There's really not too much to analyze about this hockey game. The second goal by the Kings, with just 13-odd seconds remaining in the first period, broke the Canadiens will. This after the first goal was a comedy of defensive errors, unlike anything we've seen over the 10 games the team went without dropping a game in regulation.
It was a rare off-night from Carey Price, who appeared to chase the puck in a fashion we haven't seen since he was on the skids towards the end of last season. The debacle cost Price a 10-game streak of not allowing more than two goals in a game.
Peter Budaj, who came in, in relief, looked like he had no expectation that he'd draw into the game at any point. As the Canadiens collapsed, Budaj looked rather unprepared for the onslaught.
Out of the 17 shots the Canadiens mustered in the first period--many of them tremendous scoring chances--you'd have had a hard time predicting 2-0 would turn to 6-0 in a hurry. Martin Jones was electric in his third NHL game, and the Habs were very clearly deflated int he second period.
Well, you know what they say, if you're going to lose, lose royally.
Okay, nobody says that.
Is there any merit to the idea that the way they lost will help them recover quickly?
I think you could make the argument that such a blowout will be easy to forget. Conversely, you could also say that it would be unforgettable, allowing the Canadiens to focus on playing a very strong hockey game against Philadelphia on Thursday.
This is a tough time of year to play your best hockey. The Christmas Holidays are in view, players are distracted with all that comes with them. The Habs have six games between now and the 21st, and they'll be off from the 22nd to the 28th. On the road in Philly Thursday, over to Long Island on Saturday, home to the Panthers on Sunday. Then it's a home game versus the Coyotes on Tuesday the 17th, followed by two roadies in St. Louis and Nashville respectively.
Clearly a better opportunity to pick up points this week, versus next week. We'll see how they fare.
Heard a lot of people bemoaning the size issue after last night's game against the Kings. The Habs didn't look small against San Jose earlier this year--despite the loss, they didn't look small in beating Anaheim, they didn't look small in a 3-2 OT loss to the Blues, they didn't look small against the Leafs, and they definitely didn't look small against the Bruins less than a week ago.
They had to lose eventually, and they lost to a Kings' team that's also playing its best hockey. And this one--if you look at the four games the Habs won last week--was coming. It was just unpredictable that it would be such a clean loss.