Performances Below Expectations
It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens underperformed in their 4-2 series win against the Ottawa Senators. The expectation was that they were to sweep the Senators or, as was more commonly theorized, win in 5 games. It took them 6 games to put an end to the Senators’ incredible season, shutting them out for the first time in 2014-2015. Carey Price needed to step up and steal the final game, barely aided by his teammates who had a very hard time burying their chances. Realistically, the game should have ended 3-1 or 4-1 in favor of Montreal, though they should count their blessings and thank Price for his otherworldly performance, especially in the dying minutes of the game. Needless to say, the Habs will not survive the second round if they continue to demonstrate such little drive and emotion. This was beyond me, as the crest on their jerseys should give them ample reason to emulate a “Gallagherian…- yes, I coined that term myself- type of hustle at all times. I’ve never seen the diminutive winger take a single shift off, even when all of the odds are stacked against him. Evidently, he’s emerged as being one of the most impactful leaders on this team, and that’s saying a lot considering he’s only in his third season in the NHL.
I was convinced that general manager Marc Bergevin had addressed all of the underlying issues the Canadiens suffered from by adding depth at both the forward and defensive positions. Yes, Torrey Mitchell stood out during the playoffs and performed beyond any optimistic expectations. Granted, Brian Flynn had flashes of brilliance before being exiled to the press box. Devante Smith-Pelly had instances where he looked like a top-line winger and playoff performer. Sure, Jeff Petry and Tom Gilbert were revelations, shouldering the bulk of the workload in relief of an Andrei Markov who continuously fails to impress during the postseason. Kudos to Bergevin- his acquisitions make him look like a genius. On another note, Norris trophy candidate P.K. Subban was on his game 50% of the time in my eyes, and that’s hardly acceptable. Yet, the biggest concern going into the Eastern Conference semifinals is scoring. Come to think of it, that’s the story of the entire season, is it not?
I was relieved to see Max Pacioretty use his speed and tenacity and look like his elite scoring winger-self. He seems to have recovered from his “upper-body… injury, being implicated in all 3 zones on the ice. I’m sure his empty-net goal will remind him that he needs to contribute more offensively. While I maintain that he needed to rest for at least another game or two, he rounded into form at just the right time. His confidence should be up, and his legs should be game-ready by the time the second round begins. Look to him to consistently have his name on the score sheet.
I would predict the same for Brandon Prust, who was surprisingly one of the best forwards of the entire series. He cycled the puck efficiently, provided a physical and net presence that was glaringly lacking, and could have provided a few goals had he not fanned on some of his shots. Also, he was the only player who even came close to dropping his gloves. I was surprised to see that not a single fight took place in this supposed “rivalry…, but relieved that there was a mutual respect between both teams nonetheless. To me, both clubs remained classy, and that’s a breath of fresh air in a league that is always looking to improve itself in all aspects.
We still don’t know whom the Habs will face next, but either Detroit or Tampa Bay will be a significant challenge compared to the Senators. As has been the case all season, the Canadiens played to the level of their competition. It was not rare to see them fail to dominate teams that were inferior, and I would place Ottawa amongst those teams. I haven’t decided if I would chalk it up to a lack of preparation (a coaching issue) or a sort of overconfidence that championship teams exert. After all, and as I’ve maintained from the beginning of the playoffs, this is an elite team that should not be left out of Stanley Cup contention discussions. I believe the Montreal fan base is afraid to admit this, having been let down by unrealistic expectations for the past 20+ years.
They’ve been great all year, and haven’t lost more than 3 games in a row at any point, most notably during the first round. What we’ve got before us is a team capable of proving their worst detractors wrong.
What do Stanley Cup winning teams all pride themselves on? Superstar players, if not for a single one.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have Sidney Crosby. The Detroit Red Wings have Pavel Datsyuk. The Boston Bruins had Tim Thomas. The Los Angeles Kings have Jonathan Quick.
The Montreal Canadiens have Carey Price. He won’t singlehandedly win the Cup, any fool will attest to that. But championship teams have proven time and time again that no series are won without the help of a player who stands out amongst the rest. Price could arguably be one of the greatest goalies of all-time; there is no doubt in my mind. There should be even less of it in the entire fan base’s. The Canadiens have a legitimate chance to compete for the Stanley Cup, and why not? Evidently, there are still key elements missing in the lineup, but who can argue that this organization is headed in the wrong direction?
The Habs have done nothing less than entertain us in what has been a highly emotional season. They’ve shown us that there’s reason to believe that they can make it all the way, despite what everyone may think. They’ve got a solid group of go-getters who have excelled at all levels, and they’re looking to give the greatest group of fans the kind of excitement they so deservedly earned.
Whoever may come next, I’m very confident that they will prove that there’s a reason your Montreal Canadiens are second best in the league.