PHILADELPHIA — In a recent game, Canadiens players Arber Xhekaj and David Savard made a mistake behind their net, allowing Olle Lycksell to get the puck and set up Nicolas Deslauriers for a goal.
Shortly after, Sean Couturier scored again for the Philadelphia Flyers, increasing their lead to 3-1. This was the fifth goal scored against Xhekaj and Savard in five-on-five play since the Canadiens aimed for a playoff spot with a win against the Ottawa Senators last Tuesday.
It was unclear why they were still on the ice after the previous goal, but their defensive play on Couturier`s goal was questionable.
The issue wasn`t just their positioning high in their zone as the puck came to Couturier in front of their goalie, Jakub Dobes. It was their lack of urgency in closing down the players they were supposed to be covering. It`s clear they intended to defend, but their execution was lacking.
Xhekaj and Savard are known for their hard work and good intentions, always wanting to contribute to the Canadiens` playoff push.
However, their recent struggles reflect a broader issue for the Canadiens as they face the pressure of the late season.
The pressure of holding a wild-card spot, a position they haven`t consistently held in their rebuilding phase, seems to be affecting their performance. This has resulted in poor execution and a fourth consecutive loss. It was also their third straight game with a slow start and preventable mental errors, which are particularly costly now.
The Canadiens` 6-4 loss to the Flyers is especially disappointing considering the Flyers were on a losing streak before this game.
Montreal was aware that Philadelphia would play aggressively, especially after a recent losing streak and the firing of their coach, John Tortorella, earlier that day. Despite this, and the fact that Philadelphia benched defenseman Cam York for disciplinary reasons, the Canadiens still lost.
Tristan Blackwood