This is some kind of nightmare the Montreal Canadiens are trapped in.
Three days away from hockey this week didn’t awaken the team’s scoring, which accounted for just one goal on 30 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals Saturday.
The goal was scored by call-up Daniel Carr, who now has three in his last four games and four in the first 10 games of his NHL career.
But no one else on the Canadiens is putting the puck in the net. They’ve scored a total of six goals in their last six games, all of them losses suffered in regulation. It is their worst streak since February of 2007.
Saturday’s loss made it 10 of their last 11.
The fans want blood, and Canadiens coach Michel Therrien is in their crosshairs. Search Therrien’s name on Twitter and you’ll struggle to find a result without the word “fire” in it.
It’s understandable.
The last time the Canadiens lost as many games in an 11-game sequence, they fired Alain Vigneault in November of 2000 and gave Therrien his first crack at managing an NHL bench.
The Canadiens, who have been without reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy-winner Carey Price for 25 of their games this season, have now officially squandered what was once an 11-point lead over the next best team in the Atlantic Division. For the first time, another team is sitting on top — the Detroit Red Wings, who have 43 points in 35 games to Montreal’s 43 in 37.
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin gave Therrien a three-year contract extension on Apr. 1 of 2014. His coach has since helped his team accumulate 160 of 248 points available to them in the standings.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how we play,” said Therrien before the Canadiens departed for Washington. “Obviously our confidence about scoring goals is not there, it’s not like I wish it could be.
“You’re analyzing a lot of things, what we did the first 10 games (nine wins) and what we were capable to accomplish and what’s wrong the last 10 games. You know what? We’re playing better structure-wise the last 10 games than the first 10 games, but we don’t have the results.”
Over this stretch, the Canadiens have averaged over 30 shots on net and limited their opposition to an average of less than 25. Though the NHL doesn’t keep data on scoring chances, the eye test backs Therrien when he says his team has generated the majority of them in most of their games throughout this skid.
Surely Bergevin has taken notice.
Confined to a trade market that’s yielded one trade involving two roster players since the season began (Pittsburgh sent defencemen Rob Scuderi to Chicago for defenceman Trevor Daley on Dec.14), Montreal’s GM hasn’t been able to make up for serious holes burned on the right side of his roster cause by a failed signing (Alexander Semin, whose contract was terminated), a failed trade (acquiring Zack Kassian, who was forced into the NHL’s substance abuse program on the eve of the regular season) and an injury to Brendan Gallagher (has now missed 15 games).
It is Dale Weise, who scored nine goals in his first 20 games and has one in his last 17, currently holding down Montreal’s top spot at right wing. Carr is in the No. 2 slot. Paul Byron, who has 22 NHL goals (five this season), is on the right side of the third line and Brian Flynn (21 NHL goals) is on the right side of the fourth line.
Those four names don’t exactly wash with the NHL’s elite scorers.
Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman always notes in his weekly 30 Thoughts column that managers of desperate, struggling teams usually get thrown anvils instead of life jackets in times like these. What can Bergevin expect the market to offer him when the NHL’s holiday roster freeze lifts at 12:01am ET of Dec. 28?
Montreal’s GM is scouring for a solution.
The team’s appointed leaders are also scrambling for a solution both on and off the ice.
Captain Max Pacioretty and his assistants Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban have combined for one goal over the last 11 games.
After Saturday’s loss to Washington, the Canadiens held a closed-door meeting for 15 minutes before opening their dressing room to the media.
Accountability has been there in the leadership group’s commentary but no recommendations have been forthcoming.
“It’s not enough,” said Subban. “I think we all gotta find a way to bring a little bit more.”
From Bergevin to Therrien to the players, they all need to find a way to bring a little more as this nightmare is on the verge of becoming a haunting.
