Regardless of two losses the place the Montreal Canadiens performed poorly, they remained in place for the ultimate playoff spot on Friday night time heading into their contest in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes dominate Montreal normally and so they did once more, posting a 4-1 win.
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There’s nearly nothing to reward for Montreal on this one. That they had solely seven photographs by two intervals. It was the primary sport again for Kaiden Guhle after lacking 21 on account of a quad muscle surgical procedure, and he didn’t look troubled in any respect.
In truth, after Guhle struggled within the first interval a bit getting his legs again, he was robust and regular within the second and third. Guhle was in a position to decelerate the play successfully when he was pressured. His decision-making was glorious. He didn’t have any turnovers.
The puck bounced off Guhle on the primary aim when he was taking his man, however that’s hockey. It’s not something to single out for criticism. Guhle will make a distinction within the final 10, particularly when the top coach decides on a six defender rotation that can stabilize issues.
Josh Anderson scored the Canadiens aim. Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook and Anderson had the one high-danger possibilities. Montreal had a troublesome time producing possibilities. That they had 15 photographs on aim on the night time.
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The final time that the Canadiens gained in Carolina was April seventh, 2016. It’s been nearly a decade. They didn’t all look as troublesome as this one. Montreal might do nothing in opposition to this stifling, and shockingly boring group to observe.
They’re environment friendly. They’re swarming. They’re all the time on the right aspect of the puck. They’re affected person. They’re all the great issues {that a} defensive hockey group must be. They put on you down.
The Hurricanes don’t actually have a optimistic aim differential within the first interval. It’s the second interval and third that they set up their dominance. It’s not that they put you to sleep, both. It simply feels prefer it.
Montreal had a bit extra battle on this one, and paid extra consideration to element, however it nonetheless wasn’t even near sufficient in opposition to Carolina.
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Normal Supervisor Kent Hughes guarantees that the Canadiens will probably be aggressive this low season on the lookout for a second line centre. It’s the one gap within the lineup that has stopped Montreal from rising up the standings even additional than they’ve this yr.
The primary line is top-10 in targets this season. The third line is center of the pack. The fourth line was as soon as the highest scoring fourth line within the league, however even with sub-par manufacturing the final month, it’s nonetheless top-10. Nonetheless, the second line is without doubt one of the worst in hockey all season lengthy. It’s the membership’s Achilles heel and the GM is aware of he wants extra.
He’ll get extra with the arrival of Ivan Demidov within the fall. Demidov is the very best participant not within the NHL at this time in response to many scouts and publications. Demidov would be the first true famous person skater in a Canadiens uniform this century. That’s the expectation.
Nonetheless, he and Patrik Laine want a centre. They want a centre who performs a 200-foot sport to make up for the defensive liabilities of the wingers.
There are 3 ways to accumulate gamers: the draft, free company, and thru trades. The Canadiens have almost accomplished this rebuild by the draft. They’ve carried out an impressive job, however the last piece doesn’t have time for a draft decide to take 4 years to reach.
The opposite two alternatives have their very own challenges. Free company is troublesome for Montreal due to the taxes, and, for some, even the climate. The most effective alternative for Hughes is to money in on all of his draft and prospect capital to commerce with a membership who’s beginning a rebuild.
The reality is, and it’s been stated right here earlier than, the very best centre Hughes can purchase is Sidney Crosby. He has probably the most factors 5-on-5 within the league this yr. He has two years left on his contract. Many recommend that he ought to end his profession in Pittsburgh, however fan bases don’t care about nostalgia. They care a couple of rebuild.
Ask the Boston Bruins, who have been under no circumstances unhappy that longtime defenceman Raymond Bourque was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Bruins followers have been glad to start their rebuild, and glad when Bourque gained a title as nicely. All that has to occur is for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas to comprehend that he should make strikes, and that his roster should rebuild.
If it isn’t Crosby, then there are no less than a dozen choices for Hughes that make sense, some higher than others. It may very well be a UFA like Sam Bennett. It may very well be an RFA like Marco Rossi. Nonetheless, if it’s a commerce, then the following query is what’s the value to pay to get that robust centre.
What a GM is making an attempt to be sure that he doesn’t do is commerce away an eventual star. For Hughes, the aim is to commerce away solely the gamers that he feels assured that he is aware of the ceiling of their growth. A GM can’t purchase two years of Crosby by buying and selling away 10 years of Crosby-lite and name that success.
This implies there are untouchables. Demidov is the following star. His ceiling is the moon. He stays. Jacob Fowler is the very best goalie not within the league at this time. He stays. David Reinbacher was drafted 5 general, and he’s wanting excellent in Laval. He should keep.
After that, it will get tough. They don’t know the ceiling of Michael Hage. He was a point-per-game participant in his draft-plus-one season in school. That’s nearly each single time an NHL participant with star potential. If Hughes has to present a membership Hage to get the second-line centre, that’s a 50-50 proposition that may very well be debated on social media for weeks with out pause.
The remainder? They should be out there to make it occur. That features Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom and Oliver Kapanen. None of those gamers’ ceilings scare Hughes that he has given up a sport changer. He would know that he has given away NHL calibre, however not a top-of-the-roster participant.
Right here’s the expected commerce that can occur simply earlier than the NHL draft: Hughes acquires a prime veteran centre off of a rebuilding group. In return, that group will get each of the Canadiens’ first spherical draft selections which can be selections of their mid-teens, and a prime prospect. Hughes fights for that prospect to not be Hage, however somebody like Beck or Mailloux.
The dream right here is that Dubas wakes up and acknowledges that it’s time for a rebuild in Pittsburgh. Crosby grew up loving the Canadiens. He’s the proper match.
Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens sport.
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