The Canadiens’ season has only 26 days, but the Montreal team already has 10 defeats to its name and still seems stuck under a black cloud.
After conceding a few embarrassing defeats at the start of the season, the Habs found a new way to embarrass themselves on Saturday. He lost 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights after experiencing a one-sided first period in which he forged a two-goal lead.
“Nobody likes to lose, and it happens far too often these days,” forward Nick Suzuki said after the game. We are trying our best. “We still have to stay positive,” he added.
Back in Montreal after a difficult trip to the American West, the Canadian started his week strong with a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Head coach Dominique Ducharme described this match as a “model” to be repeated in order to be successful.
The Habs followed with two defeats and, each time, the chain landed in the second period. The players insisted that their confidence was not fragile. For his part, Ducharme stressed that his troop might have deserved a better fate in losses to the New York Islanders and the Golden Knights.
Speaking of his team’s shorthanded work on Saturday, Ducharme pointed out that “right now, if it’s a 50-50 puck, it’s not going to hit the post and come out, but rather hit the post and get in the goal. “, Thus imagining a part of bad luck that seems to undermine the Habs.
Goalkeeper Jake Allen has also underlined the progress of the work of his teammates in front of him in recent meetings.
“Our support in the defensive zone has been much better this week,” he said. Our center comes back to the back of the zone, we lean on and we use the center of the rink much better. Our zone trips are ten times better than a few weeks ago. We are committed to playing well defensively, because that’s what helps our transition game, and therefore the attack. “
While the defensive game may have progressed, it’s hard to see much improvement in shorthanded work.
The Canadian allowed at least two goals in this situation in a fifth meeting this season, Saturday against the Golden Knights. The latter were 2-for-2 on the power play against the Habs, while they were 0-for-19 before the game since the start of the campaign.
After 13 games, the Canadiens allowed 16 goals on 47 shorthanded chances, for an efficiency rate of just 66%. As Ducharme recalled, working with one less man had nevertheless been one of the strengths of the Habs during their recent career in the playoffs.
“The structure is no different, but there is also an element of confidence,” said Ducharme. Our players know that things are less well and sometimes a moment of hesitation will allow the opponent to make a pass that you would not have given if you were playing on the tips of your toes, with confidence. “
Look ahead
So everything does not need to be redone, to hear Ducharme, who excels at putting things in perspective. Besides, Allen also noted that perhaps the position the team finds themselves in makes every situation a little more negative than it really is.
“The loss would have hurt less if we were around .500, not 3-10,” he said after the loss to the Golden Knights.
“We have to keep looking ahead,” Allen added. We want to end our stay at home on the right foot before we hit the road again. We must take the leave [dimanche] to clear our minds and get our energy back, then come back to the arena in a good state of mind on Monday. It’s not always easy to do when you find yourself in a situation like ours, but this is the way we have to approach it. “
Canadiens players will have one more reason to want to come to the game with a smile on Monday, given goaltender Carey Price is expected at the Bell Sports Complex. Price is not expected to meet with the media, however, until he has received the green light from his doctors to do so, as he returns from 30 days with the NHL Player Assistance Program and the Players Association. of the NHL.
The Habs will then host Phillip Danault and the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.