CH: encouraging signs, but results that are always expected

Photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images / Agence France-Presse
The Canadian will face the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday and the Ducks of Anaheim on Friday.

Carey Price has been recognized, after the defeat in extra-time 4-3 of the Canadian in the face of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, that if he had known a better meeting, his team probably would have known a lot better.

Price has not appeared on the three goals of the Leafs in regulation time and he has made his mea culpa after the game.

“We scored three goals and we probably had our best game so far this season. Unfortunately, I have not had my best game, ” he admitted.

The Maple Leafs arrived in Montreal with 22 goals to their record in four games. For his part, the Habs had registered only four goals in regulation time in as many parties since the beginning of the campaign.

Missed opportunities

It is, however, the Canadian (1-3-1), which has generated the most opportunities, which has increased the disappointment after the defeat in extra.

“We have well-enough played to win, said head coach Claude Julien. These are small errors, of small misfortunes. Look at the second goal [of the Leafs], Carey has lost the balance and he has not had time to reposition. Looking at it on the bench, you say to yourself ” My god, it could not happen to us this time ? “”

“Last week we spoke about the fact that we do not hit not a lot of goals. We scored three and it is a step in the right direction. But we have agreed to four. I think we have a good team and it probably deserves a better card. […] We need to continue to work out of this bad sequence. It’s going to make us a better team. But it starts to be time that the wind is turning. “

Since a stinging defeat of 6-1 to face the Washington Capitals on October 7, the defense of the Canadian has been able to limit the New York Rangers and the Chicago black hawks to each 25 shots on goal and the Maple Leafs at 22.

“I think we limited their space, noted Price about the defensive work in the face of the Leafs. This is a team very fast and we stopped them to exploit their speed by playing aggressively. It has made a good difference. “

An important challenge

Things will not be easier for the Canadian in the next few days, then he will spend the week in California. He will play against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday and the Ducks of Anaheim on Friday.

The Canadian has not had much success in recent years, during his annual stay in California. During the last four seasons, the Habs have compiled a record of 2-8-2 in California and the two wins have been earned in tie-breaker.

It is necessary to go back to the 2009-2010 season to see the Blue-white-red leave California with a win (2-1-0).

“The time zone change is probably what makes this trip more special, said defender Karl Alzner. It is past 22 h for us when the games begin. Our bodies are not accustomed to mode match at this time. In addition, these are good teams and they are in big lecture halls intimidating to visitors. “

“The team is counting on some new players and I hope we can break the trend and get some wins,” he added.

Alzner also believes that the time is right for the Canadian going on a trip.

“The first voyages in a season are always good for the team spirit, he mentioned. I know that we started the season abroad, but now that we have a few more matches in the bank, I think it will be good. But it is time that we start to rack up the points because the gap may build quickly in the standings. “

The Canadian would have broken the bridges with the defender Mark Streit

The Montreal canadiens would have inscribed the name of the defender Mark Streit to tie in order to cancel his contract, revealed a source to the fact of the situation to the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday. This person requested anonymity to discuss with the AP since the Habs has not confirmed the information. Streit has not been claimed in a runoff last week, but it was not reported at the club-school team, the Rocket de Laval. When his contract will be officially terminated, Streit, who is 39 years of age, will go home and play in Switzerland, in order to prepare for the olympic Games to Pyeongchang, the next winter. The Canadian had offered him a one-year contract worth $700,000 US, with many of the bonuses to the performance, during the summer season. The veteran has taken part in only two matches in the CH before finding himself in a runoff. Streit has scored 96 goals and amassed 338 assists in 786 regular season games with the canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, where he won the Stanley cup last season.