In terms of statistics, CH is one of the worst defensive clubs in the NHL

The Canadian wants to be in the mix this season.

We hear this phrase often (very often) since the annual CH golf tournament.

But if the Habs really want to be in the mixhe will have to correct his defensive shortcomings. Jeff Gorton spoke about it in particular at the golf tournament. Because if nothing changes…

If nothing changes, CH will end the season at the bottom of the general NHL rankings.

It’s nice to want to score goals… But if you allow more than you score, you’re no further ahead in your approach.

That said, the Canadian’s defense is a problem because it gives the opponent a lot of nets.

CH is the worst club in the league for expected goals at 5v5 per 60 minutes and it’s not even close.

The table below, which was posted by the JFresh account on Twitter, is a superb example. When we see the Sharks and the Ducks being clearly better than the CH in this regard, we understand how difficult it is for Martin St-Louis’ men:

It doesn’t stop there.

In an article by Jonathan Bernier (Journal de Montréal), we read that the CH is 32nd (out of 32) in the NHL for shots allowed from the slot per game and the CH is also one of the worst teams in the league for zone exits (24th).

That said, there are obviously aspects that come into play.

For example?

The Canadian’s defense is young with Guhle, Xhekaj, Barron and Hutson (they are the ones who have been playing since the start of the season with Matheson and Savard) and the club is still learning things.

Add to this the fact that Savard is not having the best start to the season of his career…

On the other hand, Monty was smoking hot in his first two starts of the season (against the Leafs and the Sens)… But in the other two games against the Penguins (6-3) and the Bruins (6-4), It was more difficult for the Canadian goalkeepers.

The CH is still rebuilding and to see that the club makes mistakes on the ice is normal: it takes time to go from one of the worst defensive teams to one of the best defensive teams in the NHL.

That said, I’m sure we can all agree that the Canadian needs to make better decisions in his own zone and it has to start somewhere.

The coaching group will have to find solutions, otherwise defeats will be more frequent than victories this season.

In burst

– Oh, wow!

– Emil Heineman’s parents get up at night to encourage him.

– I like it.

– Alex Beaucage finds himself in Trois-Rivières.

– Quite a story.