• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Montreal Canadiens

Time for Montreal Canadiens to Unleash the Russian?

By Ryan Szporer April 23rd, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sergei Gonchar

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sergei Gonchar – (Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports)

Admittedly, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sergei Gonchar probably hasn’t been “released” in the most classic sense of the term in over a decade.

Even then, comparing him to the Kraken, a mythical monster, probably isn’t doing him (or the Kraken) any favors. After all, the Kraken is traditionally depicted as a giant-squid-like creature with dozens of tentacles that can snap up victims without a moment’s hesitation. These days, Gonchar can barely get his two legs working right.

So no one wants to build Gonchar up as being some savior, especially when he won’t be able to deliver in such a capacity. Even so, the Habs, looking to eliminate the Ottawa Senators Friday in Game 5 of their first-round series (7 pm Eastern at home), might just find the offensive boost they need in the 41-year-old defenseman.

 

Montreal Canadiens Lead 3-1

While the Canadiens won the first three games of the series, they have done so largely with an ever-dwindling offense. They went from a four-goal Game 1, to a three-goal Game 2, and then a two-goal Game 3. They skipped over one and got shut out by Craig Anderson 1-0 in Game 4.

Seeing as the Canadiens boasted the worst regular-season offense of any playoff team (2.61 goals per game), maybe the only shocker is how well they did without Max Pacioretty, who returned in Game 2 of the series following a concussion. Dating back to the April 5 victory over the Florida Panthers he left in the first period, the Habs scored four goals in each of the games he was out.

That includes the first game this opening-round series, during which the Habs have scored only one power-play goal (16 total opportunities). In fact, special teams seem to be the one battle Ottawa is winning, as they have gone three for 12. However, as the Senators proved on Wednesday night by staving off elimination, this thing isn’t over yet. Montreal can still turn things around on the man advantage.

That’s where Gonchar comes in.

 

Gonchar to the Rescue

There’s little denying that at this stage of his career, Gonchar is a power-play specialist at best, but he just may have legs fresh enough to contribute. He last played in early April against the New Jersey Devils eight games ago.

With Nathan Beaulieu out for the series, the Habs could most definitely use an injection of offensive poise on the back end. Not for nothing, Gonchar did score 14 points in 48 games this season (Beaulieu, an up and coming puck-moving defenseman, had nine in 64 games).

While Greg Pateryn filled in admirably for Beaulieu in Game 4 in a limited capacity (7:48 total ice time), there could be or maybe should be another opening on the blue line for Game 5 following Tom Gilbert’s blunder that indirectly led to Mike Hoffman’s game-winning goal in the third period.

 

 

Obviously mistakes happen. However, if the strategy the Canadiens are going to be implementing from here on out is to play rope-a-dope and clear the puck out (instead of carrying it) every chance they get, despite successfully outshooting the Senators by an average of over 10 in the first three games, you really don’t need Gilbert’s added mobility at the expense of, say, Gonchar’s experience.

 

Stay the Course

While the loss was bad enough, what was worse was how Montreal lost, after having collapsed into a defensive shell. The Canadiens were arguably playing not to lose, looking for their trademark opportunistic scoring to get them the sweep when it had gotten them this far up to now.

However, the one key difference between Game 4 and the rest of the season up to that point was that, in Game 4, the Canadiens didn’t have a lead to hold onto. Gonchar can help out in that regard, at least come Game 5, with extra motivation likely to come playing against his former team.

With the Habs still leading 3-1 in the series, there’s no need to panic. After the loss, that seemed to be the Canadiens’ main party line, to stick to the plan. Adding in a potentially calming influence in Gonchar may be just what the doctor ordered.

Really, it’s not rescuing or saving the Habs need at this point (unless it’s from themselves). That being said, a few more goals certainly couldn’t hurt.

  • Tags
  • Greg Pateryn
  • Nathan Beaulieu
  • Sergei Gonchar
  • Tom Gilbert
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 27th 5:45 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers Goaltending Struggles Show Georgiev Is Best Option

Jan 27th 5:30 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Holl, Andersen, Marner, Matthews & Woll

Jan 27th 5:20 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Season Ticket Sales at UBS Arena Exceeding Expectations

Jan 27th 5:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

4 Ups and 4 Downs Eight Games Into Oilers 2020-21 NHL Season

Jan 27th 4:35 PM
Column

Blues Weekly: Standout Performances Highlight .500 Week

Jan 27th 4:15 PM
Arizona Coyotes

Soup To Nuts, Coyotes Make Moves To Improve On All Levels

Jan 27th 4:05 PM
Commentary

3 Stars That Could Be Traded in the Wake of the Laine/Dubois Deal

Jan 27th 3:55 PM
Editor's Choice

3 Best Edmonton Oilers to Never Win a Stanley Cup

Jan 27th 3:45 PM
Fantasy

Kings’ 5 Most Valuable Players for Fantasy Hockey

Jan 27th 3:35 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Why Burke Anticipates the Tortorella, Laine Relationship Will Be ‘Just Fine’ [Video]

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information