The Montreal Canadiens lost for the fifth consecutive game, falling 5-3 to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Newark. Their latest setback keeps them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, with a 4-8-2 record after 14 games.
Let’s discuss a few talking points from Montreal’s first encounter with the Devils.
Canadiens Put Scare in Elite Team
The Devils may have missed the playoffs last year, but their young core of superstars is just getting started. New Jersey will be a contender for years to come, thanks to a new head coach and a goalie who can rise to the occasion of playing more formidable Eastern Conference opponents.
However, an Atlantic Division basement team put a scare into the potential Stanley Cup contenders by hanging with them for almost 58 minutes. The game never got out of hand, and the Devils never led by more than two goals. This would have been a one-goal win for New Jersey outside of an empty net tally.
Related: Is Canadiens Caufield On Pace To Overtake Hall Of Famer?
Naturally, their stars led the way on the scoresheet, but Montreal kept them honest with goals from Brendan Gallagher and two from Alex Newhook, players the Devils didn’t have a game plan for. Besides a bounce here or there, this could have been a different game, meaning either New Jersey underestimated the Canadiens or are not as elite as many believe.
Gallagher is the Heart and Soul of the Lineup
Gallagher is always lost in the shuffle of power play snips from Cole Caufield and highlight-reel lamplighters from Nick Suzuki. However, while both young guns were still playing minor hockey, the longest-tenured player in the Montreal lineup was lacing them with Carey Price, Brian Gionta, Tomáš Plekanec, and Max Pacioretty in 2012.
The 32-year-old has worn a Canadiens sweater for 11 seasons and, thanks to tallies in the past two games, ranks 20th all-time in goals scored. No one came into the season expecting Gallagher to be second on the team in goals, but he’s fought every night to get to six.
His efforts night in and out are a testament to his devotion to the club and his teammates, so he continues to wear an “A” on his uniform. It’s not always pretty, but Gallagher continues to do the little things that often go unnoticed.
Is it Inexperience, Coaching, or Players?
Since Martin St-Louis took over as head coach, he’s quickly climbed the charts of head coaches with the most losses. However, no one discusses that it’s been only three seasons.
So, at some point, possibly sooner rather than later, people will question what steps the organization takes to examine the lineup and coaching staff and figure out which part isn’t working.
Montreal proved on Monday that they could hang with the Devils, who could challenge for the Metropolitan Division title. Yet, last week, against a potential wild card team who may not make the playoffs, Seattle Kraken, the Canadiens were laughed out of their building.
Eventually, Caufield and Suzuki must make this franchise turn a page and become a playoff contender. Realistically, their “inexperience” is no longer a viable excuse, so maybe it’s not the players but the coaching or the systems.
Related: Canadiens Should Bring Predators Forward Home
Unfortunately, with every loss, the odds of achieving a 30—or 35-win season fade away. Eventually, things have to change, and as the old saying goes, you can’t fire the players.
Canadiens & Devils Trivia Answers
How did you score in our Game Day Trivia quiz? Here are the answers.
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Claude Lemieux
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1997
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Mats Näslund
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Guy Lafleur
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Richard Sevigny
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Bob Gainey
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Kirk Muller
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Jeff Hackett
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P.K. Subban
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Scotty Bowman
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