3 Takeaways From Canadiens 8-2 Loss To Kraken

After a profitable weekend that includes back-to-back wins, the Montreal Canadiens gave the hometown followers a lackluster efficiency on Tuesday night time, getting defeated 8-2 by the Seattle Kraken.

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The guests had been led by Brandon Montour, who tallied his first profession hat trick. He helped the Kraken construct upon their early 4-0 lead with targets within the second and third intervals.

In the meantime, Sam Montembeault departed the sport after giving up 5 targets on ten pictures, whereas Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson had been the one two gamers to attain for the house group.

There’s not a lot time to dwell on the loss for the reason that group hits the highway to face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Thursday night time.

Nevertheless, it is time to discuss what went incorrect on Tuesday.

Blown Assignments at Each Place

The Canadiens simply received two video games back-to-back in 24 hours final weekend, and even in a blowout loss to the New York Rangers final Tuesday night time, their execution was not as unhealthy because it was towards the Kraken.

Whether or not defensemen left gamers open and alone in high-danger areas, forwards didn’t cowl the purpose, or Montembeault by no means made the simple save, the Kraken simply made an NHL sport appear like a observe.

Curiously, the TSN announcers talked about that this blowout loss was not a typical “throw the tape away” efficiency. As an alternative, head coach Martin St-Louis might use a number of moments from this contest as educating alternatives.

Total, it wasn’t fairly. Nevertheless, in contrast to different instances the Canadiens have fallen behind in video games, they did not have any bounce again of their performances, regardless of some moments of massive hits and scrappy gatherings after whistles within the third interval.

Caufield Continues to Defy Expectations

The final time a Montreal participant was the NHL’s main purpose scorer was Man Lafleur in 1977-78 when he tallied 60 targets. Caufield is on tempo for a 74-goal season, which almost certainly will occur, however he continues to defy the chances and expectations along with his ninth purpose in ten video games.

As a two-time 20-goal scorer, everybody assumed he’d attain at the very least 25 once more in 2024-25 and probably break via to 30 or extra. Nevertheless, since altering his quantity from 22 to 13, he is develop into one of many league’s finest snipers, tying New Jersey’s Nico Hischier for the league lead.

There isn’t any denying Caufield’s expertise, however even Auston Matthews did not attain 70 targets final season, a milestone so few gamers have. So, as a substitute of anticipating the younger Canadiens ahead to get 20 or 30, the bar shifting ahead needs to be set at 50.

Till he goes right into a scoring stoop, the opportunity of turning into the group’s first 50-goal scorer since 1987-87 grows with each tally.

Particular Groups Is Not a Catastrophe

Final yr, one of many marketing campaign’s ongoing discussions centered on the Canadiens’ lack of ability to attain on the person benefit and forestall opponents from beating them on the penalty kill.

After rating within the backside third of the league in each classes, St-Louis has flipped the script this season and has guided Montreal to some respectable numbers via the group’s first ten video games.

Even with two blowout losses on their calendar in October, the Canadiens at the moment rank tenth on the powerplay at 22%. In the meantime, their penalty kill, which took successful on Tuesday night time towards Seattle, stays respectable at 83.8%, ok for tenth general.

In a season with many peaks and valleys, the Canadiens have managed to scrub up one of many weakest areas of their sport. Because the rising pains proceed within the rebuild, turning into a greater membership in particular groups will go a good distance towards returning to contender standing.

Canadiens & Kraken Trivia Solutions

How did you rating in our Game Day Trivia quiz? Listed below are the solutions.

• Mike Hoffman

• Jake Allen

• Johnathan Kovacevic

• Cale Fleury

• Nick Suzuki

• Cayden Primeau

• Jake Evans

• Metropolitans

• Shane Wright

• Yanni Gourde

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