BROSSARD, Qc – The day after a poor performance of 0-for-6 on the power play, the Montreal Canadiens organized a special meeting of about 30 minutes before heading to Calgary on Wednesday.
The goal? Make sure all players are on the same page when they get on the rink in this situation.
“We have to find ways to create movement and find space when we play against good shorthanded units,” Kirby Dach said. We must find a way to destabilize the opposing units. ”
Dach said credit should also be given to the San Jose Sharks’ shorthanded unit, ranked first in the NHL in this regard. His brilliance helped the team defeat the Canadiens 4-0 on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
However, head coach Martin St-Louis admitted the focus on power-play work was warranted.
“There was a seven or eight game streak where our power play was working well, but we were less good at five on five. There, our five-on-five game is solid, but our numerical advantage is struggling, ”he said.
The Habs have scored just one goal in 17 power-play opportunities in their last four games.
This footage is when Mike Hoffman fell in action due to a lower body injury. Mike Matheson replaced him in the first unit.
“(Jonathan) Drouin got injured, then Hoffman and then Matheson took his place. Every time there’s a new piece, it’s like we have to start fresh,” said St-Louis. It is crucial that all five players work together.
“When you look at the top power-play units in the National League, it’s often groups of players who have been together for a long time,” he added.
St-Louis also noted that several players are finding themselves in new power-play roles with the Canadiens, including Dach in the middle of the slot and Sean Monahan in net.
“These are not excuses, but rather facts, insisted St-Louis. But we will continue to move forward with these players. Yes, we want results, but we’re going to focus on the process because we want to build something that will give us results for a long time. ”
Nick Suzuki has scored four of the Canadiens’ 10 goals this season on the power play. Cole Caufield scored two. The other four came from the sticks of Monahan, Dach, Josh Anderson and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Aware that opposing teams will be emphasizing Suzuki and Caufield, the 21-year-old American reiterated the cliché that if he’s covered, another player will be off the mark.
“You have to do good readings and find the openings on the ice, take what the opponent gives you,” added Caufield.
A trip to 12 strikers?
The Canadian flew to Calgary on Wednesday afternoon. He will face the Flames on Thursday night, in the first of a four-game series in Western Canada and Seattle.
Wednesday morning, there were 12 attackers, the minimum, “healthy” in the formation of the Canadian, and there are only 10 who have trained.
Monahan and Brendan Gallagher benefited from a day of treatments.
Monahan also missed practice with the Habs on Monday. He was, however, in uniform against the Sharks.
Everything indicates that the two will also be in action against the Flames.
Hoffman (lower body) and Drouin (upper body) did not accompany the team as they continue their fitness in Montreal.
If Hoffman’s name is on the injured list, the Canadiens will be able to recall an additional Laval Rocket forward as a spare during the trip.
