Lineup scratches: P.A. Parenteau, Manny Malhotra, Mike Weaver
Injured reserve: Alexei Emelin (upper-body)
Game Notes:
Post-game, head coach Michel Therrien blamed the fatigue of a long road trip. It was nonsense and the coach likely knew that but it was better than telling the truth. The Canadiens got their lunch handed to them. The Lightning dominated this game, shot attempts were 75-38 for Tampa Bay.
In this case, the truth would have been harsh. Montreal just couldn’t compete with the aggressive Bolts. And in three games this season against the Lightning, the Canadiens have been outscored 12-3. They meet Tampa twice more this month. But they will have to do better than being outshot 13-2, the tally for the final 21 minutes of the game.
As Therrien said, Carey Price was “phenomenal,” but it’s obvious to everyone that the team needs more than the best player in the NHL playing goal. Therrien is fond of saying that he wants at least three goals a game from his team to have a good chance of winning. Discounting an empty-netter, the Canadiens have scored five goals total in the past five games. By the coach’s math, that’s 10 short.
The ‘top’ line centred by David Desharnais is simply not producing. Combined, Desharnais, Max Pacioretty and Dale Weise had just three shots on goal. Part way through Alex Galchenyuk replaced Weise on the first line but he ended the game with just one shot.
Pacioretty was more dangerous while penalty-killing with Tomas Plekanec. The pair created three 2-on-1 rushes. It may be time to reunite them on a regular line. At the very least Therrien has to begin with the realization that his top line, as presently constituted, contains only one legitimate NHL first-liner.
The Canadiens are 19th in 5-on-5 scoring. Controversial player agent Allan Walsh tweeted post-game that his client, P.A. Parenteau, was a healthy scratch while Montreal is a “goal starved” team. Ever disingenuous, Walsh failed to admit that Parenteau has just three even-strength goals in 41 games this season. Michael Bournival, dispatched to Hamilton, has three even-strength goals in 29 games. Parenteau has been a soft, perimeter player this season who doesn’t play Therrien’s defense-first style.
If you need an example of one of the reasons why the Habs are not scoring (and why Carey Price is the obvious choice for the Hart Trophy) take a look at the shot charts from War on Ice from Tuesday night’s game. We’ve added the ellipses to emphasize the prime scoring area.
![Game Report war on ice.com](http://allhabs.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Game-Report-war-on-ice.com_.png)
Plus / Minus
▲ Carey Price, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov, Torrey Mitchell, Jacob de la Rose, Dale Weise, Jeff Petry, Tom Gilbert
▼ Alex Galchenyuk, David Desharnais
▼▼ Alan Walsh |
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