He's not the problem, might be part of the solution though
- obie

I won't say he's perfect, there are still times where he makes the wrong play or loses the puck in the neutral zone, but it's expected of a 20 year old.

I do wish Julien would put him with Gallagher and Toffoli or Tatar for a few games... you know.... just see where it goes.

It's not like status quo is doing wonders right now.

je pense que ce sera pas un choix facile à faire, peu importe que ce soit durant la saison ou après.
- Pat1993

Muller serait mieux que de ne rien faire si les choses ne s'améliorent pas. Ducharme a été mentionné, ça pourrait être une option vu qu'il est derrière le banc lui aussi. Moins d'expérience dans la LNH, mais s'il est nommé par intérim, c'est moins risqué.

That's the thing, who takes Chiarot spot?

The only thing you can do is to put Edmunson there with Weber.

That or you give more ice time to Edmunson and Petry.
- deadpoulet

Not saying there is an inmediate solution necessarily, however the plan doesn't seem to be as effective under regular seasons "rules". It also feels like Chiarot is trying to do too much rather than keeping it simple and being physical

Muller serait mieux que de ne rien faire si les choses ne s'améliorent pas. Ducharme a été mentionné, ça pourrait être une option vu qu'il est derrière le banc lui aussi. Moins d'expérience dans la LNH, mais s'il est nommé par intérim, c'est moins risqué.
- deadpoulet

I'd 100% be for Durcharme taking over if a coaching change is made.

But we're not there yet.

i don't disagree but i see what's going on up front as being a far bigger issue for Montreal. they cannot generate anything. they cannot even sustain pressure in the offensive zone for 30 seconds. and when they do it's just sliding the puck around the boards. the second they look to work the puck into the middle of the ice it's turned over.

RDS had a stat last night after the second period. Montreal was outshooting Ottawa but they had 2 slot chances through 40 minutes. 2. that is absolutely insane. they are just baffled offensively right now.
- DoubleDown

I don't disagree. They've stopped skating, outside of Byron, Anderson and Kotkaniemi they've essentially stopped the forecheck and they've been playing a game that's heavy on perimeter and point shots. It is what it is

i don't disagree but i see what's going on up front as being a far bigger issue for Montreal. they cannot generate anything. they cannot even sustain pressure in the offensive zone for 30 seconds. and when they do it's just sliding the puck around the boards. the second they look to work the puck into the middle of the ice it's turned over.

RDS had a stat last night after the second period. Montreal was outshooting Ottawa but they had 2 slot chances through 40 minutes. 2. that is absolutely insane. they are just baffled offensively right now.
- DoubleDown

yup, they seem to have completely lost any of the offensive creativity and intensity they had during the first 10 games of the season

I won't say he's perfect, there are still times where he makes the wrong play or loses the puck in the neutral zone, but it's expected of a 20 year old.

I do wish Julien would put him with Gallagher and Toffoli or Tatar for a few games... you know.... just see where it goes.

It's not like status quo is doing wonders right now.
- Scabeh

Tatar's been on his wing for a couple games now and Kotkaniemi has had an extra jump to his game since, he drives the net more he gets open in the slot more, almost seems like it's about to click for him, give him all the extra help he needs and put Anderson on the other side of him and Tuna

I am surprised by the comments. My impression of the Canadiens is pretty much upside down from what appears to be the consensus on this page. I believe the Canadiens have superior coaching and have squeezed some better than expected early results out of a really thin roster.

Love Suzuki, perhaps Romanov, but there is not much talent on this team other than for Price, Weber and some some other old guys on the back end of their careers.

My thought was that by the end of the season the Sens will not have much trouble in keeping up to this Canadiens roster.
- spatso

Oh come on now

I'd 100% be for Durcharme taking over if a coaching change is made.

But we're not there yet.
- Scabeh

maybe not yet, but it won't be that far ahead if they continue to play like this

i don't disagree but i see what's going on up front as being a far bigger issue for Montreal. they cannot generate anything. they cannot even sustain pressure in the offensive zone for 30 seconds. and when they do it's just sliding the puck around the boards. the second they look to work the puck into the middle of the ice it's turned over.

RDS had a stat last night after the second period. Montreal was outshooting Ottawa but they had 2 slot chances through 40 minutes. 2. that is absolutely insane. they are just baffled offensively right now.
- DoubleDown

they get boxed on the outside and have no solution for it

i don't disagree but i see what's going on up front as being a far bigger issue for Montreal. they cannot generate anything. they cannot even sustain pressure in the offensive zone for 30 seconds. and when they do it's just sliding the puck around the boards. the second they look to work the puck into the middle of the ice it's turned over.

RDS had a stat last night after the second period. Montreal was outshooting Ottawa but they had 2 slot chances through 40 minutes. 2. that is absolutely insane. they are just baffled offensively right now.
- DoubleDown

they gave up 8 goals in 2 games.

Meanwhile, they did score 5 in those 2 same games.

anyway, other than Allen I guess, they need to be better overall.

How many penalties did they take again last night?

I can’t speak for all fans and media but here is what I wrote about that:

In the end though, Matthews, Marner and Andersen were just too good tonight and when the final buzzer rang, the Leafs pocketed 2 more points to find themselves with a 10-point lead on the Habs. Don’t tell me the disallowed goal was a game changer, the Leafs were just the better team tonight and that’s that. The Canadiens might have 3 games in hand but you still need to win those games for that to matter… The Habs won’t wallow in their pain for too long since they’ll be back at it tomorrow night against Ottawa and you can expect Jake Allen to be in the net.
- Karine Hains[/quot
Thank you. An obvious generalization on my behalf. Clearly I did not mean ALL.
Toronto media gets hammered from both sides. Some say they are homers. Others say it is too negative. I tend to avoid the Leafs Lunch, Joe Bowen crowd
I listened to TSN 690. The only rational person on the air is the morning host. The co host, some guy named Shawn, actually said he rates the Habs forwards over the Leafs because of their”depth”.
What passes as analysis is usually, well, the Leafs scored three PP goals and if we got a few bounces and calls, WE win that game. This really happens
But I think last night loss to the Sens has forced the cheerleading media to take reality check.
There is no agenda vs Habs. The NHL does not have a clandestine plan to promote the Maple Leafs. The HABS have no #1 Centre and have an average group of forwards. Above average D and average goaltending.

they get boxed on the outside and have no solution for it
- Symba007

And little desire to fight through outside of a couple. Anderson is a joy to watch, everybody else is at best, at best, hit or miss lately

I'd 100% be for Durcharme taking over if a coaching change is made.

But we're not there yet.
- Scabeh

No, I don't think we should press the panic button yet, but Julien has to do something, no?

He tends not to change much when things go south.

they gave up 8 goals in 2 games.

Meanwhile, they did score 5 in those 2 same games.

anyway, other than Allen I guess, they need to be better overall.

How many penalties did they take again last night?
- deadpoulet

The concern for me is more that even when they're generating shots, they're minimally dangerous. Some teams have so much skill they over pass it looking for something pretty. The Habs skip those first passes and just fire it any chance they get other than Drouin who looks like a deer in the headlights when he gets a scoring chance and Kotkaniemi who really over thinks shooting more

No, I don't think we should press the panic button yet, but Julien has to do something, no?

He tends not to change much when things go south.
- deadpoulet

they get to lose against Ottawa again tomorrow.

Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Van
Thursday: Van

they might win again in regulation on March 8

The concern for me is more that even when they're generating shots, they're minimally dangerous. Some teams have so much skill they over pass it looking for something pretty. The Habs skip those first passes and just fire it any chance they get other than Drouin who looks like a deer in the headlights when he gets a scoring chance and Kotkaniemi who really over thinks shooting more
- Takemedrunkimhome

I knew they were not going to keep winning 6-2 and 5-2 all the time , but is there not a middle ground? They were getting goals from the 4 lines and now nothing seems to be working anymore other than a few exceptions.

I knew they were not going to keep winning 6-2 and 5-2 all the time , but is there not a middle ground? They were getting goals from the 4 lines and now nothing seems to be working anymore other than a few exceptions.
- deadpoulet

At the beginning of the season they weren't only playing peripheral game and were going into traffic, that's what's changed.

they get to lose against Ottawa again tomorrow.

Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Van
Thursday: Van

they might win again in regulation on March 8
- Symba007

What's the word on Drouin? Is he concussed?

And is Danault entering Scott Gomez territory soon?

the playbook on how to beat the Habs is out, even teams that struggle defensively are having success.

they get to lose against Ottawa again tomorrow.

Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Ottawa
Thursday: WPG
Sat: WPG
Tuesday: Van
Thursday: Van

they might win again in regulation on March 8
- Symba007

The season would be over if that would happen. It's a short season, so you can't lose 7 or 8 games in a row this year.

They did bounce back to win vs Ottawa the other time. They got a point last night (I know).

When they skate and work out, I think this is a good team. Not so much when they don't.

The season would be over if that would happen. It's a short season, so you can't lose 7 or 8 games in a row this year.

They did bounce back to win vs Ottawa the other time. They got a point last night (I know).

When they skate and work out, I think this is a good team. Not so much when they don't.
- deadpoulet

things have settled down with most teams, maybe this is who they are most of the time and they have those odd flashes of domination when the other team takes it easy.

They look so fragile, put a bit of pressure on them, close the center ice, they are done

At the beginning of the season they weren't only playing peripheral game and were going into traffic, that's what's changed.
- BashCH

And they need to do that to get their goals. They don't have the superstars upfront to do otherwise.

And they need to do that to get their goals. They don't have the superstars upfront to do otherwise.
- deadpoulet

No ones goes into traffic except for Anderson, Toffoli and Gallagher, they need more than that.