This past week was a nightmare in California for the Montreal Canadiens. It wasn’t just the team’s results that made it a nightmare but rather an injury to Alex Galchenyuk. The Canadiens went 1-2-0 on their week in California. The team’s overall play was decent despite the sub .500 record on the week. This was the team’s first week where they finished under .500.
The Habs week started on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. They came out hard in the first period but failed to score. A goal by Rickard Rakell late in the first changed the momentum and the home team never looked back. The Habs tried fighting back, but they just weren’t able to put the puck in the back of the net until Andrew Shaw scored a goal late in the third, but it was too late as the Ducks held on to win 2-1. Despite the loss, the Canadiens outshot the Ducks 40-38.
17 years and counting
The last time the Montreal Canadiens won a game in San Jose, Alex Galchenyuk was five years old and Artturi Lehkonen was four years old. That date was November 28, 1999. Since that date, the Canadiens have gone 0-8-2, which includes their 2-1 loss Friday night.
In the loss, the Canadiens yet again scored a late goal in the third, this time Lehkonen scoring with just over a minute left. The Canadiens allowed both goals to the San Jose Sharks in the first it what was likely the worse period the team has had on this road trip.The Habs defense started the game out sloppy which put them down by two very early.
The Canadiens were back playing hard in the second but still weren’t able to score on their chances. Just like in Anaheim, the Canadiens were able to outshoot their opponents by a slim margin with a 32-30 advantage.
Despite the shot advantage, this game was a nightmare for everyone aside from Carey Price, who kept his team in the game. It helped bring the team confidence heading into the third to surge a late comeback, which failed.
Scary Win in L.A.
The Canadiens were able to end their tour around California on a high note with a win. The Habs beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in a shootout. The Canadiens, who were struggling to find the back of the net these past few weeks, were finally able to get it done.
It was also a game where the world’s best goalie only played average throughout the game. This proved that the Habs can win games when he isn’t at his best. Max Pacioretty, on the other hand, played his best game of the season scoring two goals and an assist alongside Alexander Radulov and Galchenyuk. Radulov also had three points, scoring a goal and two assists.
Despite the win, the Canadiens lost first line centre and leading scorer Galchenyuk to a lower-body injury. The injury occurred in an accidental knee-on-knee collision with Kings captain Anze Kopitar. There is no certainty as of yet if it’s his knee, as further reports will be given later this upcoming week when the Canadiens go back to Montreal. The only thing that’s sure is that Galchenyuk will not be in the lineup Tuesday in St. Louis. The biggest fear is that the contact was made on the same knee that kept him out his entire draft year.
Andrew Shaw is Clutch
Shaw may not be the most consistent goal scorer on the Habs. However, in the past few weeks, he certainly scores important goals for the team. These goals include the game-tying goal against the Kings on Saturday and a goal to put the Canadiens within reach against the Ducks. While the first goal ended up leading to a win and the second didn’t, both were goals that the Canadiens were in dire need of.
Shaw isn’t expected to score 30; he’s the player that will create energy for his team. Over the past few weeks, the goals have been coming along with the energy he is bringing. A few weeks ago, Shaw nearly tied the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on multiple occasions. Despite not scoring, he gave his team hope and energy with his work ethic. Ever since that game, Shaw has been the type of player the Canadiens were expecting to get.
He plays a lot like Brendan Gallagher, and as of late, Shaw has been rewarded for his play by getting more power play time. On the surface, it doesn’t look that great having him on the power play but while, not getting many points he’s seemed to help his teammates score with his work in front. Therefore, there is no reason that Shaw shouldn’t be out on the power play. There is reason to argue that Shaw shouldn’t have been on the first unit but with Galchenyuk’s low face off percentage, Shaw helps a lot in that aspect.
Radulov at Centre?
With Galchenyuk out of commission for an undetermined amount of time, his linemate could be the best solution to replace him. Radulov has played centre in the KHL, therefore it wouldn’t be the craziest idea. Radulov has the vision of a playmaking centre, despite being a right wing for the most part of his career. In Galchenyuk’s absence, he could be a great centre to pair along with Pacioretty who has been slumping for the most part of the season. However, he never got to play regularly alongside Radulov and Galchenyuk which could make a huge difference from Tomas Plekanec. While last season, Plekanec
While last season, Plekanec was the team’s first line centre last season, he just can’t take that responsibility anymore. His offensive game has seemed to decline so much that he isn’t even playing like a top-six forward anymore. With Plekanec’s duties now being more of a third liner, it would be a bad decision to bring him onto the top line. Same thing goes for David Desharnais.
While Desharnais has some good nights offensively from time to time but he’s just too inconsistent to stay on the first line for a long duration of time. In a matter of few weeks, Desharnais has bounced from the press box to now expected to centre the top line on Tuesday night. If Galchenyuk is hurt for more than a week the Canadiens can’t rely on Desharnais as the first line centre.
In the AHL, the only potential centre who could come up to the NHL are out with injuries in Michael McCarron. While, Charles Hudon is also injured with a fractured sternum. However, none of these young centres would be as effective as Radulov on the top line.
Overall Thoughts
Pacioretty looked great playing with Radulov this past Sunday, this could end his slump. It was great seeing glimpses of the old Pacioretty back.
As for the Shea Weber–Alexei Emelin defensive pairing, it seems that their success together is coming to an end. It was only a matter of time as all the NHL top pairings have a fast puck moving defenseman. Marc Bergevin should be looking hard for a defenseman that can complement Weber well by moving the puck. Weber and Emelin’s defensive games are very similar therefore opposing teams can figure them out easier.
Bergevin needed to look to upgrade at the centre position before the Galchenyuk injury, and now there is even more, a reason, to do so.
However, for now, the Canadiens will need to enter St. Louis with what they have. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET.
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