Kirby Dach Injured Again as Canadiens Suffer Disappointing Weekend Losses
The Montreal Canadiens experienced a frustrating weekend on the ice, capped by a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at the Bell Centre that was compounded by another injury to forward Kirby Dach.
Dach's Injury Adds to Season Woes
Kirby Dach took the worst of a hit from Ducks forward Jeffrey Viel early in the first period and did not return to the game. This marks another setback for Dach, who has already missed 34 games this season with two separate injuries, most notably a foot fracture that sidelined him for 31 games.
Dach, a pending restricted free agent, has endured an injury-marred four seasons in Montreal and cannot afford further setbacks as he looks to establish consistency in his career.
Weekend Sweep by Western Conference Opponents
The loss to Anaheim completed a winless weekend for the Canadiens, who also fell 4-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. This represented a missed opportunity for Montreal to collect up to four points against Western Conference opponents.
The Canadiens did show offensive flashes in the second period against Anaheim, scoring three consecutive goals to briefly take the lead. Alex Newhook opened the scoring for Montreal, followed by Cole Caufield becoming the first Canadiens player since Max Pacioretty in 2013-14 to score 39 goals in a season. Nick Suzuki then gave Montreal a temporary 3-2 advantage.
Ducks Rally for Victory
Anaheim responded strongly throughout the contest. Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, propelled his team to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals against Canadiens starter Jacob Fowler. Carlsson finished with three points on the night.
After Montreal's three-goal outburst, Troy Terry tied the game before the end of the second period with an unusual backhand shot that fluttered past Fowler.
The game seemed headed for overtime until Cutter Gauthier buried the game-winner with just 2:30 remaining in regulation, set up by a no-look pass from Jeffrey Viel.
Goaltending and Defensive Challenges
Jacob Fowler, taking Jakub Dobes's spot in goal, stopped 24 of 28 shots and made several key saves to keep Montreal in contention. He particularly flashed his glove twice with the game on the line in the dying moments of the third period.
Defensively, the Canadiens struggled according to Hockey Stat Cards' impact metrics, with the top-four defenders seeing negative impacts. Only Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle ended up with minus ratings, while the rest were even.
Lineup Adjustments and Power Play Struggles
The Canadiens entered Sunday's game with rotation at forward. Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup after sitting Saturday for the first time in his career, while Zachary Bolduc sat Sunday as Alexandre Texier got his third straight game after previously seeing time in the press box.
If Dach is sidelined for any length of time, this would allow all three forwards to remain in the lineup. Gallagher responded to being a healthy scratch by posting a +1 rating in 13:22 of ice time.
The most obvious area for improvement identified after the weekend was the power play, which went 0-for-7 against the California teams.
Playoff Implications Loom Large
The disappointing weekend comes at a critical juncture in the season. The Canadiens next face divisional rivals they need to fend off in the playoff race: the Boston Bruins on Tuesday and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
Currently, Montreal sits just two points ahead of both the Bruins and Red Wings, meaning an extended losing streak could potentially push the Canadiens out of a playoff position entirely. This weekend to forget will sting less if the team can secure four points in the standings during their upcoming crucial matchups.
