It’s starting to feel a lot like last season.
The Florida Panthers dominated Montreal and blew the game wide open in third period winning 5-1 Thursday night at the Bell Centre.
The Habs created little offensively and it seems like the scoring has dried up. The Panthers looked like a team that went to the Stanley Cup Final last season and Montreal looked like one destined for another season cheering for the draft lottery.
The things that ailed the Canadiens last season are starting to burn them again.
Pluses:
- There has been great emphasis placed on the slow starts for Montreal. They were actually pretty decent in the first period and went chance for chance with the Panthers.
- Another goal for Johnathan Kovacevic. Who would have predicted he’d have four goals on the season and more goals than Josh Anderson, Tanner Pearson and Juraj Slafkovsky a quarter into the campaign.
- The team leads the league in goals from defenseman with 17.
- Josh Anderson got his frustrations out by repeatedly punching Jonah Gadjovich in the head…
- “Josh is back. You saw it; fought angry. Josh is back,” said Martin St Louis after the game.
Minuses:
- Outworked, out-skilled, outscored and dominated by the Panthers in the third period.
- Cayden Primeau’s worst game. His glove hand was picked apart. Nobody knows how long Montreal will roll with three goalies but hopefully it ends soon. Primeau is not currently an NHL caliber goaltender and it’s unlikely he would be claimed on waivers. Even if you does get claimed, it’s not a devastating loss. And if he clears and gets sent down, he can help the Laval Rocket who have had their own problems in goal.
- Another game and another injury. Alex Newhook had to leave the game and it didn’t look good. He crashed into the net and needed to be helped off the ice. It would be surprising if he didn’t miss time.
- Josh Anderson is never going to score again.
The Montreal Canadiens are back at it on Saturday night hosting the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre.
thehabsblog.com 
Leave a comment