What’s Going on with the Habs?

The Montreal Canadiens looked unbeatable at the start of the season, but they’re now losers of four straight games, causing panic in Habs nation. Should we be concerned? Or is this just a rough patch that all teams go through?

First all of, the Canadiens have two key injuries, and it’s causing some of their issues. Any team that loses their best player will stumble at some point. Carey Price is the best goalie in the world, and it’s very likely he would have made those third period saves over the past few games that Mike Condon and Dustin Tokarski did not. He brings a calming presence to the whole team. His absence is affecting them. Let’s hope he heals up 100% before he comes back, because he really is the key to their success.

The other guy that they sorely miss is Brendan Gallagher. He’s hurt because he did a dumb thing in blocking a shot with his hand when he really didn’t have to, and it cost him big time. Gallagher may not be the most gifted goal scorer, but he goes hard to the net, he fights for open ice, and he agitates opponents. Everyone is starting to see just how valuable his presence is to this team. Let’s hope he stops trying to play goalie from now on.

Another factor to consider is that there was really no way the goal-scoring would continue at the pace they were at. No offence to Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann, but they won’t suddenly turn into 30-goal guys. Offensively, the team was playing way over their head, and have now predictably returned to the norm. The problem is that there’s no margin for error with this team. Max Pacioretty can’t be the only go-to guy. They took a gamble on Alex Semin, but we all knew it wouldn’t work out. This team needs a sniper, because they can’t go through another postseason where they struggle to score. They can’t waste Carey Price’s best years.

The good news for the Habs is that they entered the third period of the last four losses either tied or in the lead. It is a little distressing the way they kind of collapsed against both the Bruins and Red Wings when they appeared to be in total control, but as I said earlier, I would bet on Price making those saves if he was in net. The Canadiens have been able to cover up shallow offensive depth with great goaltending and a structured defensive system. But it’s really easy to see where their flaws are in the midst of a losing streak.

Is Alex Galchenyuk going to emerge as a number-one centerman? If he doesn’t, who will it be? It’s not Tomas Plekanec. It’s certainly not David Desharnais. When the Habs stormed out of the gate they looked unstoppable and I just kept wondering, how are they doing this? They didn’t really miss a beat when Price was injured the first time. That should comfort fans to know that the team is good, and they’ll figure this out, especially when they get healthy. But, as currently constructed, can they be considered true Cup contenders? Not when P.K Subban has just one goal in 30 games. Not when Weise is playing on the top line. Not when Daniel Carr and Christian Thomas are the best injury fill-ins they have.

The Habs are going to make the playoffs, they’re going to win a round or two (so long as Price is in net and back to his old form). But, unless they add some real goal scorers (and sorry, not Radim Vrbata), their Cup aspirations will ultimately fall short.