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Montreal Canadiens Must Learn Lessons From Shutout Loss To Edmonton Oilers

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By @LissaRantSports

Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher disputes his goalie interference penalty with referees in a game against the Edmonton Oilers

Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports

It’s odd — after winning seven of the first eight games, the Montreal Canadiens lost against the Edmonton Oilers and suddenly fans remember what it feels like to watch this team lose.

It wasn’t a pretty game. As it began, the team looked lackluster. The first period had almost finished scoreless but that inevitable late-period goal ensured fans the beginning of uncertainty and it only got worse. The Habs lost 3-0 to a team that only recently found its energy.

Let’s face it: After only one loss in eight games, winning began to feel like a fantastic norm. Who wouldn’t get used to the highs of watching one’s team win on a regular basis, comeback after comeback?

This time, there was just something that didn’t work. The team was disorganized, lackluster and despite a few good chances, never caught up to the Oilers.

I’ve said it before: Referees don’t make or break a game. Not entirely. However, it was tough to watch blatant goalie interference go uncalled when Dustin Tokarski was crashed by Edmonton players but see every penalty and non-penalty called on the Canadiens. The frustration over not having any goals was just increased by referees who seemed incompetent, biased or both. The Habs did score, but it was disallowed when the referees deemed goalie interference — even when Brendan Gallagher had been pushed by an Oilers player and had nowhere else to go but to tumble over Ben Scrivens‘ pads. That’s the kind of questionable officiating that makes a game a source of intense exasperation.

There were seven Habs penalties altogether that broke any rhythm the team might have had going after the opening puck drop. There were two consecutive penalties in the first three minutes of the game, and it was almost as though the team couldn’t fight back from a shaky start.

That’s my first concern: If the Habs are going to keep winning, they have to stop taking penalties. Of course, none of the goals by Edmonton were scored on their power play, so it’s hard to blame penalties for the scoreboard.

My second concern is the power play. The Habs have not been able to capitalize on the man-advantage at all this season, with three power play goals in nine games. That just isn’t good enough. Perhaps coach Michel Therrien has to find the best lineup to take power plays (while still keeping Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban on the blue line), or perhaps the entire team needs to do extensive power play drills. I just don’t see the season unfolding successfully with the type of statistics we’re seeing on the Habs power play.

Perhaps it’s time to put rookie Jiri Sekac back into the lineup. Dale Weise had two fantastic games but was invisible in this one. There’s nothing wrong with shuffling the bench to find the perfect combinations. After all, Therrien has choices; shouldn’t he avail himself of the talent at his disposal? The same goes with Michael Bournival. Bournival is an exceptional player but has yet to make his season debut.

I must give credit where it’s due: The penalty kill is effective. Five power play goals against this team in nine games is a good stat. As I said, it’s preferable not to have players in the box at all, but what game ever transpires penalty-free?

I must also state very strongly that I do not believe Carey Price would have made the difference. Tokarski did a great job, but he wasn’t as good as Edmonton’s Scrivens. We all know that goalies don’t score goals; if offense isn’t generated, games are lost. So blaming the goalie is not even a consideration for me — at least not this loss.

The consensus among fans is that the disappointment over finally losing a game is compounded by losing against Edmonton. And that is compounded further by the fact that it was a shutout. But a loss is a loss; it was inevitable, and as fans, we must take this one and move forward.

Here’s my bold prediction: The Habs will come back strong next game (second of two-in-a-row this trip, against the Calgary Flames). I believe there may be some changes in the lines, but I do think they’ll move forward.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google. 

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