The Canadian escapes too often: the aftermath is hard when you wake up

They say that wakeups are hard when you wake up. The Canadiens players, lost 9 to 2 against the Penguins on Thursday, can attest to this. No, there was no punishing practice like there was after the 6-3 loss in Washington. However, you could feel that the wound was still fresh.

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“You’re not really settling. You’re not sleeping very well,” said Josh Anderson, a few hours before the team’s flight to Winnipeg, where the Canadian will face the Jets on Saturday evening.

“We were humiliated in our own arena. I don’t think anyone felt good going home. It’s not a good feeling,” added the Ontarian.

It was the third time this season that the Habs lost a volley at the Bell Center. Usually it happens on Tuesday. Moreover, the team’s supporters made sure to make their discontent heard with well-felt boos.

“It was embarrassing, there’s not really anything else to say. The fans deserve a better show,” said Mike Matheson.

What’s even more worrying is that it was the eighth time this season that Martin St-Louis’ troops allowed at least six goals to the opponent.

Which equals the lackluster mark established throughout the last campaign. So far, that’s eight times in 29 games. Which means that every four games, the Habs escape.

“I don’t know what’s going on. Except it happened too often,” Anderson agreed.

Too easy an excuse

In his post-match press briefing, the Canadiens head coach was of the opinion that “the chain had landed.”

And it wasn’t the first time. On nine occasions since the start of the campaign, Montrealers have allowed the opponent to score four unanswered goals.

“I think you’re more prone to that happening when you’re a young team. But it can’t happen that often,” said St-Louis, after inviting his players to a video session that was supposed to be like a horror film.

“Yes, you can look towards the youth. But even saying that, it’s not more acceptable,” argued Mike Matheson.

Anderson, who had a short fuse, was much in the same vein. For the 30-year-old striker, the youth of the team could not serve as an excuse for this debacle.

“No. The guys have played enough games in this league to understand.

Goals, the Jets score

The good news is that the Earth has continued to turn, that the sun has risen again and that the Habs will have the opportunity to recover.

“I see this as a unique situation. The way we played in the third was not the way we’ve been behaving recently. It has to be a unique situation.”

The problem is that the Jets are the team that has scored the most goals in the NHL this season. If the chain has to break again, it won’t be pretty.

“You need to get off to a good start. Yesterday [jeudi]I feel that we were a little asleep, analyzed Slafkovsky. All lines must play well and work well. We must avoid stupid reversals like I sometimes do myself.”

And please, boys, don’t give up as soon as things start to go bad.

“Even if they score a few goals and take the lead, we can’t stop playing,” Slafkovsky agreed. Yesterday was awful. We can’t have a third period like that.”

Hoping that the message has been transmitted to the four corners of the locker room.

David Savard, absent from Thursday’s match due to an upper-body injury, and Samuel Montembeault did not take part in training. In both cases, we are talking about one day of treatment.

THE DISASTERS OF CH’S DEFENSE IN 2024-2025 (SIX OR MORE GOALS GRANTED)

–October 10: 6-4 loss to the Bruins in Boston

–October 14: 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins

–October 22: 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers

–October 29: 8-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken

–October 31: 6-3 loss to the Capitals in Washington

–November 23: 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights

–1^is December: 6-3 loss to the Bruins in Boston

–December 12: 9-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins

TO SEE: CH MEDIA AVAILABILITY AFTER FRIDAY’S TRAINING