Martin St-Louis’ projects have been numerous since his appointment as head coach of the Canadiens, and the next one will consist of emphasizing work around the Montreal net between now and the end of the season.
Before Tuesday’s matches, the Habs ranked 28e ranks in the NHL with an average of 3.53 goals allowed per game. It’s even worse since the Christmas break, when the Canadian conceded an average of 3.86 goals in 22 games, the worst performance on the circuit during this period.
“When you leave sticks free in the crease around you, it’s not the structure that’s going to make the difference,” St-Louis noted Tuesday. You have to be engaged in these places. You have to protect the front of the net. If you don’t fix that, it becomes difficult to have winning streaks. »
“That’s what we want to improve,” he insisted.
The Canadian has still not won more than two games in a row this season. It looked good at times, but the bad wrinkles often quickly resurfaced.
“It’s by avoiding long difficult moments that you’re going to be part of the elite,” recalled goalie Jake Allen. When you make fewer mistakes, you win more often. Teams at the bottom of the pack will often find a way to shoot themselves in the foot. »
“We are a learning team,” he continued. I saw him at times on the ice, from the bridge or the bench. I saw what a good team we can be. And it is this standard that we try to reproduce every evening. »
The Canadian has won just one of its last five games and will try to get back on track by hosting the Buffalo Sabers on Wednesday at the Bell Centre. He will then visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening.
The St. Louis team is 6-2-2 in the first game of a two-game streak this season. However, his performance was 1-9-0 during the second game.
“It’s always difficult to play a second game in so many nights, but at this time of the season, the coaches are giving us enough rest to play both games,” said veteran defenseman David Savard, not looking for no excuses to explain this sorry record during the second part.
Allen noted that the players could possibly make small adjustments to help their cause.
“You have to understand that you probably won’t have as much energy in the second game,” he said. You may benefit from simplifying your game, being patient and making sure you stay in the game. Then you never know what can happen in the third period. It can be enough for one favorable jump to win or snatch a point. »
St-Louis has not revealed which goaltender will defend the Canadian’s net against the Sabres. He also did not confirm whether defenseman Jordan Harris would return to play, even though Harris got the green light from doctors after suffering a concussion on February 11 against the St. Louis Blues.
Caufield, still absent
Forward Cole Caufield missed a third consecutive practice on Tuesday morning, while the Canadian indicated that he was once again taking advantage of a day of treatments.
The 23-year-old American missed Saturday’s morning practice, then Sunday’s regular practice at the Bell Center. The Canadian was off Monday, then Caufield was not on the ice when he returned to work Tuesday at the CN Sports Complex.
Asked if Caufield was at a point where he could miss a game, St-Louis simply replied: “I don’t know.”
Caufield played in each of the Canadiens’ 55 games this season. He scored 19 goals and 26 assists.