The St. Louis Blues dominated the first period against the Montreal Canadiens, outshooting them 11-3 and taking a 1-0 lead with a Jordan Kyrou goal. Despite a quick response from Nick Suzuki, the Canadiens were unable to sustain momentum.
By the end of the first, Montreal trailed 2-1, and the Blues extended their lead to 4-1 before the game was halfway over. The Canadiens struggled to find their energy and focus until it was too late to mount a serious comeback.
This marks the fourth consecutive game where the Canadiens have played from behind, but this loss is particularly significant as it cost them valuable points in the standings. Canadiens fans should hope this defeat serves as a wake-up call, preventing this pattern from continuing as the regular season nears its end.
Breaking this trend will be challenging.
The article suggests a connection between the Canadiens` recent comeback win against Ottawa and their subsequent sluggish starts. The effort expended in that win may have contributed to their slow start against the Islanders and the Avalanche.
Despite this, the Canadiens showed resilience against Colorado, erasing a 4-1 deficit to earn a point in a shootout loss.
However, against the streaking Blues, who secured their seventh straight victory, a 4-1 deficit quickly became 6-1.
The Canadiens` reaction to this loss will be crucial in determining their fate in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. They must confront this reality directly.
The severity of the loss should prevent the team from ignoring the issues.
Coach Martin St. Louis described the loss as “fertilizer,” emphasizing its potential for growth.
St. Louis believes this is a valuable opportunity for growth, one that the Canadiens need to seize more effectively than previous opportunities this season.
The urgency of the situation might be different now, as the team is closer to the playoffs than they were before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Earlier in the season, a tough schedule and reliance on their “B-game” led to a slump. However, with only 12 games remaining, the playoff goal is within sight, potentially providing the necessary energy and focus.
Mike Matheson noted that the team is motivated by the proximity of a playoff spot, making the current situation more exciting and urgent.
Recent losses to the Avalanche and Blues should intensify the Canadiens` focus on finding solutions as they face upcoming games against Philadelphia, Carolina, and Florida.
The team is aware of the need for improvement.
Brendan Gallagher acknowledged the increasing difficulty of winning at this time of year, emphasizing the need for physical and mental engagement. He admitted the Blues outplayed them in areas the Canadiens had discussed and usually excel in.
The Avalanche also demonstrated strong execution for much of their game against Montreal.
The Canadiens showed a lack of focus and execution at the start against Colorado but improved later in the game.
Against the Blues, they started slowly, made the game harder on themselves, and never fully recovered.
David Savard pointed to turnovers as a key factor, giving the Blues momentum throughout the game.
The Canadiens must respond immediately to the demands of the situation.
St. Louis emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that time is running out and corrections need to be made quickly, even within games.
With time becoming increasingly limited in late March, the need for immediate adjustments is critical.
St. Louis highlighted the team`s recent improvement in making in-game corrections.
However, they failed to do so against the Blues, making it crucial for them to have a productive discussion, review video, and utilize practice time to prepare for the Flyers game.
Nick Suzuki stressed the importance of better starts, noting the team`s recent tendency to fall behind and the unlikelihood of consistent comebacks.
Improving their starts is the first essential step.
The alarm bells should be ringing now, urging immediate action, rather than waiting until 18 minutes into the next game to react.