Three Reasons The Montreal Canadiens Have Been Inconsistent This Season

1. Coaching Staff Changes for the Montreal Canadiens

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming the new coaching staff for the Habs’ uneven play. I was more than happy to hear there were changes and I really thought it was what the team needed.

Interim Head Coach Dominique Ducharme and Assistant Coach Alex Burrows have been doing a good job with the team. However, it’s extremely important to remember they have only had their new positions for a few months. It’s also crucial to consider this season’s condensed schedule and the small number of practices. If we put all of this together, I think it’s easy to understand that they haven’t had the time to make all the necessary changes.

Under Former Head Coach Claude Julien, the Montreal Canadiens had a record of 9-5-4, or 22 points in 18 games. Under Ducharme, they have a record of 15-16-7, or 37 points in 38 games. This gives an average of 1.22 points per game under Julien and 0.97 under Ducharme. It’s roughly a 25% decrease in points per game.

While 25% seems like a big number, I think it’s mostly because they need more time to adjust to their new coach. Whether it’s the new system, strategy, or lines, it takes time to get used to certain plays and to perfect them, and I think we should consider all these changes in the Canadiens’ inconsistency.

If we look at the last few games the Habs have played, it could suggest they are getting used to Ducharme’s system. But only time will truly tell.