To say that the Canadian ended 2022 on their heels is an understatement: after the 7-2 beating in Florida, the Habs crashed past Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals who beat them 9-2.
It’s the first time since February 3 and 4 – against the Oilers and the Flames – that the Canadiens have allowed seven goals in two consecutive games. It is also the first time since October 1985 that the Canadiens allow a total of 16 goals in two consecutive games. In 1985, he allowed 17. Yes, it’s a team record. A sad record, but a record nonetheless.
And the way the Habs play, he could be peppered with seven more in the next game in Nashville that we wouldn’t be the least bit surprised about.
Because if the first sequence of four losses in a row in regulation time was not already very bad news, the confirmation that Kaiden Guhle will also miss the next meeting against the Predators is much worse news.
It could become even more so if management confirms that its rookie defender, but still the best defender since the start of the season, will be sidelined for a longer period.
Already too young, too inexperienced and, above all, too vulnerable as Guhle delivered performances as solid as they were brilliant, performances that added his name to the list of candidates for the title of NHL Rookie of the Year, the defensive du Canadiens is now unable to deal with serious and sustained opposition from an opponent who bothers to play big hockey.
The Caps proved it by 1,000… or nine if you prefer, on Saturday in Washington.
By the way, Alexander Ovechkin scored the 30e hat trick of his career in this one-sided victory. The captain of the “Caps” has reached 806 goals. Eighty-eight less than Wayne Gretzky, whom he will pass at some point in 2024 if he maintains his current pace.
He has reached 36 goals scored and 62 points collected in 54 career games played against the Canadiens.
If he celebrated his first goal of the game in a good way, he was careful not to do so during his third. You don’t hit an opponent who has one knee on the ice. While the fans covered the rink with caps and at least one toque in the colors of the Capitals, the Canadian had both knees anchored in the rink… for quite a while apart from that.
What happens to the Canadiens has been predictable for quite a while. It was even planned.
After a favorable start to the season – there is nothing easy in the NHL … except facing the Canadiens right now – when the schedule smiled on the Habs, while the opponents left plenty of time and space for Suzuki and Caufield who knew how to take advantage of it, it’s more difficult now.
Much more difficult!
And get ready right away: because it will be even more so in January when the weight of defeats will be heavier and heavier to bear. It will be more so after the All-Star game break and after the trade deadline.
What to say about the sad match played on this New Year’s Eve?
Not much except that the Canadian started the game very badly by allowing the first goal in the 32e second. This goal is the direct result of Jonathan Drouin and Mike Hoffman frolicking too far, too far, in the neutral zone when Josh Anderson lost the puck in the defensive zone. Drouin and Hoffman were not yet back when the “Caps” celebrated the first of their nine goals.
Missed defensive zone covers, a touch of generosity from Jake Allen and the fact that the “Caps” are one of the hottest clubs in the NHL – 11 wins (11-1-1) in 12 matches in the month of December – explain the other eight goals.
Many supporters of the Canadiens are beginning to become disillusioned. It’s normal. Their favourites, which seemed less bad than expected at the start of the season, are now really bad.
What is not normal is that the successive defeats lead many fans to question the work of Martin St-Louis behind the bench. That of his assistants. The lack of veteran vigors. The millions of dollars wasted by general manager Kent Hughes.
We take a deep breath everyone, and we collectively remember that the last months of 2022 and the first four of 2023 are used to develop the young players of the formation and nothing more.
True that you have to win from time to time. And it will happen.
But the development of Kirby Dach, the steps Cole Caufield will have to take to get to 30 goals, maybe 35 or maybe 40, how Nick Suzuki will help him reach those milestones, teaching young fullbacks to not to be hypnotized by the puck in order to help the cause of their goalies matter more than all the rest.
As for the veterans, forget them! Forget that they are expensive and yield nothing…or very little. Because if it is impossible to get rid of them by the deadline for transactions, they will not be back next year. At least a good part of them.
The millions thus recovered will be used wisely by Kent Hughes who will be able to surround his youngsters with the best veterans when the time to win, and to win for real, comes.
But it’s not for now. Not for tomorrow either. No more than the day after tomorrow.
And please, don’t hold your breath waiting for those better days to come, or you could be putting your health in serious danger.
The Canadian was planted solidly in Washington today. It is made four losses in a row in real time. They’ve lost eight of their last nine games (1-7-1) and haven’t won in regulation for nearly a month. He gives too many shorthanded goals. Too many goals, period!
It’s all true.
But don’t let this reality, which is the same for all developing clubs, bring you down too.
Take full advantage of the next few hours to greet 2022 and welcome 2023.
Forget the losses and celebrate the “Happy New Year” anyway! Especially since, failing to celebrate the victories of the Canadian, we can still celebrate those of Canada at the World Junior Championship.
happy New Year to all!