The Montreal Canadiens are searching for answers after a humbling 8-4 defeat to the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre on Thursday night sparked concern throughout the organization.
Head coach Martin St. Louis responded with the most intense practice of the season Friday morning, followed by a crucial team meeting to address what has gone wrong during their recent five-game slide.
Struggles Mount During Winless Streak
The Canadiens have posted an 0-4-1 record over their last five contests, being outscored by a concerning 27-10 margin. Despite this difficult stretch, Montreal maintains a 10-7-3 record and finds themselves just two points behind the first-place Detroit Red Wings in the tightly contested Atlantic Division.
The timing of this slump is particularly challenging with the rival Toronto Maple Leafs scheduled to visit the Bell Centre on Saturday night. When questioned about his starting goaltender for the important matchup, St. Louis admitted, "I don't know."
Goaltending Crisis Reaches Critical Point
Thursday's performance highlighted the team's most pressing issue. Starter Sam Montembeault was pulled early in the second period after allowing three goals on just ten shots. Replacement Jakub Dobes fared little better, surrendering four goals on 25 shots before Washington added an empty-netter.
The statistics reveal the severity of the situation. Montembeault now sports a 4-5-1 record with a 3.71 goals-against average and an .852 save percentage. Dobes, who earned NHL third star honors in October with a 6-0 record and 1.97 GAA, has seen his performance plummet in November with an .820 save percentage over five appearances.
Defenceman Lane Hutson defended the struggling netminders, stating, "It's not on them. It's all of us. We just got to be sharper in front of them and help them out like they help us out."
Team-Wide Issues Beyond the Crease
While goaltending remains the most visible problem, St. Louis identified broader concerns. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Canadiens allowed 13 high-danger scoring chances against Washington while generating only five of their own.
The coach pointed to specific breakdowns in game management, particularly following Montembeault's removal. "I pulled Monty yesterday and, to me, the next shift is just momentum," St. Louis explained. "Let's just go get momentum and we didn't. We turned it over, we couldn't get it out."
He emphasized the need for better decision-making and maturity, noting the team has strayed from their successful formula. "We can't just hope for a rush game at that point. The rush game, to me, it usually comes from the other team making mistakes or turning pucks over."
Looking in the Mirror for Solutions
Following the team meeting, forward Cole Caufield shared the central message. "The answer's in the mirror," Caufield stated. "You got to find yourself and hold yourself accountable and do the things that you know can help the group and do them the right way."
The Canadiens face additional challenges as the NHL's youngest team, compounded by significant injuries to key players including Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Patrik Laine, and Kaiden Guhle. The status of Jake Evans remains uncertain after he left Thursday's game following a heavy hit from Tom Wilson.
Despite the adversity, veteran defenceman Mike Matheson offered perspective. "I think it's easy to feel like the world's crashing down," he acknowledged. "When you're in it and you care so much, it really does feel that way. But whether it's going to a different place, where you kind of realize how lucky you are to be in this opportunity and play for a team like this and have the support that we have."
The Canadiens remain seven points ahead of their pace from last season when they managed to reach the playoffs despite a slower start. How they respond against Toronto on Saturday will reveal much about this young team's character and resilience.
