Get off those ledges, Montreal Canadiens fans, better days are coming. Sort of.
The Habs’ struggles were one of a few early-season storylines examined by Tape to Tape co-hosts Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen during the latest episode of the podcast. With zero regulation-time wins and just four goals through the same amount of games, things have looked pretty bleak in Montreal. Boylen, however, isn’t ready to throw in the red, white and blue towel just yet.
“I see a correction coming, just because they’re shooting three per cent,” he said. “They’re going to score more goals. They’ve actually been controlling play quite a bit.”
While Boylen and Dixon both believe the forwards, now headlined by off-season acquisition Jonathan Drouin, will eventually start finding the net, that doesn’t mean Montreal is completely out of the woods. The defence was peppered with question marks heading into the year and, even with the emergence of 19-year-old Victor Mete, there is legitimate concern about a blue line that sometimes looks as though it was constructed for a league that existed 15 years ago.
“That is a slow, slow defence and there are going to be teams that can skate all over them,” Boylen said.
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One of the clubs running roughshod over opponents early on is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who face the Canadiens Saturday night in Montreal. Boylen and Dixon spent a good chunk of time on the Buds to open the podcast, and while both are curious about how the team will come together defensively, they’re in full agreement this is a dangerous club that can truly hang with anybody in the East.
The Winnipeg Jets began the year with hopes of punching through in a dreadfully tough Central Division, but consecutive bad outings from newcomer Steve Mason in net quickly caused a familiar black cloud to form over the Winnipeg crease. That said, the Jets’ plan was never for Mason to play 65 games and, as Boylen points out, there are big expectations on Winnipeg’s other tender, too.
“They didn’t sign [Mason] long term for a reason,” he said. “Connor Hellebuyck still figures prominently into this plan.”
Also on the pod, Boylen gushes about Ovie’s hot start and the pair wonder if things will ever turn around in Buffalo.
