The year 2023 will show us the true colors of Canadians. The bike chain has recently landed and the Habs look like Dominique Ducharme’s team from the start of the 2021-22 season.
Note that this is not an accusation against Martin St-Louis or Ducharme, who in my opinion received too much criticism for the failures of his people at the time. He was also in a special context with an epidemic of injuries. You don’t have to go into detail about that.
The Habs don’t have the resources to make the playoffs and we suspected they would, but we still wonder what their identity is because until recently we’ve held onto it. I want to see character.
Tonight the Canadians are dead in the Atlantic Division and hoping to end a five-game losing streak in Nashville tonight, but which team will we see?
I’ve told you a few times that it bothered me to see the team accepting a loss, but here we only got washed 7-2 in Florida and 9-2 in Washington. It’s unacceptable and looks like the start of the 2021-22 season. It takes a strong reaction.
Without saying that goalkeepers Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault falsified the game, they managed to steal a few games here and there and keep the team afloat, but they will need to recover. St-Louis says his team is fragile but if the goalkeepers are shaking too it will be painful.
The trainer has to find his own solutions. On the road Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have a harder time battling against the best opposing lines. Sean Monahan’s injury is hurting and the other attackers don’t seem able to take over.
St-Louis is saying the right things, doesn’t appear to be panicking but he needs to hit the right buttons to revive his team, who have won just once in their last nine games.
Reducing the number of goals conceded with a young defense is not easy, especially since we just lost the services of the promising Kaiden Guhle, but we will have to deal with the situation.
Xhekaj reminds me of Souray
Powerplay overhaul is a priority, and we’ve seen some great things from Arber Xhekaj lately. He moves the puck well and has a great shot. This guy is the surprise of the year in Montreal and he impresses me. He could become a new Sheldon Souray.
I was there when Souray joined the Canadiens in March 2000. We didn’t expect much from him but he eventually became a pillar of massive attacking with seasons of 20, 27 and 38 goals between 2003 and 2007.
I’m not saying Xhekaj will draw level with Souray, but he’s showing enough potential to have a chance to occupy the pivot, especially given the mixed results with five attackers in the majority game.
I’m sure GM Kent Hughes will help his coach if he can, but since he’s not in buy mode it’s up to St. Louis to find the answers with the staff at his disposal.
We’re asking a lot of Suzuki and Caufield and it’s up to the veterans to come to their rescue. It will take leadership not to panic and the key player on that side will be Brendan Gallagher. Hoping the guards hold out.
It is said that men in the NHL are separated from their children after the holidays. If we keep diving, I know a good young player who could speed up the rebuilding of CH if the stars were ever right. This Connor Bedard is amazing.
– Interview by Gilles Moffet
excerpts
Super winter classic
I didn’t miss any of the Winter Classics at Fenway Park yesterday, starting with the pre-game ceremonies. The penguins and bruins put on quite a show and there was something magical about seeing skaters in this legendary stadium. I hope that experience will be repeated at places like Wrigley Field in Chicago. I also think we’ve improved the quality of the ice a lot when we’re away from home over the last few years and that shows in the quality of the game.” Gary Bettman can be happy with what he saw yesterday.
What a season for the Bruins!
The Bruins have found a way to beat the Penguins and if they continue like this several trophies will land in Boston including the Lady Byng (most distinguished player), the Jack-Adams (best coach), the Vézina (best goaltender) , the Jennings (team that conceded the fewest goals) and that of the Presidents (best team overall). You will have recognized it Patrice Bergeron, Jim Montgomery and Linus Ullmark among the recipients. Leadership is a game changer in this lineup and it’s also good to see guys like Montgomery and Ullmark enjoying their second chances.
Ullmark impresses me
Many still have doubts about the Bruins goalkeeper, Linus Ullmark, but I took a good look at it yesterday and it impressed me. His positional play is impeccable, he doesn’t move unnecessarily and he’s compact. He doesn’t get out of the game and leaves holes like my friend in Calgary, Jacob Markstrom, sometimes does. Ullmark is a good example of great goalkeepers. He looks like a confident guy and to try to score like he did 2-1 late in the game takes a lot of confidence.
