Canadiens Lineup

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson

Sean Monahan – Kirby Dach – Mike Hoffman

Juraj Slafkovsky – Christian Dvorak – Brendan Gallagher

Rem Pitlick – Jake Evans – Evgenii Dadonov

Kaiden Guhle – David Savard

Arber Xhekaj – Chris Wideman

Jordan Harris – Johnathan Kovacevic

Jake Allen – Sam Montembeault

Jonathan Drouin, Michael Pezzetta, Corey Schueneman

Carey Price (knee), Paul Byron (hip), Joel Edmundson (back), Logan Mailloux (shoulder), Emil Heineman (finger), Mike Matheson (abdominal strain), Joel Armia (upper-body)

Game Report

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As a Habs fan, you have probably heard about a Canadiens team who was outplayed and outmuscled but kept in a game by their goaltender. It was a recurring theme for about 15 years with Carey Price performing miracles on a nightly basis.

Now, no one will ever suggest that Jake Allen can step into those shoes on a consistent basis, least of all Jake Allen, but every so often the Canadiens 32-year-old goaltender is capable of a special performance. He had one tonight.

Allen made 37 saves, including 25 in the first period, in a losing effort. Despite the lopsided shot totals, the Canadiens were within one goal of tying the game late into the third period.

Where’s the Offence?

While most fans and pundits expected the Canadiens to struggle on defence and in goal this season, as we know, it was the offence that sputtered along in the pre-season, never quite getting going. It’s fair to point out that the lack of consistency in assembling the lines during the exhibition schedule was a factor. But that explanation doesn’t really apply to the Canadiens top line, who were together most of last season. Chemistry shouldn’t be an issue.

Tonight, it was Cole Caufield who registered the Canadiens first shot on goal within the first minute of the game, a slap shot from the top of the circle. Sean Monahan and Kirby Dach combined for the next three shots which included an innocent Monahan wrister from centre ice.

Montreal registered their fifth shot on goal by the eight minute mark of the first period, a 173 foot wrister from Kaiden Guhle. Five shots in eight minutes, none threatening.

In that same time period, the Red Wings, not known as an offensive powerhouse, had fired 15 shots on Jake Allen. Welcome to Little Caesars Arena, Jake!

The first period ended with the Red Wings holding a 25-10 shot advantage.

No Goals, Few Chances

It’s early, but after two games, the line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson have been buried at 5-on-5 play during the first two games of the season. And it has been the Canadiens second line who has been creating chances. Sean Monahan has been Montreal’s best forward so far and he is having a positive impact on Kirby Dach.

That said, the Canadiens are having difficulty creating quality scoring opportunities. High danger chances in this game at even strength were 14-2 for the Red Wings.

That’s not what you might expect from a Marty St. Louis coached offence. But right now St Louis’ offensive strategy is a one-trick pony and on this night, the experience of Wings head coach Derek Lalonde prevailed.

Up Next

Plus

Minus

▼  Arber Xhekaj, Chris Wideman, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson, Mike Hoffman, Juraj Slafkovsky, Rem Pitlick

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