The Montreal Canadiens threw everything but the kitchen sink towards Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings but were unable to score a goal for the first time this season, losing 3-0 at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens outshot the Kings 45-20, had more scoring chances and won more faceoffs as well. The loss though should not be pinned on Mike Condon. He helped the Canadiens weather the early storm as the Kings controlled the play for the first 10+ minutes of the games. The momentum swung in the Canadiens favor when Lars Eller drew a penalty on a breakaway while killing a penalty. Eller had Quick beat but the puck unfortunately hit the post. The Kings took back the game with just over 5 minutes left in the second period as Drew Doughty scored a goal on a screened shot, seconds after P.K. Subban’s penalty expired. Just 95 seconds later Doughty found Anze Kopitar all alone who made no mistake on his shot to give the Kings a 2-0 lead. Marian Gaborik would add an empty net goal in the final minute of the game to make it a 3-0 final score.
Final scoring chances 27-15 for the #Habs, high danger chances 17-5 for Montreal. pic.twitter.com/5JgVVYEpkw
— Sportlogiq (@Sportlogiq) December 18, 2015It is easy to get down on the team as they have been struggling since the injuries to Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher. It is even harder for the players and coaches to stay positive as they face adversity. After the loss, the tone was of the team was obviously set by head coach Michel Therrien who refused to pin the loss on the players. The Canadiens were not outworked last night. The effort was there, they got in the dirty areas but were unable to capitalize on their chances.
«Cette période-là va faire de nous une équipe meilleure bientôt» -Michel Therrien
#RDSCH pic.twitter.com/O5d2VrNTuG
— L'Antichambre (@antichambre) December 18, 2015Desperate to score goals in the 3rd period, Therrien put Alex Galchenyuk on the right wing of Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty. After a subpar effort against the San Jose Sharks, Galchenyuk looked almost possessed in trying to make something happen, especially in the 3rd period. I would have given him the 3rd star of the game, not Dale Weise. Galchenyuk had 4 shots, 3 hits, 1 blocked shot and won 69% of his faceoffs. According War-On-Ice.com, Galchenyuk led the Canadiens with 3 Individual High Danger Scoring Chances. Dale Weise, despite his 8 shots on net, had 0 individual high danger scoring chances or even one individual scoring chance. Perhaps Therrien needs to keep Galchenyuk on the top line until Brendan Gallagher is ready to return. Eller could center Sven Andrighetto and Daniel Carr or Devante Smith-Pelly in the meantime. Somehow, the Canadiens need to find offence on a consistent basis, rather than a game here or there.
The Canadiens are travelling to Dallas today and so any lineup adjustments will only be known tomorrow. The road trip could not come at a better time for the Canadiens. Yes they will be in tough against the Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild before the Christmas break. However, sometimes getting away from the added pressure of playing at home is a good thing as it allows the players to hold the stick just a little less tightly. Charles Hudon played well in his two games with an assist in each one but this just happened:
Canadiens assigned forward @KidHud_10 to the @IceCapsAHL today.
DETAILS -> https://t.co/WY3QaSTCkc pic.twitter.com/CAXuuFcG2n
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 18, 2015The Canadiens need offence and it would have been nice to see Hudon given more of a chance to succeed. This likely means that Devante Smith-Pelly is ready to return to the lineup. However, it is still wishful thinking that Michael McCarron will get the call up to join the Canadiens for the road trip. If by some chance it were to happen, it would probably be announced after 5pm in order to save salary cap space. Daniel Carr has played well enough and is certainly willing to go to the net. However, McCarron and his size add another dimension. With already two hat tricks in his short professional career, he has demonstrated a nose for the net and the ability to score. Against the western conference teams, he could be especially useful.
Others are calling for the Canadiens to trade for the likes of Ryan Johansen, the embattled Columbus center who has been struggling under John Tortorella. The chances of this happening are quite unlikely. Some fans are ready to give up on Galchenyuk in order to acquire Johansen. I would argue that if the Canadiens were to acquire a player, it is for someone to play with Galchenyuk not instead of…
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