The Canadian delivered another dismal performance on Tuesday, and it is simply unacceptable in my eyes.
Whether it’s the players, the instructors or even the members of management, everyone has a lot of soul-searching to do. It’s not normal to see two such bad home games in the space of a week and it’s disappointing, especially during a season where we expect better.
Now, can we re-evaluate the Canadian’s way of playing? What is good for one team, the Florida Panthers, for example, is not necessarily good for another. We’ve been talking about structure for three years and this team lacks offensive and defensive support. I see obvious signs on the ice: there are guys who have difficulty assimilating the knowledge that is shown to them.
From a strategic point of view, my philosophy would be different. It would be to play faster and modify the defensive game. They need more support. Is it normal to see a defender follow his man to the blue line and end up with an attacker defending in front of the net? There, every little mistake leads to a big chance to score for the rival club.
When I was managing, there were times when my team was crooked. To consolidate the defensive game, training camp was essential. “Coaching” is a hard and demanding job that requires daily adjustments. It’s not for nothing that most instructors have completed programs. Martin St-Louis and his deputies must allow their men to display this consistency that they have not yet found. Tuesday, their troops proved that they were not ready despite winning their two games last weekend.
Bad atmosphere
It’s getting awkward and I can’t believe the atmosphere is good in the locker room. Several defeats of this type risk generating attitude problems. However, players must be challenged and they must not fear being questioned. Collectively, it’s unsatisfactory so far. On an individual level, Cole Caufield is doing well and third line guys like Brendan Gallagher are doing their best; but the others have to perform more.
It’s sad for the Canadiens’ fans. They are proud and currently, they are in pain. However, their favorites should be motivated and excited at the idea of evolving in a market like Montreal. Except that it will take more concentration and organization on the ice to succeed.
