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Revisions: Brendan Gallagher wants “people who understand the game”
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Revisions: Brendan Gallagher wants “people who understand the game”
Credit: And then? How’s your playoff run going? It was clear that the Habs couldn’t keep the pace of the “old days” when the team was winning all the time. But did you think the guys would come out so shapeless this week? Because yes, in the losses in St. Louis (6-1 on Tuesday) and in […]
And then? How’s your playoff run going?

It was clear that the Habs couldn’t keep the pace of the “old days” when the team was winning all the time. But did you think the guys would come out so shapeless this week?

Because yes, in the losses in St. Louis (6-1 on Tuesday) and in Philadelphia (6-4 last night), the Habs looked bad. The eye test confirmed it: the guys aren’t there.

Yesterday, against Flyers who hadn’t won in the regular season in March and who hadn’t scored on a powerplay in March (!) before last night’s game, the Habs lost. #EffetBradShaw?

The Habs are still in the playoff picture this morning, but still: everyone knows the situation is precarious.

(Credit: Sportsnet)
The guys are lucky that opposing teams are only losing in this race. After all, if that weren’t the case, qualifying would be a lot more difficult.

For now, the Habs still have a chance.

This doesn’t prevent some guys from being dissatisfied with what’s been happening since the start of the trip. And among them is Brendan Gallagher, who’s playing despite the loss of his mother.

What did he have to say, Gally?

After the game, we felt all the frustration of the veteran towards the NHL and the situation with disallowed/goals when the goalie is (or isn’t) interfered with.

Let’s say #11 didn’t hide to say what he thought.

He spoke of a lack of consistency in the decisions made in Toronto in such situations and would like people who understand the game to make the decisions. Ouch.

He also talked about frustration across the league since nothing is consistent from one game to another. And he’s right.

Maybe the goal would have been disallowed if it was Gally who had his two feet in the goalie’s blue paint… but we don’t know. We just know that in this case, the goal was allowed.

And we also know that on the powerplay obtained by the Flyers on the failed challenge by the Habs, the Flyers made it 5-2. That was one of the last nails in the Habs’ coffin.

But we have to stress that even if the goalie interference situation didn’t help the Habs’ cause, we’ll agree that the team wasn’t playing well enough to hope to win.

So what explains the Habs’ loss?

1. Defensively, the team is struggling. The players are having trouble making good defensive plays (except maybe the duo of the two Americans) and let’s say that Kaiden Guhle’s return will help.

On that one, Mike Matheson has already looked better, let’s say.

2. Yesterday, we saw that an easier game on paper isn’t always easier on the ice. The Habs couldn’t get at least a point against Philly, but will have their #1 goalie against Carolina tonight.

Would you have done the same thing? With hindsight, it’s easy to talk. But yesterday, I understood Martin St-Louis’ decision since, in my eyes, Samuel Montembeault needed rest.

That being said… we saw that Jakub Dobes needs to work before becoming a real NHL goalie.

Yesterday, the loss isn’t really his fault, we agree. However, sometimes a goalie can get up and make a save at the right time to give his team a boost. And yesterday, that didn’t happen. Dobes’ movements didn’t inspire confidence and that’s what happened.

3. Nick Suzuki tried, but he couldn’t buy a goal in the game against Philly. However, he contributed by getting an assist on Patrik Laine’s goal… who scored on a 6-on-5. #Obviously

Cole Caufield, Alex Newhook (who’s doing well at center) and Christian Dvorak found the back of the net yesterday. And Lane Hutson got two assists, obviously while playing almost half the game.

4. The Habs have had several comebacks in the last few weeks. But this week, we saw that it can’t happen too often because it’s unsustainable.

We’ll need to start games better, period.

5. Speaking of starting games better: Gilbert Delorme, this morning on BPM Sports, wondered if the fact that they’re no longer skating in the mornings of game days explains the bad starts. The question arises.

6. Have the math caught up with the Habs? A few weeks ago, we were talking about a one-in-five chance of making the playoffs. Last week, we were saying that the one-in-five chance could happen. But the way the team is playing…

The Habs, who currently have a 34% chance of making the playoffs, play in sequences. It will depend on the next games – and the losses of other teams in the Eastern Conference race.

7. I know it doesn’t work exactly like that, but if Matvei Michkov had scored his two goals for the Habs instead of the Flyers, the game would have still ended 6-4, but…

Ah, never mind.


overtime

The Habs will play in Raleigh tonight. Samuel Montembeault will be the starting goalie for the Habs, and we’re wondering if Kaiden Guhle will be able to play.

Around 11:45 AM, Martin St-Louis will speak to the media.

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