Canadiens Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Nick Suzuki – Joel Armia

Denis Gurianov – Jonathan Drouin – Brendan Gallagher

Rem Pitlick – Jake Evans – Mike Hoffman

Michael Pezzetta – Chris Tierney – Jesse Ylonen

Mike Matheson – Justin Barron

Joel Edmundson – Chris Wideman

Corey Schueneman – Johnathan Kovacevic

Sam Montembeault, Cayden Primeau

Sean Farrell

Carey Price (knee), Paul Byron (hip), Sean Monahan (lower-body), Juraj Slafkovsky (lower-body), Cole Caufield (shoulder), Arber Xhekaj (upper-body), Christian Dvorak (lower-body), Kaiden Guhle (lower-body), Josh Anderson (lower-body), Kirby Dach (upper-body), David Savard (lower-body), Alex Belzile (lower-body), Jake Allen (lower-body), Jordan Harris (lower-body)

Game Report

Prior to the game, Brendan Gallagher said “we only have so many games together so there’s no excuse not to have a good effort.” The Canadiens alternate captain is aware that, during a rebuild, the Montreal roster is likely to change considerably during the off-season.

And for the second time this week, the talent deficit was painfully clear. There’s no doubt that the Canadiens are missing key players out with injury, but in addition, there will be opportunities to say ‘so long’ to individuals who served their purpose as place holders.

While Habs fans thrive on schadenfreude with the Leafs’ being bounced out of the playoffs in the first round in previous years, it’s time to take a lesson from their rivals. When asked about Toronto heading into the playoffs, Gallagher said, “Their core is the same. Any time you go through playoff losses like they have you learn a lot about your team and you get battle tested. So this is a team that’s been through a lot together.

“I’m sure they’re a tight-knit group. They understand the challenge ahead of them. Each experience that they’ve been through I’m sure that they’ve used to try to propel themselves forward to get over that hump.”

That’s what is important for the Canadiens too. Young players experiencing tough losses like tonight, and understanding what it takes to become winners.

While sitting Sean Farrell in the press box for the past two meaningless games has allowed Marty St. Louis some small measure of personal victory and ego rebuilding, the decision has done nothing to further what Gallagher has noted about the Leafs.

The coach has pledged to remake Gallagher’s game to extend his career. Perhaps St. Louis could also learn something from his veteran player as he begins his coaching career.

This is the seventh time this season that the Canadiens have allowed seven or more goals in a game.

Up Next

And then there was two. The Canadiens will face the New York Islanders in Long Island  on Wednesday night to play one of their two remaining games. 

During the intermission of tonight’s game, it was reported that Marty St. Louis turned down an opportunity to join the Team Canada coaching staff at the World Hockey Championship in May.

Plus

▲  none

Minus

▼  Rem Pitlick, Denis Gurianov, Chris Wideman, Joel Edmundson, Mike Matheson, Jake Evans, Justin Barron, Mike Hoffman, Sam Montembeault, Marty St. Louis

Game Preview