We cannot accuse Martin St-Louis of being incoherent. Since the beginning of the season, the head coach has been repeating that the process takes precedence over the results, that the progress of the team will not be measured in victories.
But what better circumstances to test his adherence to this organizational philosophy than this mid-season duel against the New York Rangers?
In the end, the Canadian lost said duel 4-1, for a “kevin mccarthesque” record of 0-6-1 in his last seven games.
The CH took 17 minutes to get a first shot. He was treated to boos from the crowd in the third period, at the end of a sequence where he nevertheless buzzed in the offensive zone, but where he also missed good opportunities to take advantage of the “perfect game, the pass of extra,” acknowledged St-Louis.
In the final minutes of a damning second period, where the Habs weren’t generating much while allowing three goals in six minutes, veteran Chris Wideman fired a puck into the boards, plagued with frustration, after a stoppage of game.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
David Savard and Kaapa Kakko
In short, the defeats accumulate, the disappointment mounts, on the ice as in the stands. But St-Louis had devoted its morning meeting to the defensive tightening, and there was a tightening, despite the four goals (we’ll come back to this). This is why the head coach showed up in front of the microphones with a certain feeling of satisfaction.
“I was happy with the first period because we attacked the things we talked about, and it’s our defensive game,” he said first.
“If you look at the advanced stats that we use, it was 15-15 in the chances of scoring. I would take that every game, ”he dropped in another response, before raising the optimism a notch.
“We didn’t win the match, but we found ourselves a bit like a team. We got lost on the last trip. Tonight is a good sign for what’s to come. »
A message relayed by the captain. “The guys responded well and played better defensively,” said Nick Suzuki.
Cases to handle
You would have to be in bad faith not to recognize the tightening observed on Thursday. The Rangers shot 31 times, not a lot less than in the backfires that were the seven games of the last trip (average of 37.7 shots per game). The chances of scoring were also down, and the Montrealers finally showed discipline, taking only three penalties, including two in the last three minutes.
Despite this tightening, it was still 3-0 for the visit after 34 minutes of play. Bad luck largely explains the third goal – the puck deflected on Suzuki.
But the other two goals stem from the famous tendencies to which St-Louis pays a lot of attention. The first was the result of a nasty pass from Juraj Slafkovsky, who looks like he has been for three weeks: an 18-year-old player. Not only is he down offensively (no points in his last 10 games), but his bad game readings are multiplying and hurting the Canadian.
The second was a gift from Jake Allen to Braden Schneider. “I should have stopped that one. Of the three goals, it is him that I would like to see again. It hit my head and it went in, ”explained the goalkeeper.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Alexis Lafreniere and Kirby Dach
Allen is also going through difficult times. In his last six games, he has allowed a goal for every eight shots (.874 efficiency), far from the ratio of one goal on 11 shots generally expected. That said, Samuel Montembeault, the surprise of the first third of the season, has just experienced two difficult outings in a row. There aren’t really any solutions here, other than wishing that better defensive management would help both keepers regain their October momentum.
There are more options with Slafkovsky. A stay in Laval is part of it, especially since the obviously imminent return of Sean Monahan will add a forward to the equation. While we’re at it, we’ll also have to figure out what happens to Justin Barron, who was dropped Thursday after playing like a defenseman who still needs time in the American League.
The NHL is not a development league, it is often said, even if the Canadiens are going against this principle this season. It can be one for youngsters like Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj, who manage to keep up with the parade despite everything. But in some cases, a detour to the lower level can’t hurt either.
In details
A bit without Guhle
The news is not very good in the case of Kaiden Guhle, injured since the game on December 29, against the Panthers at Sunrise. The Canadian continues to play the opacity card in the injury file, but the young defender was seen leaving the locker room late Thursday evening with a left leg splint. Obviously, his return to the game is not for tomorrow, or even the day after tomorrow, but the Canadian was content to say that other examinations would be necessary in his case. Asked about the possible long duration of the absence of the injured defender, Martin St-Louis did not provide more details… except to confirm that it would not be for soon. “We do not know for how long he will be absent, was limited to answering the coach. But we will continue to go a long way without him. »
A difficult first period
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Evgenii Dadonov scored the first shot to hit Jaroslav Halak on the night, with less than four minutes left in the first half.
The fans who had chosen to brave the cold, the ice and possibly the heavy bills of the Bell Center were not spoiled during the first period. In fact, the spectacle was so heartbreaking from the home team that the Canadian’s first shot came only 3:07 from the end of that first period, from Evgenii Dadonov. This shot then provoked a sarcastic ovation from the four corners of the Bell Centre, and the Canadian concluded this first engagement with a grand total of 4 shots. Despite everything, Martin St-Louis saw the positive side of things. “I was happy with our first period because we achieved our goal on defense,” he explained. Rangers weren’t given many chances in the first, even in the full game. If we compare with the chances granted by us in the last games, it is a good improvement. »
Slafkovsky’s apprenticeship
There will be ups and downs for a first-year player, of course, and it was certainly an example of a low for Juraj Slafkovsky in the Rangers’ first goal. In full power play, the young striker passed a pass to the back a little too risky in the direction of Arber Xhekaj. The defender missed the puck, and it was instead Chris Kreider who recovered it, to leave alone against Jake Allen and score the first goal for his club. “We would always like to be able to redeem ourselves, replied Martin St-Louis. He’ll probably think about this game. He’ll get over it, it’s part of the game. […] it’s important that veterans help young people like him, it’s part of a player’s progress. He may find himself in a similar situation soon, and he will be more careful. This is how he will grow. »
They said
One of the few wins for us tonight was his goal. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He will have more confidence and less pressure, so let’s hope it fits more.
Jake Evans on Joel Armia
If it’s a quicker pass, it’s probably a good play. When you’re in front of such a fast player, it has to be a quick play. I’ve been through that before. There’s not much to add, he understands what happened.
Nick Suzuki on Juraj Slafkovsky’s error on Chris Kreider’s goal
Many players’ confidence is probably at a season low. You just have to find a way out of the mess. We did it last year.
Nick Suzuki
We were moving away from our game plan and teams were attacking us from everywhere. We played better, we were more on point. A defeat is still a defeat, but it was a step in the right direction.
Jake Allen
Today is a sign of the players’ commitment to our task. We will continue to work on this while progressing elsewhere, but we will take our time, because we really need to settle this.
Martin St Louis
Rising
Jake Evans
In a match where emotions were flat, he struggled as he always does and managed to make Joel Armia and Evgenii Dadonov visible, which is saying something.
Falling
Jake Allen
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jake Allen
For too rarely, the Montreal defense held the fort in the defensive zone and the team showed discipline. But Allen was generous at the wrong time, in the second period.
The number of the game
48
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Joel Armia
That’s how many shots Joel Armia needed to score his first goal of the season. He almost scored his second on his next shot, which ended up on the post.