The Montreal Canadiens had the chance last night to get within just one point of the playoffs.
Indeed, with a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks, a regular defeat of the Ottawa Senators against the Saint-Louis Blues and a defeat of the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Florida Panthers, the CH would have found itself at a point of the 8th and last place giving access to the spring tournament.
Unfortunately, only two of the three necessary elements happened, as the Senators and Penguins lost, but the Habs escaped 4-2 against the worst team in the National Hockey League.
The Canadian therefore remains three points from the playoffs, and therefore missed a great opportunity to get back even more into the mix by getting closer to just one point from the playoffs.
It’s really a shame, especially considering that Martin St-Louis’ troops dominated this match, while they obtained their first 40-shot performance of the season.
CH had not obtained 40 or more shots in a match since December 16, 2023, which represented the 3rd longest streak of matches without obtaining 40 or more shots in CH history with 89 matches.
It’s crazy to think that the first game of the trip that the CH escaped was the one against the worst team in the NHL and the one where they got the most shots on goal.
The Habs have defeated three excellent teams in a row that are currently in the playoffs, only to lose to the worst team in the National Hockey League.
It seems like it’s really a classic for the CH to win against the good teams and lose against the bad ones.
These are two important points in the standings that were missed last night, but we can’t blame the Habs for playing poorly.
CH dominated, but lacked opportunism and came up against a goalkeeper in very good shape, while Arvid Soderblom probably played his best game in the NHL.
It’s a situation that is clearly very frustrating for CH fans, but we have to get over it and look forward to tonight’s game, when CH will face the Colorado Avalanche starting at 7 p.m.
Now, what else do I take away from this loss to the Blackhawks?
1. Emil Heineman is having an exceptional season.
Seriously, who would have thought at the start of the season, when the Swede made the team, that he would have 10 goals by mid-season?
Heineman is really producing at an excellent rate for a fourth line player with rather limited ice time.
10 goals and 17 points in 37 games is really very solid for a 23-year-old rookie, who plays on average 11 minutes per game.
This is probably the best revelation of the season.
CH number 51 could very well be heading towards a 20-goal season, which would give him excellent arguments for his next contract for next season.
Heineman is really buying himself a long-term place with the CH on a third or fourth line.
2. Michael Pezzetta played his first match since October 27.
Number 55 played his fourth game of the season last night, and for the occasion, Pezzetta played on the second line alongside Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.
Unfortunately for the Pezz, he was not entitled to the ice time that went with his place on the second line.
Pezzetta played 5 minutes and 49 seconds, in what will likely be his only game before the next injury, if Patrik Laine plays today.
3. The first trio played a solid game, but lacked opportunism.
Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky generated solid scoring chances, but more often than not, they failed to materialize.
Casually, that’s nine games in a row that Suzuki hasn’t found the back of the net.
In short, CH will have the chance to bounce back this evening in Colorado, when they will face a big team that is doing well at the moment.
In Burst
– Really not ideal.
– To be continued.
– To read.
