Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tyler Toffoli – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Corey Perry

Artturi Lehkonen – Jake Evans – Paul Byron

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Alexander Romanov

Carey Price – Jake Allen

Victor Mete

Ryan Poehling, Michael Frolik, Cale Fleury, Charlie Lindgren

Joel Armia

Game Report

Coming into this game, it was billed as worst versus first. The Canadiens were flying high while the Senators were struggling to do anything right. It was a mismatch but at the same time, it was the classic trap game.

So, it’s that simple? It was destined to be? Not quite.

The easiest way for a team to counter a trap game is to outwork their opponent. Full marks to the Sens here, they didn’t allow that to happen. Without a great deal of effort, Montreal was having a decent first period riding a 1-0 when bad habits started to creep back in to their game.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, or one off-season.

You’ll remember that playing a full 20 minutes to the end of the period was a significant problem for the 24th place Canadiens one season ago. And again, it raised it’s ugly head in the first period of tonight’s game. All that ailed the Habs in 2019-’20 has not yet been cured.

In the last minute of the period, it’s about maintaining focus, doing all of the little things to be successful, to be a contending team. Instead we saw lost faceoffs, coverage breakdowns, a penalty and within 18 seconds, Ottawa had scored two goals. At 19:20, the Canadiens had a one goal lead and 40 seconds later, they were trailing heading to the second intermission.

But wait, the Habs have been dominant in the second period in most games, outscoring their opponents 20-5 in the middle frame coming into this game. Not on this night. Shots were even at eight apiece, and the Senators increased their lead by scoring a goal. 

Front-runner

So what’s going on? Well, it appears that this year’s team is a front-runner. You know, the type of horse who comes out of the gate quickly, sets the pace and tries to hold the lead by forcing other horses to wear down by playing catch-up.

That description fits the current edition of the Habs. Further, they have not yet had success playing from behind.

After 11 games, the Canadiens have not won a game when trailing after the first period, losing two in regulation time and one in overtime. Maybe it is a matter of confidence to score when trailing (and again we’ll refer you back to last season) or perhaps their system to exploit the opposition works best with a lead, forcing teams to make mistakes. Or both.

Whatever the diagnosis, the coaching staff better find a cure right quick. Because the team’s play this season has set expectations very high among the fans. And they won’t be quite as patient this year if the Canadiens have a losing record against the bottom feeders like Ottawa.

Up Next

The Habs will practice at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard on Friday before traveling to Ottawa for a matinee game on Saturday.

Plus / Minus

▲ Brendan Gallagher, Artturi Lehkonen, Ben Chiarot

▼ Nick Suzuki, Jonathan Drouin

Game Preview