Doubts linger despite Canadiens getting off to yet another hot start to the season

“We know we have to be better, but we’re 10-1-1. We’re not satisfied, but we’re happy with where we’re at. We just want to get better every day as a team.”

Of course, memories of last season’s collapse are still fresh in fans’ minds. In 2015-16, the Canadiens roared out of the gates with a team-record nine-game winning streak. They were 19-4-3 on Dec. 1, but without star goalie Carey Price, who blew out a knee on Nov. 25, they went 1-10-0 in their next 11 games and ended up missing the playoffs.

This season, although Price missed three games with a flu, they are off to another hot start.

But there have been worrying signs of late. Starting with a 2-1 home win over Toronto on Oct. 29, they were badly outshot four games in a row, although thanks mainly to Price they managed to win all but the Columbus blowout, with backup Al Montoya in goal.

They started losing puck battles, committing turnovers and the power play and penalty killing also began to struggle.

Pacioretty feels they are aspects of their game that can be corrected.

“The feeling in the room doesn’t always compare with the buzz on the outside, but when I see people on the streets or in the grocery store or whatever, they’re so happy with the start we’ve had,” he said. “So to feel a negative buzz about not winning the Corsi scores or the advanced stats, it makes you take a step back and realize that we’re in a good spot right now.

“We’re not perfect. We know that. We have areas to clean up, but if we were playing perfect right now, then what would we have to look forward to? We want to go into practice every day knowing ‘this is what we have to work on, this is what we have to get better at’ and then just work hard at it.”

It is remarkable that the Canadiens have been so strong early on for three straight seasons. They began the 2014-15 campaign 8-2-0.

Even with changes in personnel, like the trade that sent star defenceman P.K. Subban to Nashville for top rearguard Shea Weber or the addition of Russian playmaker Alexander Radulov, the starts are similar.

“We play playoff hockey right from the start,” said Pacioretty. “When you have that mentality you have everybody skating.

“Teams normally are trying to make plays early in the year and it’s just too tight the way we play. I think play opens up around Game 20 or so and the ice starts to open up a bit and there’s room to make plays. Goals at this time of year are dirty goals. There’s some luck involved when you’re just throwing pucks at the net and getting bodies there, but it’s also hard work to track those pucks down and cause the turnovers and that’s playoff style hockey.

“That’s what we play from the start. I think that’s why we’ve had that success early on.”

When asked about the quick starts, Therrien said “it’s a good question but it’s tough to answer.

“I have to give credit to the players. They reported in great shape. They wanted to make sure they got a good start.”

The Canadiens will be tested this week with four games in six days against Boston, Los Angeles and Detroit at home and Chicago on the road.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Doubts linger despite Canadiens getting off to yet another hot start to the season

More Local News