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In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether it's time for the 1-5-1 Montreal Canadiens to panic or if they can still right the ship.
Todd Cordell
Montreal's season has gotten off to the worst possible start but I'm not too concerned and still expect them to contend for a playoff spot and/or grab one.
Through seven games, they have a +52 shot attempt differential and +20 scoring chance differential at 5v5 yet have been out-scored 19-6 in that game state.
Why? For one, they have a sub .880 save percentage right now. Given Carey Price annually puts up elite numbers, I'm betting on that changing sooner than later.
They also have several players performing well but not getting results. Charles Hudon has 19 5v5 shots, which ties him for 8th in the NHL, yet no goals. Brendan Gallagher is tied for 7th with 20 chances at 5v5 and has no goals in that state. Arturri Lehkonen and Andrew Shaw aren't far behind 19 and 16 chances at 5v5 and, again, they have no goals to their credit. Max Pacioretty is due, too.
Simply put, they have several key contributors due for some positive regression and, when that happens, the wins will follow.
Peter Tessier
It was time to panic in Montreal around Jun 20th, 2016, now it's time to resign their fate to a slow long decline.
The Canadiens are in a mix of changing something but it's not sure what, nor is anyone else. This is the problem for them, they have let things go sideways in so many ways, do they need to make a change simply to keep things from getting to messed up?
Before that point hits Bergevin needs to let this mess run a bit see if it can correct itself so he buys some time to sort out the real problems and start fixing them.
Jared Crozier
The time for panic for the Habs was the day they traded P.K. Subban to Nashville. It, along with some other moves that summer showed a change in philosophy to try to get more "truculent" and somewhere along the line they seemed to forget you need to score to win games, not just stir things up.
Heading into the season, I had them in a fight for the third playoff spot in the Atlantic, because of Carey Price being the best goalie in the league by a country mile. I will admit, for those who don't know me or haven't' read my posts regularly, that I dislike the Canadiens more than any team in the league for a variety of reasons, past and present. I will try not to revel in their struggles too much and keep some of my opinions to myself. However, I am a fan of Price, and I am sympathetic to his current plight, but the team in front of him simply isn't very good. Add to that, from what I have seen they are not using their assets to the best of their potential, and it all now points to a tough season.
That being said, it is still very early in the marathon of a season and there is still time to pull out of the funk. That is almost entirely on Price and his ability to be the best player on the ice on most nights, because although the scoring drought likely won't continue as bad as it has been, they aren't likely to become the Penguins or Maple Leafs in terms of offensive potential.
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