Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Nick Suzuki 

Nick Cousins – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Jordan Weal

Ryan Poehling – Nate Thompson – Riley Barber

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Victor Mete – Cale Fleury

Carey Price – Charlie Lindgren

Christian Folin, Lukas Vejdemo, Mike Reilly

Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin, Matthew Peca, Joel Armia

Game Report

The Canadiens played well in Western Canada. But it was clear that the more meaningful games were between Christmas and New Years where they faced Eastern conference rivals. And the back-to-back games in Florida pitted the Habs against Atlantic foes with all three teams locked in a tight battle for a playoff spot.

It was an unsuccessful weekend as Montreal ceded ground to Florida and Tampa Bay, each team now ahead of the Canadiens and holding games in hand. But it was more than that. The Habs returned to a style of play that was prevalent during their eight-game losing streak in November.

The top line for Florida piled up nine points in this game. With Jonathan Huberdeau enjoying his third, four-point game in his last six contests, one would have expected the Montreal coaching staff to prepare a game plan to defend them.

Against the Panthers, the Canadiens committed numerous turnovers with Max Domi and Tomas Tatar leading the way. The potent Florida offence enjoyed odd-man rushes throughout the contest. Some of the most lethal snipers in the league were gifted golden opportunities in the slot.

And just for good measure, the Panthers enjoyed more than their share of good fortune with pucks going off Canadiens’ skates and sticks for goals.

Claude Julien is in a jam. He knows that his defence isn’t up to the speed game that matches the strength of his forwards. And his forwards cannot endure the heavy game for any length of time required to support such a weak defence.

At his most recent press conference, Marc Bergevin told fans that he believes in a hands off approach during the season. “You make your team in June and you hope for the best,” said Bergevin. “You go with your young guys and your depth and your call-ups.”

So while the general manager is hoping for good things, his defence is being regularly shredded. Depth? That would be defencemen like Mike Reilly and Christian Folin who have combined for 14 games played (all Reilly.) Call-ups? Perhaps he was thinking about Riley Barber who played a whopping 3:18 tonight.

Bergevin has adopted a “set it, and forget it” attitude taking a page out of the playbook of Ron Popeil. And Geoff Molson has bought in. The Canadiens are selling a questionable product with a lot of hype.

Take a chance. You’ll never know what can happen.

And don’t forget to market that the team is only a year or two from competing for a championship. Always a year away. Sadly, Cup-less Canadiens fans are getting old and grey, one year at a time.

Meanwhile Bergevin and Molson observe the raucous finger-pointing following two disappointing losses confident that they mostly stay out of the orbit of the mindless social media rabble.

“Trade Weber. He’s done. I’ve always said that we got fleeced in the trade!,” wrote one angry fan. “Let Seattle have Price. Leave him unprotected!,” penned another as the bottom feeders used the two losses to air old grievances.

The Canadiens are issues are primarily structural, caused by a general manager that is overflowing with excuses but short on solutions. And as long as he is allowed to skate free, they will remain.

Plus / Minus

▲  Nick Suzuki

▼  Phillip Danault, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak, Max Domi, Brendan Gallagher, Shea Weber, Tomas Tatar, Nick Cousins, Jordan Weal, Nate Thompson