“Victory, yes, but it’s not a goal in itself, too many variables come into play for victories to serve as a measuring instrument to assess collective and individual progress”, the coach often repeated. Guy Boucher.
Posted at 11:43 a.m.
This principle applies well to Martin St-Louis’ first game as Canadiens coach on Thursday night. Montreal lost, but outrageously dominated the game from the second period. They got double the shots from the opponent, which we hadn’t seen yet this season.
Among these variables, a broken young goalkeeper, unable to make basic saves, and very generous with his returns to his feet, the worst thing for a defense which tries not to burn itself out chasing an opponent in its zone.
Fans have been screaming for years that the Canadiens shouldn’t pay so much for a goalie like Carey Price and that all it takes is top forwards and an ordinary goaltender to win. Price is on the sidelines and we’re awfully bored.
Colleague Simon-Olivier Lorange posed the question of the day, and of the year, to Jeff Gorton on Thursday, asking him if he thought he had done enough to help coach Dominique Ducharme.
The VP of hockey operations stammered out a semblance of an answer, only to admit that it was a very good question.
Gorton could have replied that the Canadian already has 48 players under contract, two less than the allowed limit, that he wants to keep some leeway, and that we are a bit caught in quicksand while waiting to know the fate of Price, who activates every morning in the hope of a return to the game.
But if Price’s knee gives out a third time, if Samuel Montembeault, a correct temporary solution, remains inconvenienced by his wrist injury, a solution will have to be found to help St-Louis, whose best concepts will be annihilated without a solid goalkeeper.
Otherwise we saw some interesting things against the Washington Capitals. We won’t be fooled by Jeff Petry’s comments about the team’s defensive coverage. You can’t introduce a new game concept without any training. On the other hand, we could see a slightly more hybrid defensive model and more active defenders. But the real concepts won’t be visible to the naked eye for a few weeks.
On offense, we saw much more active and quick players. A renewed enthusiasm is always normal with the arrival of a new coach, whom we seek to impress.
The break was beneficial to Cole Caufield and the appointment of his childhood idol behind the bench (he wore 26 in the minor ranks in honor of St. Louis) seemed to galvanize him. He not only scored, but was CH’s most threatening player in attack.
With Martin St-Louis, the Canadiens will focus on speed. Players will suffer. Joel Armia had a tough game. What a sad feeling to see Brendan Gallagher struggling without results on the ice. His loss of speed is obvious. He always seems to be short of time in the neutral zone (the Capitals’ first goal was the result, among other things, of a second turnover on his part in as many appearances) and he can no longer break through the opposing defensive wall.
St-Louis will quickly identify problems and gradually players unable to adjust to the team’s new style of play will be traded or, if unwilling, placed in lesser roles. And so, step by step, the Canadian will be able to climb back up the slope, one step at a time…
Changes in Edmonton too…
Martin St-Louis is no longer the coach with the least longevity in the NHL. Shortly after he was hired, the Edmonton Oilers fired Dave Tippett and replaced him with American League coach Jay Woodcroft. It remains an admission of failure for GM Ken Holland, who had set his sights on Tippett when he arrived in Edmonton in May 2019. The Oilers are six points behind the Anaheim Ducks and the last place giving access to the playoffs , but they have four more games to play. Tippett can empathize with Dominique Ducharme. Both weren’t helped by their guardians…
Do not miss !
1- Despite bruised ribs and a punctured lung, Claude Julien was able to join the Canadian team in Beijing. Alexander Pratt spoke to him!
2- There is a very, very cold war between Norway and Russia over frozen athletes. The continuation in this other delicious chronicle of Yves Boisvert, of his keyboard in Beijing!
3- While Martin St-Louis is taking his first steps with the Canadiens and the Games are in full swing in Beijing, there will be a Super Bowl on Sunday and Miguel Bujold is preparing you for it!