It’s only two games into the 2014-15 season, but the Montreal Canadiens are already off to their best start since 2009-10, when they also went 2-0 and ended up reaching the Eastern Conference Final.
Indeed, in each of the past four seasons, the Canadiens mustered only 1-1 starts, after dropping the opener each time to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This marks the sixth-straight season the two teams have faced each other to open the Habs’ season with Montreal now owning a less-than-impressive 2-4 record in those games.
On the Flip Side
In any case, this 2-0 start shouldn’t be read into too much, namely because, as mentioned previously, it’s only two games. Also, as great of a start the Habs have gotten off too overall? Not so much the case in the individual wins over the Leafs and Washington Capitals.
Granted, it’s obviously not how you start but how you finish that really counts (the 2-0 record proves that). But, getting outshot 11-6 in the first period of Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs—of all teams—is like getting beaten up by that one pacifist kid in school who only just gleefully realized the benefits of throwing a punch in a fist fight.
Of course, it is the Maple Leafs and in the end that punch-happy pacifist still needs to learn how to fight properly.
The next night, however, getting outshot 15-2 in the first period by the Washington Capitals? If the Maple Leafs were a collective pacifist in a fist fight, the Habs were collectively paralyzed. By what, who knows?
Maybe it was the Habs being intimidated by their opposition, confused as to what year it was, thinking it actually was that 2009-10 season when the Capitals won the President’s Trophy with 121 points (even though they haven’t hit nearly as many since and missed the playoffs last year).
Or maybe not enough credit is being given to Washington. Perhaps it was just a case of the Capitals being supercharged, celebrating their 40th anniversary and all… and being brainwashed into thinking that 40 years was actually a milestone worth celebrating.
Seriously, give us a call in another 10 years for your 50th. Then we’ll talk.
Or maybe, just maybe, it was the Habs being tired, playing their second game in back-to-back nights. Of course, it was also their second game of 82 in all. So, if it was fatigue setting in, these next 80 games won’t go so hot.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Whatever it was, the Canadiens had better hope that this isn’t the start of a trend, even though there were definitely some positives, you know, aside from the two victories and four points.
The Habs showed character, not resting on their laurels against the Leafs when they led 3-2 in the third period. They didn’t collapse into a defensive shell as has been the norm in the recent past. They actually kept with their game plan.
Even after the Leafs tied it late on a weird bounce, the Habs didn’t panic. They pushed right back offensively, getting a scoring chance right away, ultimately scoring the game-winner soon thereafter off another weird bounce.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNexEN1pI5I
And, against the Capitals, the Habs eventually rebounded from that horrible first period, with Dustin Tokarski also proving management made the right decision to keep him instead of Peter Budaj. They ended up outshooting Washington 22-15 the rest of the way to earn the game-tying goal, then a shot in overtime, and finally the win in the shootout.
It all almost makes the two bad starts worth it, all the more sweeter. Almost.
For the record, in that 2009-10 season, the Habs couldn’t keep up the momentum of their 2-0 start and lost their next five. Needless to say, the Habs will likely want to come out a whole lot stronger against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Philly and better guarantee themselves of another victory.
That would give them their best start since 2005-06.
Ryan your clueless, Have you tried playing competitive hockey in back to back games? Against teams playing their home opener? Sure Montreal did not get off to a great start BUT the Flyers were flying and Montreal’s legs were not there. Your reading way to much into an early NHL season. The only thing to get out of their 3-0 start is they do not quit. Something very promising. Hockey is going to be sloppy for the first week or 2. They have hardly played together this yr. The preseason they played a lot of young guys and mixed lines up. NOW they are playing with their real team so give a couple of weeks before you start harping on the negatives…
For future reference, I don’t appreciate being called clueless, especially when it’s not deserved. Just as an fyi.
This article, by the way, did not mention the Flyers game, so I don’t know what you’re referring to, unless you meant the Capitals.
I don’t know how you can suggest I’m harping on negatives, when the headline of this piece is “Montreal Canadiens off to the Best Start This Decade.” Did I discuss negatives? Sure. But I also discussed the positives, including, as you mention, their character and non-willingness to quit. I believe this to be a well-balanced piece. I’m sorry you don’t feel the same way.
As I pointed out in the piece, it’s also only their second game of the season. They have no excuse for coming out as badly as they did.
You do make good points, but at the end of the day to get outshot 15-2 is an embarrassment. In each of the team’s three games, the Habs have come out flat. True, they’ve shown a tremendous amount of character to win each of those games in dramatic fashion. But it seems more likely to be a start of a disturbing trend this season. It’s more likely at this point that it had more to do with a bad start by Montreal than Washington’s good one.
But its only the 5th year of this decade….. nothing very revolutionary
True. But I was looking for a half-decent headline and that seemed to fit the bill. Truth be told 2-0 isn’t that revolutionary either, but it’s still something.
For the record, now at 3-0, they’re at their best start since 2005-06, which is a decade minus a year.
Actually, I imagine the main reason for getting outshot 15-2 in the first period at Washington was (1) Washington’s first game after a week long rest, at home, celebrating 30 years as franchise and motivated by a new coach, new players vs. (2) Habs getting to their hotel in Washington at 3am anf getting to sleep at (maybe) 3:30am after a somewhat draining road game in the always intense Leaf-Hab rivalry and winning with the relief of that decent start.
The Habs were always going to be outplayed in that first period against that team.