Last night, the Montreal Canadiens lost 9-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was the eight time this season they allowed six goals or more.
Last night, the Montreal Canadiens lost 9-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was the eight time this season they allowed six goals or more.
The Montreal Canadiens have played 29 games so far this season and in eight of those games, they've allowed six goals or more. That's 28% of their games, and while the goaltending hasn't been great, there is a much bigger problem plaguing this team.
If you're thinking this can be hung on Cayden Primeau's door, forget it, Samuel Montembeault started in five of those eight games. When he's on his game, he can make this team look better than it is with big saves, but when he's having a bad night, the Canadiens are exposed for what they are; a young team that struggles to shake things off when something goes wrong.
Last night, when asked to explain what had happened Martin St-Louis spoke about his team being unable to have the mental strength to tame its emotions:
When something disappointing happens in a game, and the wheels come off the wagon, we find ourselves in a big hole, and it's hard in that moment to have a stronger mental strength than your emotions. It really is a challenge, it's harder for some people, there are some who can do it easier, but I didn't expect a third period like that.
While that makes sense, it's worrying because generally speaking, younger players will struggle to keep their emotions in check and they need a veteran presence to help them get over those tough moments. Kaiden Guhle said it last night, when he mentioned David Savard always knows what to say to young guys when things aren't going well.
Jake Evans was very clear when he said the team stopped playing and that's unacceptable. He's been in the league long enough to understand the accountability concept, he's grown out of the "let's forget about that bad game and move on phase", he wants to know what went wrong and address it.
After 29 games, the Canadiens now find themselves seven points out of the playoffs and dead last in the Eastern Conference. It's clearer by the minute that they are likely to be sellers at the deadline, but how can they afford to trade away veteran players when their young players have not come far enough in the "learning out to win" department St-Louis so often speaks about?
Evans is likely to be a hot commodity at the deadline, but so far this season, he's shown himself to be almost essential to this Canadiens' team, if and when he's traded, things won't get any better. I understand the Habs won't be in the mix for the playoffs and are likely to "battle" for a better draft pick, but in the long-term, they cannot afford to get rid of their veterans, they still need them.
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