Crossing The NHL’s Atlantic Division: Week 18

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens

By Andy Bayer

The Habs have had better weeks, or months. The Habs have continued their dismal play this week, dropping three games by a combined 13 goals. Carey Price is not playing well, allowing at least four goals in his last five starts, albeit with a horrendous defence in front of him. But the Habs have only two goals in their last three games. Once again, the only line producing at all is the David Desharnais line. The only thing that’s changed during this recent slump is that Price has been slightly below average – all of the other problems have been there all season. This has led people to point fingers at the coach.

Cries for Michel Therrien’s head have become loud and sustained in Montreal. As Andrew Berkshire points out, Therrien seems to have bizarrely changed his system from last year to this year to the dreaded dump-and-chase. This change seems to have resulted in the Habs going from second in corsi in even-strength tied situations last year to 26th in that category this year. Having no possession may result in some wins when your goalie is playing out of his mind. But, as the Leafs have discovered, when he is not, the results aren’t pretty.