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Those hoping that the Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin will use the team’s bye week as an opportunity to make a roster move or change behind the bench will surely be disappointed when nothing happens by the week’s end. The organization will not hit the panic button until the team has had a chance to right its course having lost six of their last seven games. The bye week comes as a blessing and a curse for the Canadiens. The players, especially the veterans sorely need to rest and recharge. However, the team absolutely needs more practice time in order to work out the various kinks and get back to their game plan.
It was certainly troubling to hear Carey Price speak after the 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday night:
In many ways he is just as much the captain of the Montreal Canadiens as Max Pacioretty. This was the first real acknowledgment by any of the players about the troubles of the team. Price’s answer was honest and raw. It was also a wake-up call to his teammates. When Price speaks, people listen. His comments were also more than just are a reflection of the team’s play on the ice. Price’s words revealed his own lack of confidence and the fragility of the mental side of the game. Without an identity the players appear lost, like they are simply going through the motions. Without focus they play like individuals rather than a team, making way for unnecessary errors . Communication, such a key ingredient for success all but disappears.
Are these problems because of the players or the coaches? It is the responsibility of the coaches to have the players ready for each and every game. Ready to battle on each shift. However, the players must acknowledge their own faults and not appear so content with losing and their inconsistent play. Perhaps the skaters have lost their own confidence with Price’s struggles in net. Perhaps they feel as their own identity is lost without Price playing like the elite goaltender that he is.
Coming out of the bye week, the Canadiens have three areas in which they must improve on in order to regain their stronghold atop the division. That is if the Ottawa Senators do not catch them in the standings.
1) Price must regain his form. The Canadiens were able to survive December and January with an average Price but if they have any hope of playing deep into Spring they need their number one goaltender to play well, like Carey Price.
2) Secondary scoring. Therrien has to find a top six that works and not be dependent on just one line that scores. When the Canadiens got off to their quick start of the season, they were succeeding and scoring by using their speed and aggressiveness on the forecheck. They cannot just have one player on each line doing the dirty work. The trio needs to act in unison along with the defense to create scoring opportunities.
3) Get the powerplay going again. Despite their recent drought with the man advantage, the Canadiens still rank eighth overall on the powerplay. They have been plagued with inconsistency and recently a lack of structure. When they are on, they have proven to be amongst the best in the league. When they are off they can barely enter the opposing zone and are held completely to the outside, unable to creatively get anything going.
Bergevin will give Therrien an opportunity to get all three components going again as Stephane Waite will work with Price to make his movements small again as well as other necessary tweaks and improvements. If he is able to, Bergevin will make a roster move to give his coach a full arsenal of weapons but he will not mortgage the future to do so. Before he does anything though Bergevin will see what they truly have with a fully healthy lineup. Therrien has two weeks to get the Canadiens back up to speed. Only if the Canadiens continue to play uninspired hockey after the bye week through the trade deadline will Therrien be on the hot seat. The players will be held accountable, but that only lasts for so long…
Cheers and follow along!
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
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