RALEIGH, N.C. — After their fifth straight loss, Kaiden Guhle of the Montreal Canadiens admitted, “We were just a step behind.” This losing streak has significantly impacted their position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Guhle, who recently returned from injury, observed the Canadiens` previous success was built on their ability to bounce back in games. He emphasized their resilience was crucial during his absence.
Now, the Canadiens need to rediscover that resilience to regain their winning form this season.
“Our forecheck defines us,” Guhle explained. “When we pressure teams effectively, we have one of the best forechecks in the league. Our skaters and physical players make it difficult for opposing defensemen to make clean passes. We need to find consistency in this area again.”
In Friday`s 4-1 defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Canadiens struggled to establish their forecheck.
For the first 40 minutes, they rarely entered the offensive zone, managing only seven shots on Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen. This was largely due to difficulties exiting their own zone.
The Canadiens needed their defensemen to effectively pass or clear the puck past Carolina`s aggressive forecheck. However, as Guhle noted, they were consistently a step too slow.
Coach Martin St. Louis commented on the forwards needing to adjust, saying, “To overcome pressure, you need to position yourself between checks, push back, and sometimes retreat to collect the puck.”
St. Louis acknowledged, “We could have executed that better.”
The Canadiens` fatigue from Thursday`s 6-4 loss in Philadelphia, combined with a lack of focus and execution in their recent games, has contributed to their struggles.
Despite the setback, a crucial 10-game stretch lies ahead, presenting an opportunity to recover from this slump.
Cole Caufield, the Canadiens` leading scorer, who didn`t register a shot in Friday`s game, stressed the importance of moving forward. “Considering where we started the year, being in this position is something we would have aimed for. We can’t take it lightly. Every game is important, and the next one is the most crucial.”
To win the next game, the Canadiens must address the issues from their recent losses.
Josh Anderson gave the Canadiens an early lead, scoring just 23 seconds into the game with their first shot.
