We can all get over the fact that it was a loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, even if they were deprived of Ilya Kovalchuk’s services. They are still the same Thrashers with the 3rd best powerplay in the league. The same Thrashers who boast one of the best road-records in the league, now at 5-1-1. Most importantly, they are the same Thrashers, who are getting absolutely incredible goaltending from Ondrej Pavelec. The real story of this game was the issue that Montreal had in their own zone, from the opening faceoff to the closing whistle. Whether it was defensive ineptitude, or an absolute breakdown in the crease, this game was marked by mental lapses for large periods of time.

For anyone making the argument that the Canadiens should’ve won this game based on them outshooting the Thrashers 38-30 (29-17 in the second and third) there was no question as to who controlled the momentum.

At no point could the Habs sustain a consistent effort. The breakdowns at even strength were overly concerning; particularly, 30-seconds after they tied the game at 4, when they allowed a 3-on-3 rush to turn into one of the easiest goals the Thrashers have had to score all season.

And there’s only so many times you can say it wasn’t the goalie’s fault without sounding like a Carey Price apologist. Carey Price has lost 6 games in a row. In those 6 games, his save% is .850. Whether it’s his fault or not, he’s not winning, and the team can’t afford to sit Jaroslav Halak so long as that’s the case. Truly a depressing notion when you consider how crucial it is for Price to bounce back from the misery that overtook him in the second half of last season.

But this isn’t about any single player. This is about a team that for the better part of this early segment of the season, hasn’t found a way to all pull in the same direction.
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-How much longer can the Canadiens survive without giving Tomas Plekanec some linemates to play with?

-Don’t miss Hal Gill? People out there that are happy to have Gill out of the lineup can’t possibly understand what it means to be missing 3 of your starting defensemen. Newsflash…Gill may not be the best player on the Canadiens, but there’s a massive difference in what he can provide, versus what Matt Carle can.

-Take this into consideration: Hamrlik didn’t have a training camp to get his legs under him. Neither did Marc Andre Bergeron. When Spacek signed, there was no way he could’ve conceived that he’d be playing over 25 minutes/night. What is Bob Gainey to do…
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Things won’t get easier…
Into Boston on Thursday, to face a Bruins team that hasn’t scored in two games. Will a visit from the ailing, road-weary Montreal Canadiens be their remedy? That would be good dose of salt in a widening wound…

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