The Montreal Canadiens tried to navigate a sleepy start

The Montreal Canadiens travel to Little Caesar's arena in Michigan, for a battle with the Detroit Red Wings, with puck drop at 7 pm.

The puck dropped, signalling the start of the game, but it appeared that only one team got the memo. Montreal looked tired, and a step behind out of the gate, and the expected second-period momentum swing didn't work out that way. Whether it be penalty trouble or perceived Samuel Montembeault struggles, the Habs continue to play from behind, when No. 35 is between the pipes.

For whatever reason, and it's only a small sample size, the Canadiens look to play a more confident game when Jakub Dobes is between the pipes. A certain Carey Price had a similar effect, only when he started, would the team play well. Almost like the backup goaltenders were intimidated by Price or something, and the vibe feels similar now.

I believe in Montembeault as the Canadiens starter, but his play seems to be a little off since he has had a competent backup. Cayden Primeau left, and Dobes arrived, which makes the Habs a better team, but Montembeault's play on a slight decline isn't helpful. It's got to be an uncomfortable place for the offense, when they need to score more than four goals, as is the case tonight.

Montreal has a two-goal deficit, down 4-2 entering the third period against the Red Wings, and they are being outshot 32-16. Penalties are right down the middle, with both teams taking two minor penalties apiece. A shorthanded goal, off a Lane Hutson, shot turnover, and a power play goal had the Habs trailing by two.

Kirby Dach scored the Habs' first goal, with assists going to Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher. Dach's 10th goal of the season dug the Habs out of a 3-0 hole, pulling the Habs within two. An ill-advised penalty by captain Nick Suzuki gave Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin a golden chance for the Red Wings fourth goal, and he made no mistake.

Kaiden Guhle then threw his name in the hat, adding his fourth goal of the season to draw the Habs within two of the Red Wings. Dach drew the secondary assist, his second point of the game, and Patrik Laine drew the primary assist. Laine made a nice play on the boards, and Dach went to the front of the net, and Guhle's point shot made it past Cam Talbot, because of an excellent screen.

At 14:35 Lane Hutson took an interference penalty, I didn't love it, based on the timing in the game, but it was a penalty. If the hockey gods can hear Montreal's plea, they could use a Nasty Patty goal or a Lane Hutson shimmy-shake assist. Whatever it is, the top guys need to put something together to help out Dach and Guhle's goal efforts.

With Montembeault pulled just around the three-minute mark of the third, the Habs pressed for something, and Talbot stood tall. An apparent glaring issue for the Canadiens was a shooting threat on the right side because Laine was being way overplayed. To seal the lack of Juraj Slafkovsky shooting the puck, with 1:04 to go, he took a high sticking penalty against former Habs Ben Chiarot.

The Red Wings failed to score on the man advantage, essentially using it to bleed out the clock.

Second power play unit usage was questionable

Trailing 4-2 with three minutes left in the game, instead of leaving the top players on the ice to draw some blood, the Habs second power play unit was on the ice. I think on a night where the guy took three goals against to wake up, it would be best if the offensive weapons were utilized. To get out of the hole, guys like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky - the top line, and the rest of the top six not named Dach.

I would say a couple of players have off-nights, but when a couple of guys do on the same night, it's not an enviable position to be in. Montembeault turned aside 41 shots, which should be enough to seal a win. But he unfortunately surrendered four goals, which was unsurmountable for the Habs.

The goaltending and scoring having a poor performance almost always spells disaster, and unfortunately that was the case for the Canadiens on Thursday night.