4 Changes the Canadiens Need Game 6
By Mat Germain
Apr 5, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing P.A. Parenteau (15) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (21) and center David Desharnais (51) in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The Ottawa Senators opened the scoring for the fifth time in a row. That has to be getting old for the Montreal Canadiens players who are constantly playing from behind. Sure, they’ve been successful doing it so far, but that’s not something that can continue if they’re going to move on through the next round.
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It didn’t get better after that. The goals weren’t pretty, and some may call them lucky, but they still count. Despite the loss and the frustration you could feel building on the ice and within the fans, you know that all is not lost and that Game 6 still begins with the Montreal Canadiens up 3-2 in the series.
As noted by fans after the game and during the game on Twitter, there is a widespread feeling that there are some obvious changes that need to be made to this team if they’re going to beat a more confident Senators team. Here are the 4 changes that needs to be made for game 6 if the Habs are going to put an end to this series, starting with what we feel to be the least important, to the most important:
4 CHANGES THE CANADIENS NEED GAME 6
#4. LINEUP CHANGES, FRESH BLOOD AND LEGS
Apr 15, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing
P.A. Parenteau(15) checks Ottawa Senators center
Mika Zibanejad(93) during the first period in the game one of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
I’m sorry, but I can only watch Jacob De La Rose do as little as possible for so long before I feel like screaming. He has nothing to show for all of his ice time in 5 games except a -1 rating and 6 shots on net. Let’s face facts, the Habs need to generate some scoring, and to look for the guy who brought you only 6 points in 33 regular season games is not the way to go.
He’s a neutral player. Won’t lose you games, but won’t win you any either. That’s not what the Habs need now. They need some energy, some grit, and most of all someone who can bring some scoring to the 3rd line.
The best option to get this done is bringing back P.A. Parenteau who does have playoff experience, brings scoring, and has fresh legs to give the Habs a jump-start. He can be used on the power play if needed, can kill penalties, and he blocks shots.
There’s really no reason to not make this change, unless he’s injured and it’s the reason they haven’t made the move yet. However, from what we’ve read and heard, he’s ready to go.
That brings us to the next point, which is……
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