{"id":19825,"date":"2017-12-04T11:29:52","date_gmt":"2017-12-04T16:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=19825"},"modified":"2019-11-08T11:11:23","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T16:11:23","slug":"montreal-canadiens-notes-news-december-4-turning-around","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/12\/04\/montreal-canadiens-notes-news-december-4-turning-around\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens Notes and News December 4: Turning it Around"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a terrible start to the season, fans hope the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> are starting to turn it all around. The Habs have won\u00a0five game games in a row, possess a 13-12-2 record, which is good enough for third place in Atlantic Division, and in a playoff spot.\u00a0Brendan Gallagher<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is leading the team in goals and moxie.<\/p>\n

Montreal Canadiens Notes and News December 4: Turning it Around<\/h1>\n

In a week where the Canadiens needed to win three of four games against divisional rivals, they won all four. They looked good from top to bottom.<\/p>\n

Scores and News<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Habs started their week of wonder with a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>. They followed this win up with a 2-1 win versus the Ottawa Senators<\/a>. What is notable about these games is that they were close and defensively tight wins. These are the sorts of games fans were told to expect. Carey Price<\/a><\/strong>, since his return, has gone 5-0-0 and stopped 150 of 156 shots. His\u00a01.20 GAA. .962 SA% is a far cry from his poor start.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens faced the Detriot Red Wings<\/a> on Thursday\u00a0in Detriot and again at the Bell Center on Saturday night. The won 6-3 in the first contest and 10-1 in the second. These were important given the fact that Detroit is a divisional rival. With numerous goals from numerous players, the Canadiens scoring woes took a break. The wins placed the Habs in a playoff spot. They were not, however, consistent with a defence-first approach to hockey.<\/p>\n

Key Players<\/h3>\n

The long wait to see\u00a0David Schlemko<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on the\u00a0Montreal Canadiens<\/a>\u00a0blue line came to an end when he debuted against divisional\u00a0rival the\u00a0Ottawa Senators<\/a>.\u00a0Schlemko has been sidelined\u00a0since training camp. Following\u00a0hand surgery in New York<\/a>\u00a0to remove a bone fragment. The Habs defence looks like it is starting to gel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As predicted, Brendan Gallagher<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is having a bounce-back\u00a0season. Gallagher currently atop the club in points with 13 goals. He has four goals and one assist in the last five games. He has surpassed\u00a0his output from last season already in the goal-scoring department. A big reason?<\/a> He\u2019s shooting at 14.8% compared to last years paltry 5.3%. Gallagher\u2019s career shooting percentage hovers around 9.5%.<\/p>\n

Get in the Carr<\/h3>\n

After playing two NHL games while Jonathan Drouin<\/a><\/strong> was out with injury,\u00a0Daniel Carr<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>played well, scoring a goal and three assists in the two games, playing on the fourth line. He was sent back to Laval<\/a> where he leads the Rocket with 12 goals and seven assists in the AHL this season. This may mean Drouin could be ready to come back. He was called up a day later.<\/p>\n

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Report: #Habs<\/a> recall Daniel Carr from Laval as Jonathan Drouin misses practice again https:\/\/t.co\/FbAkzSqExs<\/a><\/p>\n

— Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) December 4, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n