Despite Carey Price’s injury, Hab fans have a lot to smile about these days. The Montreal Canadiens are # 1 in the league and off to a torrid start of the 2015-2016 season, having amassed 27 points with a 13-2-1 record. They lead the NHL in goals scored with 59, have allowed the fewest goals at 29 which brings them to a league best +30 in goal differential. The Canadiens special teams are much improved as the power play now sits at 3rd in the NHL with a 27.3% success rate while the penalty kill is ranked 2nd at 88.9%.
While the exact nature of Price’s injury remains a mystery to those outside the Canadiens organization, we do know that it is not considered a long term injury and that surgery will not be needed.
"Carey won't play this week, but he's responding well to treatment. We're hoping to see him back soon." - Michel Therrien
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 10, 2015Therrien says Price went to NY to get a second opinion on his injury after didn't respond very well to treatment. Gave same diagnosis.
— Ðrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) November 10, 2015Mike Condon will once again carry the load for the Canadiens this week while Price continues to recover. The NHL’s 3rd star of the week has been excellent ever since the beginning of training camp. Condon will most likely face his toughest competition to date as he prepares to start against Pittsburgh. Condon has met every challenge that he has faced head on, with the same calm and confidence that has gotten himself through the past two months. He has given the Canadiens a chance to win on every occasion that he has started and I would expect no less from him tomorrow night in Pittsburgh and back at the Bell Centre on Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
One of the many reasons for the success of the Canadiens success thus far has been their ability to roll four lines on most nights. Whereas other teams might lose energy in the 3rd period, the Canadiens are fresh and leading the league with 23 third period goals scored while allowing just 8. Not one Canadiens player is averaging less than 11:55 minutes per game. While on some nights arguments can be made that certain players may not be getting enough ice time, for the most part the strategy is working exceptionally well. The well-balanced attack is reflected in the individual statistics as 9 skaters have 11 points or more through 16 games. Only 6th defenceman Tom Gilbert is without a point so far this season and Alexei Emelin joins him in being the only players without a goal.
Some questions heading into the season have already been answered while despite the Canadiens strong start, others remain. Heading into the season, many wondered if Carey Price would falter from his previous season’s other wordly play, and what would happen to the Canadiens if he got injured? The players themselves have answered that question with their remarkably improved play. The Canadiens like to play with a chip on their shoulder and right now that chip is proving that they are more than a one trick pony all while supporting Condon.
Update on Carey Price, including this from Max Pacioretty on how #Habs see his absence. https://t.co/kslPgZlBfa pic.twitter.com/lkDJSOhICA
— Ðrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) November 10, 2015Another big question is if the move to make assistant coach J.J. Daigneault in charge of the powerplay, with the additional input from consultant Craig Ramsay make a difference? Again, that has been answered with a resounding yes, as per the results listed earlier. The puck movement is faster and crisper and the players are no longer staying static. While teams are taking away the one timer from the defenceman, P.K. Subban has proven to be incredibly accurate at the slap pass and forwards are redirecting the pucks or are in front to bury chances. While the Canadiens might not be able to sustain the 27% plus success rate on the PP, there is no reason to believe that they cannot stay above the all important 20% mark.
So far the biggest problem that the Canadiens are faced with is what to do with Alex Semin? He played an uneven 10 games to start the season and so far the risky signing has looked to be a failure. The talent is certainly there. We’ve seen flashes of it. However, if he is not a part of the Canadiens 2nd line solution next to Alex Galchenyuk, then it is time to move on and give the opportunity to one of the youngsters in the AHL. I believe Semin deserves another chance of at least 5 games. Devante Smith-Pelly is better suited to 3rd/4th line duties. Has anyone else noticed that Torrey Mitchell’s production has tailed off without Smith-Pelly creating space and providing screens?
Alex Galchenyuk has proven that he is fully capable of being an NHL centerman. He is winning 54% of faceoffs, even though he is still sometimes sheltered by Lars Eller or Brian Flynn. His 11 points in 16 games certainly has him on pace to surpass last years total of 46 points. While the debate rages on with Semin, rumours are already twirling about the Canadiens interest in Jarome Iginla and others. Would you rather the Canadiens acquire a player like Iginla or give someone like McCarron, Holloway or Hudon a chance?
The next question that remains is what to do with Jarred Tinordi? The former 1st round draft pick did not show enough in training camp to displace anyone in the Canadiens top 6 and has been clearly passed on the depth chart by Greg Pateryn. The current top 6 are playing excellent hockey, none are deserving to be benched at this time. Tinordi would surely be lost to waivers if he is sent down to the AHL although he could undergo a conditioning stint like Pateryn just did. A trade seems to be the only solution but the Canadiens will not let him go for nothing. The poor guy is caught in a catch-22… On another note, many wondered why Pateryn’s conditioning stint was only for 3 games when he could have been down longer. My opinion, and this is pure speculation, is that the Canadiens did not want Pateryn to miss out on the father-son road trip and so they brought him back to enjoy the bonding experience.
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