What have we learned from the Canadiens’ last two games?
It’s time to break up the top line of Max Pacioretty, Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher.
At first glance, that suggestion borders on insanity, because in their two games together this has been the Canadiens’ No. 1 line by a country mile. They have been responsible for three of the Canadiens’ four goals and have combined for 28 of the team’s 57 shots — or roughly 49 per cent of the offence.
And therein lies the problem. By putting three of his best offensive players on the same line, coach Michel Therrien has produced some much-needed offence for a team that ranks 22nd in the NHL in goals scored.
At the same time, the coach has been forced to go with three other lines that — based on their play in the past two games — would have trouble scoring in a 5-on-0 drill.
As tempting as it is to keep the top line together, and as much you wish Plekanec could continue to be rewarded with quality linemates, it’s time to share the wealth.
In their latest four-game skid (1-2-1), the Canadiens have averaged 1.75 goals a game, and that won’t cut it — particularly with goalie Carey Price on the sidelines with an upper-body injury.
It’s unlikely Price will start Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SN, TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690) and the Canadiens called up goalie Joey MacDonald from the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday afternoon. Anything less than wins against the Islanders and the Nashville Predators on Tuesday should send Therrien back to the drawing board during the all-star break.
The Canadiens’ problem is that while they have depth on paper, they are still a top-end forward or two away from sending out two or three lines capable of scoring on a consistent basis. Brandon Prust and Dale Weise are dependable wingers, but their skill sets are more suited to a defensive role. Michaël Bournival and Jiri Sekac are still experiencing growing pains, and P.A. Parenteau has lacked consistency.
Plekanec is cursed because he has shown he can play with anyone. He is the team’s second-leading scorer despite lining up with nine wingers this season. In an ideal world, you could play him with Pacioretty and Gallagher all season, but Plekanec is needed elsewhere.
It’s also time to put the Alex Galchenyuk at centre experiment on hold. That’s partly because he has been caught up in traffic in the middle, but mostly because he’s needed at left wing. The 20-year-old has struggled in the faceoff circle — his 46.3 per cent success rate is the lowest on the team and he went 0-for-6 in Ottawa — and he doesn’t get the same room to move that he does when he’s on the wing.
David Desharnais moved back to centre for a few shifts in Ottawa and won five of nine faceoffs. While he’s been OK on the wing, Desharnais is more comfortable in the middle.
We can assume that proactive general manager Marc Bergevin will go shopping for a winger as the March 2 trade deadline approaches, but until then it’s important to make the best of the hands on deck.
Which brings us to the power play. Therrien’s juggling act produced three power-play goals and a victory in Columbus, and while the Canadiens went 0-for-4 on the power play in Ottawa they did get the puck to the net.
It was good to see Pacioretty score a goal from the middle of the ice in Columbus, but P.K. Subban’s blast from the blue line indicated there’s still one problem that should be addressed.
Therrien gave Desharnais credit for screening goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the shot. More power to Desharnais and Gallagher for risking life and limb by going to the net, but it would be nice to see some of the big boys in front.
