The Montreal Canadiens have struggled to win lately, and once again, on Saturday afternoon, some of the main reasons for the recent struggles were on full display against the New Jersey Devils. The Bell Centre wasn’t packed on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, but many youngsters were in attendance for the first game of family weekend.
Slow Starters
Prior to this game, the Canadiens had given the first goal 30 times in 54 games this season and had a 10-16-4 record when doing so. On Saturday, as it has so often been the case, Martin St-Louis looked like a car desperately trying to start on a -30 winter morning in Montreal. It might just be time to envision a CAA subscription.
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All kidding aside, by the halfway point of the first period, the Canadiens had a single shot on net, and when Jesper Bratt gave New Jersey a one-goal lead at 13:43, Montreal had only tested Jake Allen once. This is not the race part of The Twelve Tasks of Asterix. No good can come of giving the opposition a head start, and no magic potion will be on hand to make up lost ground.
Make The Most Of Every Opportunity
St. Louis often says that good teams don’t help you beat them, and the Devils sure match that description. That’s why it’s important to make the most of every opportunity, whether earned or planned. That lucky bounce off the boards has got to be capitalized on.
So much of this game is about confidence; a goalie who stops every shot will feel nearly invincible if the opponent cannot make the most of the golden opportunity. With all due respect to former Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen, he’s far from invincible, and yet, even bombarded with 14 shots in the middle frame, he stopped them all.
If There’s A Will, There’s A Way
The odds of the Canadiens making the playoffs have dwindled recently, so much so that according to The Athletic, Montreal has better odds of drafting first overall (5%) than they have of making the Spring dance (3%), and yet, the players do not look hungry.
The Devils looked hungrier, faster, and more desperate to get the puck. New Jersey’s players looked like they were fighting for their playoff lives in every battle for the puck in the corners; some of the Canadiens didn’t. Sure, the Canadiens won more faceoffs and had more shots, but they weren’t quality shots. They didn’t make life hard enough for Allen; he had a clear view of the puck numerous times, and Montreal didn’t battle enough.
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Full marks to Lane Hutson, however, who was playing a 200-foot game and desperately trying to spark some life into his team. Yes, he finished the night with a minus-two rating, but he’s at least playing his heart out. Owen Beck was also looking good on the ice. It’s easy to see just how eager he is, and right now, he’s making a good case for his NHL readiness. Unfortunately, he couldn’t score on the penalty shot he was given, but it was a good outing for the youngster.
Arber Xhekaj took six shots this afternoon, but if no one is willing to create havoc in front of the net, it’s hard to score, not matter how heavy the shot is. Josh Anderson was also giving his all out there and managed to get five shots to Allen.
When Emil Heineman is ready to return, I don’t think Beck should be the one to come out of the lineup. Heineman was seen in the press gallery during the game, still sporting a support on his wrist.
Asked if the lack of scoring at home was a confidence issue, captain Nick Suzuki said
We need to find ways to score and generate some chances. It hasn’t been good enough lately. Especially at home, we need to involve the crowd, and scoring no goals is tough.
While it makes sense as an answer, the truth is the crowd was into it right from the start. There were plenty of kids cheering their hearts out in the Bell Centre on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to get this team to start on time. The Canadiens will play there last game before the Four Nations Face-Off tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with any luck the kids in attendance for that matinee will see a better result.
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