Few could have anticipated that a February 9th match-up with the Arizona Coyotes would hold such meaning for the Montreal Canadiens. Should they lose to the 29th place team in the NHL then the panic button will inevitably be pushed as it would make for five consecutive losses in a row. If they play well and come out with a victory then they will have snapped their four game losing skid and order will be somewhat restored, at least until Saturday. In many ways this could be considered the most important game of the season for the Canadiens.
It is not that they simply lost four games in a row that is the problem. It is the manner in which they lost them. Aside from a decent showing in a losing effort to the Washington Capitals, the Canadiens have been outplayed by teams that are below them in the standings. The powerplay has dried up and the team is not generating nearly enough shots or scoring chances. The Canadiens are near full health and so injuries cannot be used as an excuse, despite the fact that they are 6-9-1 without Brendan Gallagher in the lineup. However, one has to ask if there would be such a sense of anxiousness if not for the recent firing of Claude Julien from the Boston Bruins? For Michel Therrien, the timing could not be worst as the Canadiens stumble has coincided with the sudden availability of someone whom is considered to be amongst the best coaches in the NHL.
To make matters worse for Therrien, it was discovered that general manager Marc Bergevin met privately with Carey Price, Max Pacioretty and Shea Weber, without the coach present.
Marc Bergevin aurait rencontré ses leaders, dont Max Pacioretty, Carey Price et Shea Weber, hier, sans Michel Therrien, via Dany Dubé. #Habs
— Nicolas Poulin (@NicolasPoulin) February 9, 2017
However, Richard Labbe points out that this is not all that uncommon:
#CH En 1986, il y avait aussi eu un meeting d'urgence entre le DG et les vétérans en fin de saison. Sans coach... https://t.co/8OreGYCWjQ
— Richard Labbé (@Richardlabbe) February 9, 2017
It comes as no surprise that Bergevin wants to have a better pulse on the locker room. To make sure that his leadership core is still on the same page. This is not the players going to Bergevin leading a mutiny. How the players come out to play tonight though in the desert will have a lot to say about the future success of the team and what Bergevin feels he must do to improve the Canadiens. If Bergevin makes a move, it will more than likely be via trade rather than a coaching change. He is fiercely loyal and will want to give his head coach an opportunity with the best team that he can possibly assemble. Should the Canadiens continue to falter until the end of the season, only then do I believe that a coaching would be a real possibility.
Many are also assuming that Claude Julien would want to return to the Canadiens for a second stint. There is no guarantee that he would welcome a return to Montreal. Perhaps he would prefer a fresh start in a totally new environment. Would fans still want to let go of Therrien if Julien is not an option?
Daniel Carr and Michael McCarron were recalled to add some jam to the Canadiens lineup. The team has been a little soft to say the least and the duo are strong fore checkers. I do not believe that they were called up to be showcased although the possibility of Martin Hanzal missing tonight’s game due to a virus only throws more fuel to the fire.
Mike Smith will start in goal for @ArizonaCoyotes tonight vs @CanadiensMTL & Martin Hanzal (ill) will be gametime decision, per Dave Tippett
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) February 9, 2017
Mike Smith will get the start in net for the Coyotes while Price will start for the Canadiens.
McCarron will be put into a position to succeed as he will center the fourth line between Carr and Torrey Mitchell. Unsurprisingly David Desharnais and Brian Flynn are healthy scratches. Greg Pateryn will also return to the lineup as Nikita Nesterov is a healthy scratch for the first time with the Canadiens. I would not be surprised if Andrei Markov returns to the second defensive unit and plays with former partner Jeff Petry.
McCarron Pateryn and Carr in tonight. Desharnais Flynn and Nesterov to sit #HabsIO
— Pat Hickey (@zababes1) February 9, 2017
The powerplay did practice and Galchenyuk was on the second wave while Phillip Danault centered Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov:
Changement sur le jeu de puissance. Galchenyuk (et Plekanec) sur la 2e vague et Danault reprend sa place sur la 1re. #CH #tvasports
— Marc-André Perreault (@MA_PerreaultTVA) February 9, 2017
Galchenyuk en LONGUE discussion avec Muller après l'entrainement. Le 27 n'a pas l'air de bonne humeur #CH #tvasports
— Marc-André Perreault (@MA_PerreaultTVA) February 9, 2017
Brendan Gallagher continued to practice in a non-contact jersey as he works his way back into game shape.
Puck drops 9pm EST
Cheers and enjoy the game! Follow @Jenbcutler