At this point in the season a year ago, the Canadian’s record was 3-1-1, for seven ranking points out of a possible 10. Nick Suzuki still hadn’t scored, but had three assists, while he has four after five games this season.
• Also read – Canadian setback against the Kings: unacceptable in the eyes of Martin St-Louis
Cole Caufield had three goals on his record, this year he has four. Juraj Slafkovsky was looking for himself, this season he is still looking for himself, but he has four points along his personal quest.
Brendan Gallagher has two goals after five games, last year he also had two goals after five games. In other words, everything is not so negative when we take each of the players individually.
I also think that the Canadian is much better off in front of the net with the reassuring presence of Samuel Montembeault as number one. Last season’s menage a trois was lousy and Jake Allen has never been and never will be a true number one.
The three-point deficit in the standings after just five games compared to a year ago is not the result of what is happening in front of the net, on the contrary.
Last year, Allen conceded six goals on 42 shots from the Leafs in the curtain-raiser, the CH having collected a point for this defeat beyond 60 minutes of regulation.
This season, Montembeault was imperial against Toronto’s 48 offerings and the CH banked one more ranking point after a match than a year ago.
The Canadian’s major problem this season, and what means that the team is barely more than 50% of its points harvest from a year ago after five games, is at the blue line.
I also find that we very quickly agree that David Savard is suddenly old and slow. It’s as stupid and summary an analysis as saying Monday night that Lane Hutson wandered too deep into the Pittsburgh Penguins zone, which cost the Canadiens’ fifth goal in the loss.
Savard may no longer have his legs from five years ago, but I refuse to admit that he is no longer in the game, on the contrary.
I think David is a clear victim of an absent defensive system. What is the Canadian’s defensive system? Can anyone explain it to me?
Even today, some experienced responders were not able to explain it to me when I called them. I would add that their perplexed reactions, to say the least, told me a lot about what is not happening with the CH currently.
A match is being played on the ice. Nothing is more true than that. At the same time, we are able to agree on an expected victory or defeat before the first puck drops.
A year ago, the CH were two points, therefore a victory, above what we had the right to expect from the first five duels of the campaign.
This year, it is a victory below legitimate expectations. Angry, I would add that he is also missing a bonus point, the result of a defeat after 60 minutes, which would bring CH to seven ranking points after five matches.
Now is the situation catastrophic? Absolutely not! Not even for the principle of being in the mix, as the leaders heartily claimed during the golf tournament.
By the way, “being in the mix»what does that mean, exactly? Considering that it does not automatically mean “being in the playoffs”, according to managers, the meaning of the expression theme of the current season is as difficult to dissect as the team’s defensive system.
The urgency, therefore, if one must be identified, is really to tighten up the work in the defensive zone, even if it means simplifying it as much as possible, while requiring, on the other hand, application and total and complete commitment from the five players on the ice in front. the guard.
A simple and classic system, something easy to execute even for the scrums of the group. I think that just that could make it possible to eliminate one in three turnovers of which the CH is guilty.
Not meddling, the Canadian gives more pucks to the opponent in a match than Youppi! gives hugs to Anthony Martineau in one season.
So… is there panic in the house? No. Except in the way. As much as the Canadian can be spectacular, he is uglier incarnate in his territory. We have to see about it, it’s urgent!
