WASHINGTON | Will the results of this punishing training be palpable on Saturday evening in Pittsburgh? It depends on how dirty the machine was.
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The chances are good when you consider that the Penguins have had a very similar start to the season to that of the Canadiens. However, habits and approach, which St-Louis blames on its players, will have to change for good. It doesn’t have to be a simple blip of an encounter.
At least the message seems to have gotten through to the team’s veterans.
“The way we played, we deserved it. And if we continue to play like this, that’s the kind of practice we’re going to get. And it’s not fun,” said Josh Anderson, still sweating profusely when he returned to the locker room.
“There’s not a guy here who thinks we didn’t deserve it,” said Brendan Gallagher, a few steps away from him.
This way of playing that Anderson talks about, it’s not a lack of effort. Rather, it is these repetitive errors that St-Louis tries to correct day after day.
“It’s frustrating because these are things that Martin talks to us about all the time. At some point, we have to light it up,” said Gallagher.
Repetitive and costly errors
In defensive territory, especially, where the opponent moves around with the same ease as kids at an agricultural fair.
“This has to stop,” insisted Anderson. Everyone must do their job. If you do your job and the other guy does his job, it’s going to snowball and it’s going to help us defensively. We will then be able to attack more effectively.”
Repeated mistakes are often synonymous with a lack of concentration. The same lack which is undoubtedly not unrelated to the fact that the Habs come third in the circuit for the greatest number of goals allowed in the first period (17).
“Our effort is on point in quite a few matches,” declared Nick Suzuki. But we make mental mistakes. Costly mistakes. We got punished for that.”
If the punishment came from St. Louis on Friday morning, it was the work of the Capitals on Thursday evening. And this time, it was in the third period that the chain arrived.
“We have high expectations of ourselves and we don’t meet them. It’s frustrating, Gallagher said. When we returned to the hotel last night. There was a lot of disappointment. We had the opportunity to win this match and we gave it to them.
Elbows tight
At least the players give the impression that they stick together, that they are there for each other. The fight that Anderson engaged against Tom Wilson, in the third period, to come to the defense of Kaiden Guhle clearly demonstrated this.
“Several players in this locker room would have been ready to do it,” assured Anderson.
Especially since the Capitals striker was not at his first escapade of the evening.
“We didn’t like his check on Lane [Hutson] earlier in the match. Then, Guhle just returned after missing two weeks. You don’t want anyone to rush at your best players. That’s why I didn’t hesitate.”
