The first 2 minutes of the game were something else. 8 shots in total by the Kings.
Just some quick observations.
The team looked tired and were outplayed and outskated most of the game.
Dobes made some excellent saves but couldn't make the timely saves - letting in goals just after we cut the Kings' lead to one goal.
I thought that
Newhook was one our our best forwards as he showed his superior skating that allowed him to create multiple chances. Newhook had several one-timer opportunities that could easily have been goals.
Beck again had a strong game. As he gains confidence, Beck is starting to use his skating and tonight beat several Kings' defencemen wide with the puck and had several good scoring chances. I can't see Montreal sending Beck back to Laval as he is showing that he can play, and play well, at the NHL level.
Sukuzi looks tired and played that way. There was little jump in his game and he was again hopeless in the face-off circle, particularly on the power play. And if Suzuki is not going, then our top line becomes largely ineffective.
Whether it is because he's stating to wear down or the league has now learned how to contain
Hutson, or a combination of both, this fine young defenceman is no longer the force he was earlier in the season when he was able on some nights to dictate the outcome of games. Tonight, Hutson was largely ineffective and that ineffectiveness was manifest on the Canadiens' pathetic powerplay.
After multiple miscues in the early part of the game,
Xhekaj settled down and played a steady, physical game in the defensive zone.
I also thought
Gallagher had one of his better games and showed surprising quickness with puck as he challenged and, on occasion, beat Kings' defencemen to the net.
Though he had an uneven game, I thought that
Anderson had his moments where he used his great speed both in attacking the opponents net with the puck and on the forecheck.
Savard was generally steady, but unnervingly slow tonight. Never the swiftest of skaters, Savard, over the last few games, has looked increasingly sluggish in his mobility and I suspect other teams who may be interested in possibly acquiring this veteran defenceman have also noticed this which I fear may have reduced Savard's trade value.
Mailloux had a fair game, he limited his defensive errors, played Kings' forwards hard on the boards, made provident pinches at the offensive blueline, used his excellent passing to spring teammates free and displayed his offensive vision and NHL level shot which allowed him to score Montreal's only 'clean' goal. But Mailloux's limitations in skating with the puck were obvious as he rarely, if ever, was able to transport the puck once out of the defensive zone with control.
Laine and
Dach both had poor games and I will leave it at that.
All in all it was a hard game to watch as this team usually plays an entertaining style, win or lose. There was little entertainment tonight.