The Montreal Canadiens are 11-12-3 since their 9-0 start to the 2015-2016 regular season, and have lost 8 of their last 9 outings, including 4 in a row. Frankly, that number will probably turn into 5 tonight as they’re most likely going to be handed a loss by the Minnesota Wild (17-9-6) who are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. The Wild have lost their last 2, and will look to regain a little momentum in front of their home crowd against a competitive team. At least, one that used to be.
“No Excuses… hangs over the players’ locker room at the Bell Centre with the intention of reminding players that excuses simply will not be tolerated, and that the team should maintain a positive attitude despite the odds and put in the necessary effort to churn out victories. I’m starting to think that the sign should read something along the lines of “No Excuses Left… or “All Out of Excuses….
At this point, it’s impossible to say that the losses of Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher continue to affect team morale and overall performances. The team and the organization have had more than a few weeks to adjust accordingly and fill the gaps, and it’s the youth movement of American Hockey League call-ups (and a waiver pick-up) who have carried the weight of this team’s shortcomings on their shoulders. Something is desperately wrong when your leading scorers over the past 10 games are named Brian Flynn, Daniel Carr, Paul Byron, etc…
The leadership core that was so greatly touted at the beginning of the season is continuously offered opportunities to grab the reins and right the path the troops are on. That has been an utter failure.
The coaching staff was proud of itself in the beginning of the year because it had managed to conjure elite combinations both on defense and up front, and was aided by elite goaltending. The team was considered a leading scoring juggernaut which offered very little space for opponents to score through the first couple of games. Now, the staff is incapable of keeping trios and pairings together for more than a few shifts at a time, and suddenly all the goalies they face are earning themselves first star honors and looking like they’re in Vezina form.
Absolutely everything is upside down now. The scoring has gone dry, star defensemen are making boneheaded and costly plays, and goalies who once looked like they could confidently replace Carey Price for an extended period of time are allowing 3 goals on 14 shots in some instances.
Ok, you all watch the same games I do. What I’m trying to say is pretty obvious: what the hell is going on?
How does head coach Michel Therrien have the nerve to stand in front of the media during press conferences and still claim that the better team lost, like he did last night? I’m a fan of Therrien, and I am certainly not calling for his head by any stretch of the imagination because he’s far surpassed any realistic expectations anyone had when he took over the coaching job a few years ago. I’m questioning the PR and communications department and their inability to put out fires in any convincing manner. Frankly, the whole “we-faced-an-excellent-goalie-and-were-the-better-team-tonight… mantra is getting tiring, and they’ll need to strongly reconsider what they recommend Therrien to say after losses because let’s face it, there will be plenty more during this road trip.
My biggest question is where is Marc Bergevin in all of this? When was the last time he spoke to the media to try to put out this fire? What has he been doing behind closed doors to help solve the never-ending woes of a team that has lost its identity? Maybe another loss will require him to charm and dance his way around burning questions in order to give fans everywhere hope that this team will eventually bounce back from this terrible phase.
Am I exaggerating, or am I simply tired of watching one-sided hockey? I’m not a reporter, and I’m certainly not required to contain my biases at any point. I was a Habs fan long before I became a writer, and I can honestly say that I’ve done my best to remain objective and see the team for what it is despite other “expert… opinions.
Unfortunately, right now, your Montreal Canadiens are simply a bad team playing a poor brand of hockey that lacks inspiration and any signs of willingness to be a championship team.