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Game 60: Canadiens vs Penguins AKA Three in a Row |
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3 years to the day since he was given the Canadiens' head coach job, Claude Julien looked absolutely dejected in front of the media post game. 60 games in and having lost games pretty much in every fashion possible, the coach looks like he's out of answers and inspiration. Try as he may, his team's lack of talent and skills is starting to be blatantly obvious. Drouin and Gallagher are back and one would think that the offense would have received a boost but in that 3 game losing streak, the Habs have scored just 4 goals and have struggled mightily on the power play. Without Shea Weber to run the offense on the man advantage, the Habs look lost and there and like they can't do anything right. Mind you tonight, there was some good passing with Mete on the ice with the man advantage which finally lead to a goal but that pretty much looked like the exception that confirms the rule.
As for Jonathan Drouin, he has now been back for 4 games and has yet to get on the scoresheet. Playing on the third line alongside Nick Cousins and Max Domi, Drouin doesn't look quite right yet. At least he did take a couple of shots last night so I guess that's something but asides from that, his presence was barely noticeable. I know, he has just come back from injury but in a do or die situation, the Canadiens need all hands on deck and they are not getting that. In fact, this is kind of reminiscent of Drouin's disappearing act towards the end of last season when the Habs were desperate to make the playoffs...is this a worrying trend or just the result of the 14 weeks lost to injury? I guess time will tell. Meanwhile, Max Domi is also struggling and is pointless in the last 5 games. Clearly, something is bothering him and perhaps his contractual situation is weighting heavily on his mind but the only way to fix that is to perform which is just not happening right now. I still like Domi and I want him on this team but it needs last year's passionate and involved Domi, the one who could lose it and take a bad penalty here and there but it was only because he was just downright too intense. This tamed Max is not what the Canadiens need and chances are, this season will have lead him to a bridge deal during which he will have to prove that he can be the best version of himself consistently.
Last night, the Habs were just dominated by the Penguins. True to himself, Crosby ran the show and finished the game with 3 assists on the Pens first 3 goals. His new linemate, Jason Zucker, got himself a pair of goals and said that he is enjoying the winning culture in Pittsburgh. What a shocker, who wouldn't be? This trade might have looked like it had a hefty price tag but the Pens' front office is all too aware that they must win now, while they still have Malkin and Crosby and they did what needed to be done to get reinforcement and scoring help up front. Losing Jake Guentzel hurt and being without Crosby for weeks was also painful but a contending team can afford that kind of losses and still come out on top. Unlike the Habs, they did not crumble when the injuries hit and that just highlights how far behind the top teams the Canadiens are.
With 22 games left to be played, it's time for Marc Bergevin to really ask himself what must be done to get out of this vicious circle that sees the Canadiens stuck in the same losing pattern year after year. He can start thinking about the offseason now and really, he should do that. There's no sense in focusing on the season now, it is lost. It's time to identify his core pieces and sign them to extensions. Start with Gallagher, I know he's under contract for next season but that means that he's eligible to an extension from July 1st and that should be the first order of business. Start doing the maths now and figure out how much you can give the heart and soul of this team. He's been playing at a discount for years since he turned out to be heck of a scorer and chances are he'll be looking for a big pay day and deservedly so. And IF, just IF the GM is thinking about making another hostile offer this summer, please go all in. There is just no sense in half hearted effort and that's been the problem in the last few year, Habs management doesn't fully commit...it just fonctions on an emergency patchwork basis and hopes that will do...well, it just doesn't and it's time to face the facts.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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