Okay, this is going to be hard, but you're still going to get Erin's Optimistic Takes. Because the Department of Silver Linings never sleeps, and finding positivity matters the most when it's not easy to do.
1. Every team in the NHL will play a "worst game" this...
1. Every team in the NHL will play a "worst game" this...
...season. This was ours. It was painful to watch from start to finish. Everything that could go wrong did, from bad plays to misread cues to injuries to significant missed calls (no, boarding is not okay, especially when the player you just slammed up against the...
...wall by the numbers only just got back from concussion protocol). Attempts to fight for possession and regain the offensive zone were better than Thursday but had little success; same with shots on goal, which, again, were better than Thursday but didn't phase...
Markstrom in the least. It was a terrible game for the Habs, and they know it.
But...and you knew this was coming...I feel confident enough to say that this was the worst game the Habs will have this season. It has to be, unless Ducharme and Bergevin both want to...
But...and you knew this was coming...I feel confident enough to say that this was the worst game the Habs will have this season. It has to be, unless Ducharme and Bergevin both want to...
...lose their jobs. They don't. It's as simple as that. So our worst game is behind us now.
2. One thing about a game like this is that it clarifies some issues. The fact that the Habs started winning again--albeit not as much as they need to---under Ducharme showed that the
2. One thing about a game like this is that it clarifies some issues. The fact that the Habs started winning again--albeit not as much as they need to---under Ducharme showed that the
...coaching change was the right idea, for instance. What we saw tonight, to me, highlighted something really important. Yes, our forwards need more support from the Ds. That was painfully clear. But, also, you can't spend years prioritizing defense over offense...
...(with poor results, no less!) and then turn around and be surprised when, again and again, someone's got the puck near the net and an open shot and fails, somehow, to score. Sure, Markstrom is good. Sure, Calgary defends their zone. So does every team in the NHL...
...and you need at least some people who can score under these and every other kind of adverse conditions. Defense alone won't win you the game whether it's baseball, basketball, football, or hockey. We have one prospect coming who will help immensely with that...
...as we all know, but we have to have more than one. There are serious, painful decisions ahead. But at least every player on the team has seen that reality clearly and can't object to the changes yet to come.
3. I like Ducharme and believe he's the right man for the job...
3. I like Ducharme and believe he's the right man for the job...
...but some of his lineup decisions in recent games have been head-scratchers, and this was one of them. Unless this was a last chance for Byron or something like that, the decision to start Byron at 4C ended up being particularly harmful as Danault showed that he was...
...in pain and not himself. Had Evans been in his usual spot, Byron could have been moved from wing to C to cover for Danault instead of making him play on. And when Suzuki had to leave for concussion protocol Drouin had to take a bit of time at C. I cheerfully admit...
...there may be things going on no fan knows anything about, but that decision tonight ended up being costly. Why is this in the "optimistic takes" section? Because it's a reminder that as much as Ducharme is still teaching his team their new system, he's also...
...still learning too, and not all of his decisions will be perfect or anything.
4. Still awaiting final faceoff stats, but faceoffs were 50/50 between CGY and MTL tonight, which is an improvement for the Habs in an important area. Down the road, continued improvement in...
4. Still awaiting final faceoff stats, but faceoffs were 50/50 between CGY and MTL tonight, which is an improvement for the Habs in an important area. Down the road, continued improvement in...
...the dot will be critical.
5. Jesperi Kotkaniemi finally played more than his usual. Current stats show 18:46 TOI. Surprisingly, Suzuki still had a little more despite how badly tonight's game went for him, but that has to be because of the early penalty kills.
6. Last...
5. Jesperi Kotkaniemi finally played more than his usual. Current stats show 18:46 TOI. Surprisingly, Suzuki still had a little more despite how badly tonight's game went for him, but that has to be because of the early penalty kills.
6. Last...
...but not least: the Habs won't reach the halfway mark--28 of 56 games--for two more games (this was game 26). Anyone who is ready to throw the whole season away now is being as unrealistic as anyone ready to plan the parade after the victory over the Canucks the other night...
...er, the other morning? Whatever. We have as many games ahead as behind, plus two. I expect a few drastic changes in the next week or so, though I'm not going to guess what those will be. Most of them will be things the fans expect or at least won't find...
...surprising.
And re: that victory over Vancouver the other night: I said, and do believe, tonight was our worst game. I don't believe for a moment that the victory over Vancouver was the best game of the season. The Habs will show us that game soon. Game 35 or so, maybe.
And re: that victory over Vancouver the other night: I said, and do believe, tonight was our worst game. I don't believe for a moment that the victory over Vancouver was the best game of the season. The Habs will show us that game soon. Game 35 or so, maybe.
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