Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tyler Toffoli – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Corey Perry

Artturi Lehkonen – Jake Evans – Paul Byron

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Alexander Romanov

Jake Allen – Carey Price

Victor Mete

Ryan Poehling, Michael Frolik, Cale Fleury, Charlie Lindgren

Joel Armia

Game Report

As Max Pacioretty was fond of saying, “Two points is two points.”

And while it is true that the Canadiens came out of this afternoon’s game with a win, is there not just a tinge of concern with the way it transpired For that matter, have the lowly Ottawa Senators provided a template to the Canadian division on a game plan to face the Montreal Canadiens?

Nick Suzuki, who acknowledged that he played the worst game of his season on Thursday night, turned things around and was Montreal’s best forward in this game. Shea Weber was a stalwart with over 27 minutes of ice-time for the visitors.

But according to Claude Julien, and everyone watching, there were far too many passengers in this contest. So much so, that Julien delivered a paint-peeling speech during the second intermission that Suzuki called “intense.”

Not everyone on the Habs was committed, work ethic was lacking and the Canadiens were not generating many scoring chances. Montreal got the win but it appeared that the words of the head coach fell on deaf ears. The Canadiens were outshot 22-4 from midway through the second to five minutes left in the third period.

That said, it was a low event game with an few quality opportunities on each side. Yes, it appears that the Canadiens once again played down to their opposition. High-danger scoring chances were 5-to-5 at even strength.

Montreal did not deserve to win this game, but it was a game they needed to win to stave off full-fledged panic from their fans. The Canadiens will have Sunday off but the head coach will likely have a plate full of teaching points ready for Monday and Tuesday’s practice at Brossard.

Up Next

The Habs return home for a pair of games against Toronto and Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Plus / Minus

▲ Jake Allen, Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson, Artturi Lehkonen, Jeff Petry, Shea Weber, Jonathan Drouin

▼ Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Brett Kulak

Game Preview