The Montreal Canadiens are the worst team in the National Hockey League since the 3rd of December. Here are a few quick reminders, in case you missed any of the following in recent times:
- They’ve managed to secure 9 points out of a possible 40 in their last 20 games, which is 8 less than the second-worst teams.
- Their record in the past 20 games is an abysmal 4-15-1
- They have not managed to gain any points in 2 consecutive games during that stretch.
- They’ve lost 4 games in a row
- They’re averaging 1.86 goals per game over the past month and a half.
- Rumour has it that Michel Therrien is “officially… on the hot seat, and could be coaching his last game as head coach of the Habs tonight.
The first five points are data that we’ve all analyzed and overanalyzed. Once we were done overanalyzing them, we took the time to remind ourselves and everyone around us of these staggering statistics by analyzing them again. The results of these analyses have been conclusive: The Habs have a serious problem right now.
A grave and pressing problem. One that needs to be addressed immediately and urgently. The kind of issue that is so urgent that it has left players and the coach speechless, game after game. “No Excuses… was the modus operandi for the past 3+ years- a huge sign with those words continues to hang over the players’ locker room at the Bell Centre. Now, not only has the organization in its entirety run out of excuses, but it seems like the fan base is finally starting to get it. Even the most passionate, at times disillusioned fan is seeing the light: The Montreal Canadiens might not make the playoffs in 2016.
Of course, I don’t need to remind anyone how simply unacceptable that would be. I must admit, however, that with only 1 point keeping the team in the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and 4 relatively “easy… matchups ahead, I’m not reassured. I don’t know many fans who are confident, and I’m assuming the players are not either.
Could this really be Therrien’s final stretch? For those of you who have been reading my pieces all season, and especially since the downward spiral that began on the 3rd of December, you know that I’ve never asked for his head. That I always respected the work he did, including the random gambles and risks he would take on certain players.
I’m starting to think that perhaps I was wrong. That Therrien truly isn’t capable of bringing the best out of his players. That Marc Bergevin has thrown Daniel Briere, P-A Parenteau, Thomas Vanek and Alexander Semin, all right-handed right wings his way, only to see them leave the team for greener pastures by underachieving. That Alex Galchenyuk hasn’t played enough games at the center position for him to grow as quickly as he should have, and that Lars Eller, who’s been playing very good hockey, could’ve potentially thrived as the number two center on this team had he been utilized properly. That Andrei Markov’s minutes are still not being well-managed, and that Jarred Tirnordi wasn’t given a fair chance to evolve.
In all, I’m starting to believe that Therrien might not have been the man for the job after all. I’d imagine that if the team played a bad game tonight, win or lose, they would end up sacking the coach. I’m not sure how I’d react to that news…
Mike Condon will be in net tonight. The last time he faced the Boston Bruins, he only allowed one goal and was overall terrific in his performance. He’ll have to be on top of his game if he plans on helping his team win, as Boston is an Atlantic Division rival and a direct threat to the Habs’ hopes of making the playoffs. Only a single point separates these two teams, despite Boston having two games in hand.
Devante Smith-Pelly will take Jacob de La Rose’s place in the lineup tonight:
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Desharnais-Weise
Fleischmann-Eller-Byron
Flynn-Mitchell-DSP
Markov-Subban
Emelin-Petry
Beaulieu-Barberio