MONTREAL— Make no mistake about it; this was nonetheless a great day for the Montreal Canadiens, even when they spoiled their very own get together by dropping a stink bomb on the Bell Centre.
This stunning hockey cathedral was begging to be changed into a madhouse on Sunday, however the Canadiens’ punchless efficiency in opposition to the New Jersey Devils turned it right into a morgue for giant parts of the sport.
They had been structured defensively, and never terribly leaky. However they had been additionally uncharacteristically inept offensively, main them to get shut out for simply the third time this season and leaving Cole Caufield caught on 49 objectives.
His linemates and power-play cronies compelled passes to him to get him to 50, and he flubbed his photographs on those that made it by means of to him.
The remainder of this recreation boiled right down to this being Montreal’s sixth contest in 9 nights, coming off an ideal five-game highway journey that ended Saturday and prolonged their longest profitable streak in 10 years to eight video games.
The 4-3 shootout win over these identical Devils in New Jersey an evening prior didn’t clinch the 100-point Canadiens a playoff spot, however the Detroit Crimson Wings dropping to the Minnesota Wild Sunday afternoon did.
“It was nice,” stated captain Nick Suzuki. “Everybody was coming to the rink in a fairly good temper. It’s been our purpose ever since we began camp to get again within the playoffs.”
With it achieved, a brand new one was set: to chase down the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
The pursuit simply received delayed by an evening.
Nonetheless, you don’t get the sense the Canadiens will deal with it as a one-off after they barely swerved to win their final two video games earlier than lastly crashing on this 3-0 loss. They’d what occurred in correct perspective afterwards and so they’re decided to make the suitable changes upon their return from a well-earned time off.
This day ended on a bitter observe, but it surely was nonetheless a great day as a result of the Canadiens had their playoff ticket punched.
And that had far more to do with them and all the pieces they did within the lead-up to this present day than it did a recreation between the Wild and Wings in Michigan.
The Canadiens raised their already-high normal to a different stage with this streak.
Now they intend to carry themselves to that.
“The problem proper now could be can we preserve discovering consistency in that,” stated coach Martin St. Louis. “To me, when you’ve got consistency in that, I feel our good is sweet sufficient to maintain enjoying hockey in April or Might.”
If that appears outlandish as a result of Sunday’s recreation performed out extra like a recreation between the 2001 Canadiens and Devils than the current-day editions of each groups, bear in mind the Canadiens weren’t all unhealthy.
Except for the stray passes and misfired photographs, the Canadiens defended nicely and arduous. Additionally they threw 27 hits — and a few haymakers.
“I feel everybody’s form of taken that position and tried to do it,” stated Kaiden Guhle, and he was proper about that.
Josh Anderson, who defended his personal large, late-game hit on Jack Hughes by combating Brenden Dillon, led that cost as he all the time does. A number of others, like Zach Bolduc, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble, had been expectedly proper there with him.
However so was Joe Veleno, who didn’t come to the Canadiens as a banger however had a game-high six hits so as to add to the 143 he’d thrown by means of his first 57 video games (third-most on the workforce this season).
Defending arduous within the impartial zone and defensive zone saved the Devils to simply 20 photographs Sunday, and in addition performed an enormous half within the Canadiens profitable these eight video games earlier than this inevitable loss.
It will be reaching to counsel Sunday’s flat offensive efficiency was an indication they’re resting on their laurels.
“I like the place our requirements are proper now and the way we’ve improved in several departments of our recreation, and we’ve received to remain on high of it,” stated St. Louis. “We will’t simply be glad as a result of that a part of our recreation is sweet now. We’ve received to remain on high of it. I’ve stated it earlier than: no matter a part of the sport, it’s by no means going to remain the identical. It’s going to worsen or higher. You’ve received to speak about it, and that’s what we’re doing.”
The Canadiens will focus on simply enjoying the sport and permitting Caufield’s 50th purpose to return to him like the opposite 49 have.
“The fellows are trying to find him loads, and I feel it impacts the continuity of play,” stated St. Louis. “I’m very assured he’s going to attain 50. I’d have appreciated for it to have occurred tonight for a lot of causes, so we might transfer on to different issues, so we might’ve provided that to the gang. It will’ve been enjoyable to get that. I’ve lived stuff like that, and it’s regular.”
Tuesday will probably be one in all 5 extra alternatives Caufield and the Canadiens must get again to what they’ve been doing so nicely all season.
They dropped beneath the Buffalo Sabres, however they will nonetheless end forward of them to earn home-ice benefit in a first-round sequence. They’ve nonetheless received a crack at ending first within the division. The Carolina Hurricanes are solely 4 factors up in first place within the Japanese Convention.
All three groups personal the tiebreaker (regulation wins), however that received’t cease the Canadiens from gunning for them.
Possibly they’ll fall brief, however they’re unlikely to fall as flat as they did in opposition to the Devils Sunday.
“That is one of the best time of the 12 months, whether or not you’re combating to get in otherwise you’re attempting to prepare for the playoffs and simply enjoying the appropriate method,” stated Anderson. “We’re nonetheless combating for house ice, so clearly each recreation issues for us. Each night time you’ve received to be on it.”
It nonetheless got here on a great day, and hope remains to be excessive that higher ones lie forward.
