The Montreal Canadiens were off to a red hot start to the season, posting a 7-1-2 record in their first ten contests. However, they were halted in their tracks in their first meeting with the Ottawa Senators, dropping the game 3-2 to a young Senators team on Thursday night. The possibility of revenge is on the horizon, as the Sens and Habs face off in a Saturday afternoon matinee.
The Senators sit last in the North division with a now 2-8-1 record, but somehow found a way to shut down the Canadiens’ potent offence in their first meeting. How you ask? Lack of intensity from the Habs and a neutral zone trap game from the Sens.
Montreal has been highly effective off the rush this season, and Ottawa was able to clog up the neutral zone. This led to the Habs having to resort to the dump-and-chase method. With the Canadiens’ forwards not firing on all cylinders, they were not able to get in behind Ottawa’s defense on the forecheck, and create scoring chances from below the goal line. A key to success against the trap game.
“Tonight was a tough night” said Canadiens center Nick Suzuki. ” It was definitely my worst game of the year so far. I was fighting the puck a bit, but as a line I thought we generated more in the third. We had a little talk, as we were frustrated we were playing a lot in the d-zone and wanted to get a good transition going. We have got to bounce back for sure”
Head coach Claude Julien was also not content with the Canadiens’ performance. “This one here it stings, because we had a bad game in our system and tonight was the night. I don’t think that we looked at Ottawa as an easy game. For sure our guys didn’t see it that way, but we just didn’t seem to be in sync tonight.”
The Canadiens will need to be sharper breaking out of their own zone, and create speed through the neutral zone to back off Ottawa’s defenseman holding the blueline. Yes the trap game can be frustrating and tough to break through, but with quick outlet passes and speed, it can be nullified.
If the Canadiens come out with their legs under them, they will be able to put a lot more pressure on Ottawa’s thin defensive core – something that was lacking in game one.
Look for Carey Price to get the start in goal for Montreal, as the all-star netminder looks to bounce back from an average performance on Thursday night.