Game 49 Away game 24 | Saturday January 18, 2014 |
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Game Recap:The Canadiens picture is now crystal clear. Without the stellar play of Carey Price, the Habs are out of a playoff spot and Michel Therrien is back on L’antichambre. Marc Bergevin hasn’t done enough to acquire depth at forward and the coach continues to mostly shun his three NHL-ready defensive prospects in favor of defensemen who would be hard-pressed to make other NHL rosters.
Plus / Minus ▲ Carey Price, Brendan Gallagher, Brandon Prust ▼ Habs defensive and neutral zone play. |
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Boxscore:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | SO | T |
| Canadiens | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 3 |
| Maple Leafs | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 |
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Shots on Goal:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T |
| Canadiens | 9 | 14 | 10 | – | 33 |
| Maple Leafs | 12 | 10 | 7 | – | 29 |
| NHL Three Stars | ||
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| Post-game Press Conference |
Coach Michel Therrien
- “I liked the way we played tonight. We were the team that was pushing the pace and we were skating well. It’s individual mistakes that costs games, that’s where it’s disappointing.”
- “We give goals. There were three goals that we gave them and they’re not even supposed to be scoring chances if we play the right way.This is something that you’re gonna have to approach with our team and be better.”
- “The way we played I thought we were gonna win that game.”
- “[Nathan Beaulieu] played well. He created tonight, he skated well. He showed a lot of poise with the puck. He played with confidence so that’s a good sign for us.”
- “It was a tough game to evaluate [Joonas Nattinen.] It was a tight game. We didn’t have the last change so it was tough (to play him more than two shifts.)”
- “Tonight we had some breakdowns. It’s pretty simple. Usually we’re more solid. We give them some goals. There were three goals that we gave them and they’re not even supposed to be scoring chances. We’re going to have to pay a lot of attention to that.”
- “[Carey Price] played really well. He’s playing well this year. He gave us a chance to win and (Jonathan) Bernier did some good saves for them too. Both goalies played well.”
Captain Brian Gionta
- “When we play on the top of our game, we can play with any team in the League. If we’re not doing that, we’re a very average team. We’ve got to find ways to do it night in and night out and for 60 minutes.”
Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri
- “It’s the Montreal Canadiens. They’re one of the better teams in the conference and obviously they’re ahead of us in the division as well. The rivalry speaks for itself. We wanted to come out here, home ice, and give these fans something to cheer about.”
Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle
- “If you don’t get shivers and chills on Toronto-Montreal on a Saturday night on ‘Hockey Night in Canada,’ either in Montreal or Toronto, then I don’t think you understand the true meaning of the game here in Canada, especially Hockey Day in Canada.”
Check back, video highlights will be up soon. To look back at the full lineups for tonight’s game, check the Game Day preview.
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I think Michel is living in a fantasy world it is obivious to me that the defensive zone coverage is terrible, 55 and 6 can not play at a NHL level any longer and should be put on waivers.
61 has been horrible and 74 is lost, it’s insane that Pateryn and Tinordi are not up with the big club.
To say this team is offensively challenged is a huge understatement practically last in the league in 5 on 5 play and a powerplay that has disappeared.
This team needs a shake up and quick.
You’re right Gord. Some have said that Therrien has completely lost perspective about what is happening on the ice and others claim that he is playing a game of misdirection with his post-game comments. I happen to think that he does have tunnel vision with players on his lineup fed by opinions he developed when watching the games from the L’antichambre sofa. In addition, he likes to play the ‘I’m smarter than you’ game with the media in the pressers when they point out flaws or ask about strategies. Whatever the truth, it’s clear that his quotes to the media have become meaningless.
But the fault not only lies with Therrien, but Bergevin and Lefebvre too. Therrien plays his favorites like Diaz, Murray and Bouillon despite their pitifully weak play. Therrien and Diagneault stubbornly play Emelin on his wrong side continuing to zap his confidence. Lefebvre has done a poor job with the development of Pateryn, Tinordi and Beaulieu. Bergevin has to get a failing grade for the depth signings that he made on defense, including Murray, Bouillon and Drewiske.
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