Canadiens Lose Game 6 and the Series; Season Over

May 12, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) leads his team in the post game handshake after they defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in game six of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. The Lightning won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Canadiens Lose Game 6 and the Series; Season Over

This is seriously one of the hardest tasks I’ve had as a Montreal Canadiens writer. Writing a game recap after a series loss, a season ending, and a game that didn’t have much to cheer about as even the past losses did.

I have to ask myself – do readers really want to read about the game? Chances are you already watched, or followed it, or have heard about it.

But as writing is a cathartic activity, as well as my job, breaking down the loss – instead of just plain breaking down – is the best thing right now.

Do we need a recap? The Habs lost 3-0. Yes, the final score was 4-1, but let’s face it, the game was over at 3-0. Some would argue the game was over at 2-0, but we all held out hope. Most of us, anyway.

So, let’s look at what went wrong. There’s no real answer here; many theories – some way far out, some more grounded – and a lot of emotions in Habs Nation.

Instead of going through it, period by period as other recaps have been, which is futile, let’s look look at the overall picture.

From the first few shifts, it was alarming: the Habs didn’t have the same tight structure they’d maintained for 4 games, and one period of another (Game 2).

Alarming because it was that structure that got them to the brink of winning two games that they did not; alarming because it eventually led to Tampa getting the first goal.

And alarming because it was the tone of the night, not just a few shifts.

As fans, you always want to believe in your team but when reality has other plans, it’s important to face it.

The fact is, the team came out flat. There was no urgency. They didn’t skate with the desperation they did every other game. And yes, every other game. That’s what was so difficult to watch. If you were like me, you were wondering, out loud (asking the players on your television set), “where are you guys?”

And in the end, even with a last-gasp goal in the last minutes of the 3rd period, the starkness of reality was laid bare: a game of no scoring will not be won, and is not good enough to advance in a playoffs series.

Look at last year’s playoffs. The Canadiens went to the ECF, losing to the New York Rangers (with Carey Price injured from Game 1 on, it was an uphill battle to be sure). But through the playoffs, the Habs scored 3 goals or more in every single one of their wins. Yes, they won by one goal, often, but scoring is the reason they won. And they were productive.

This season alone, the shot differential (-1.7 by the end of the regular season, 23rd in the league) proves that Carey Price was the anchor of pretty much every win.

That’s one of the problems and it can’t be solved with one game. We all rejoiced after Game 4, a 6-2 blowout of the Lightning. But how often did that happen this season? And was it just a delay of the inevitable? Even though they won Game 5, it was a nail-biter all the way, with a single goal scored until the last few minutes of the game.

Scoring is the main problem. And that can be fixed. But this isn’t an instant fix, and there has to be depth up front in order for that to happen.

And that’s just a couple of fans who agree.