RALEIGH, N.C. — “We were just a step behind,” Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle said after his team`s fifth straight loss, which has impacted their position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Guhle, recently recovered from a leg injury that sidelined him in late January, observed the Canadiens` determined effort to secure a playoff spot. He noted that their ability to bounce back and earn points in games where they initially trailed was a defining characteristic of their success during his absence.
Now, the Canadiens must rediscover the resilience that fueled the majority of their victories earlier in the season.
“Our forecheck is fundamental to our game,” Guhle explained. “When we effectively pressure our opponents, I believe we have the most effective forecheck in the league. We possess skilled skaters and physical players who can pressure the opposing defense, making it challenging for them to execute clean plays. Maintaining consistency in this area is currently a challenge for us.”
In their recent 4-1 defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Canadiens struggled to establish their forecheck.
Throughout the initial forty minutes of the game, they had difficulty penetrating the offensive zone, managing only seven shots on Hurricanes` goaltender Frederik Andersen. This was largely due to their inability to consistently execute their strategy for exiting their own defensive zone.
The Canadiens needed their defensemen to accurately pass or clear the puck beyond the first wave of pressure applied by the Hurricanes. However, as Guhle pointed out, they were consistently a step too slow in their execution.
The forwards were more proactive, prompting coach Martin St. Louis to comment, “To counteract pressure, it`s essential to position oneself between the defenders, push them back, and sometimes retreat to retrieve the puck.”
“We could have executed that aspect of the game more effectively,” St. Louis admitted.
If the Canadiens had possessed more energy following their 6-4 loss in Philadelphia the previous Thursday, and if they had maintained the focus and execution that has been lacking in their recent five games, the outcome might have been different.
However, those games are in the past. The team now faces a crucial ten-game stretch, an opportunity they have not yet fully wasted despite their current slump.
“Dwelling on it is unproductive,” stated Cole Caufield, the Canadiens` top goal scorer, who did not register a single shot attempt in Friday`s game. “Considering where we were projected to be at the start of the season, we would have eagerly accepted our current position. We cannot afford to take it for granted. Every game is significant, every game counts, and the next game is the most critical.”
Unless they address the issues from their recent performances, the Canadiens will find it difficult to secure a win.
Josh Anderson gave the Canadiens an early lead, scoring on their first shot of the game just 23 seconds into play.
Tristan Blackwood