60 points, Mike Matheson added two to his record on Saturday. He first scored a beautiful goal while shorthanded: taking advantage of the confusion of the Senators at the CH blue line, he stepped on the accelerator and sped alone to Joonas Korpisalo, whom he beat with a clever feint. With this 11e goal, he also equaled a personal best. Then, it was he who handed the disc to Caufield on the striker’s second goal of the match, which gave his club a 3-2 lead. With 62 points, Matheson now ranks 14e rank in Canadian history for a defender in one season. With two games remaining, the team record of 85, held by Larry Robinson, is obviously unattainable. However, if he reached the 65 mark, Matheson would sign the best production of a Montreal guard in 35 years, since Chris Chelios’ 73 points in 1988-1989.
Misses short of a man
The Canadian’s numerical disadvantage was sublime on Thursday evening, completely handcuffing the massive attack of the New York Islanders. In Ottawa, things went a little less well: the Senators took advantage of six power plays to score their first three goals. Brady Tkachuk twice took advantage of loose coverage around the net from Cayden Primeau. And Shane Pinto completed a perfect back pass from Claude Giroux, while the Canadian’s defensive squad seemed disoriented. It was a night to forget for the duo of Jake Evans and Joel Armia, who were on the ice for all three goals. “We took too many penalties and we had trouble with their numerical advantage,” analyzed Martin St-Louis. There is, in fact, not much to add on this subject. Primeau took the blame for the Senators’ goals, all scored with an extra man – the last one was scored six against five. “The goalie is supposed to be the best player on the penalty kill,” he said. This is a harsh criticism. But it’s not wrong that he didn’t save his club either.
Waiting for Lane Hutson
Martin St-Louis was cautious on Saturday morning in his remarks towards Lane Hutson. The young defender, dominant on the American college circuit, signed his first professional contract on Friday, and he will meet his new teammates this Sunday in Detroit. Even if his coach has not commented on his participation in Monday’s game against the Red Wings, we can bet that the new number 48 of the Habs will experience his NHL baptism that day. Many fans are excited to see this offensive prodigy make the jump to the Canadian, but at 5’10” and a little over 160 pounds, he will have his work cut out for him to compete against older and, above all, older players. tougher than him. “So far, he has proven at all levels that he has what it takes to have an impact in a match,” agreed St-Louis. There, we will have to see if he is capable of continuing to do that at this level. » The pilot, moreover, claims not to have had much time to study Hutson’s game. “What I see is a little bit of his highlights. It’s sure it’s fun to watch, but I like seeing the whole match. »
Simon-Olivier Lorange, The Press