The Canadian lost three games in a row for the second time this season. He has only one victory in his last five outings in front of his supporters. The numerical advantage gloomy in the last rank of the NHL and indiscipline comes back more and more often to haunt the team.
What could be better than a long seven-game journey to do the dirty laundry with the family and get back to the basics that have kept the team looking good more often than not since the start of the campaign?
“It’s time to find yourself a little. I think we are comfortable abroad. It’s not that we’re far away at home, but there are games where we don’t give ourselves a chance because we have to kill penalties all the time. So we’re going to try to find our discipline on the road,” summed up head coach Martin St-Louis after a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at the Bell Center.
St. Louis admitted that while he hasn’t always agreed with referees’ decisions in recent games, his players are also committing acts that expose them to judgment by officials.
“You have to control your stick. You have to avoid putting yourself in a position where the referee could crack down on you, St-Louis reminded. Sometimes the decisions are harsh. Yes, I find that it often happens that we are victims of questionable decisions. But it’s up to us to fix that. It can’t always be the fault of the referees. »
One of the weirdest trends in recent games has been the goals scored in the first two periods. The Canadian has allowed 12 goals against the opposition in the first 40 minutes of play in its last five games. He scored none, each time having to attempt a comeback in the third period.
“I think we’re generating chances, but we’re not scoring,” said Nick Suzuki, who ended a five-game drought by hitting the target against the Lightning.
The Habs captain felt the holiday trip was timely for him and his teammates. Although he can’t put his finger on the reasons for this, Suzuki believes that the Canadian may be playing a little better abroad these days.
“It’s hard to explain because we play the same type of hockey,” Suzuki said.
The Canadiens have a home record of 7-9-0. His record on opposing rinks is 7-6-2.
The holiday season trip is often seen as a pivotal moment in the Canadiens’ season. It was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, but the Habs had lost all three games in a season that was already adrift.
“It may be weird to say, but it’s going to be good to get out of here and hang out with the guys,” said Jonathan Drouin. We are not thinking of the seven games, but just the three before Christmas. It would be nice to win at least two! We will see. »
The Canadian will play against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, then against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and finally against the Dallas Stars on Friday. The second leg of the trip, from December 28 to January 3, will include games against the Lightning, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators.
Before flying to Arizona, the Canadian recalled forward Anthony Richard from the Laval Rocket and traded Rem Pitlick to his school club.
Richard led the Rocket with 18 goals and 31 points in 27 games this season. The native of Trois-Rivières will be on his first trip with the Canadiens. He played two NHL games with the Nashville Predators during his career.