It looks bleak for the Montreal Canadiens. A multitude of problems. Four major issues have undermined the Habs this season. Although not a strong probability, there could be some short term solutions to stabilize the situation.

1) Mental and physical fragility
Last season Huet said the team was mentally fragile. An astounding statement, considering the team faced little adversity. This season, the team has not handled adversity very well, often wilting at the first signs of problems. An outgrowth of that is in puck retrieval, and possession. The team loses a majority of one-on-one battles along the boards and in the corners. Part of that is due to poor body positioning, bad stick technique. More importantly, the team plays “small” in those battles. Perseverance, and the desire to want it more than the opponent is a huge factor. Through the first half of the season, Gorges displayed that hunger for the puck, despite a size disadvantage. The lack of a willingness to do what ever it takes to come out of the corners with the puck, has sadly typified the lack of emotional intensity in this team.

Are the Habs physically fatigued? are they zin the best condition? How many times have players lazily skated to the bench on a line change, resulting in an odd man rush. Why do the Habs only execute an aggressive two man attack in short/quick bursts? The Islanders ambushed the Habs with a 3 man attack for a good 40 minutes. Why can’t the Habs respond? Too often, we see too many players losing their skating legs early in a shift.

2) Positional awareness
Part of the Habs defensive problems, are due to poorly applied technique and positioning in their box-plus-one formation. The puck chaser loses the first one-on-one battle, and the remaining players panic, and the formation breaks down. Frequently, the forwards, do not guard the high slot area, resulting in the trailer scoring. The defense too often allows the opposing player to gain inside position, thus breaking down the strategy of playing on a line between the Habs man and their net. Watch how Jersey moves their rectangular box in perfect balance, no matter what pressure is being put on it, and then compare the Habs box-plus-one system, it is ineffective.

3) Lang, Komisarek and Hamrlik
The loss of Lang was huge. A player very good at sticking to fundamentals, solid at playing high in the zone, and played to his size at both ends of the ice. His injury, exposed the Habs long standing weakness down the middle. The Habs regression this season, can be linked to Komi and Hammer. Two guys that stabilized the back end last year, playing horribly this season. Both have tried to tie up a player in front of the net as opposed to gaining position and control. Neither wants to be engaged in one-on-one battles. Both guilty of lunging rather than moving their feet when a player tries to break to the outside on them.

4) Youth regression
Virtually every young core player has regressed in performance, none able to take the leadership role and performance from Koivu and Kovalev. Were a lot of these players overrated? Too many look like adequate second tier players, but not one (save for Price, potentially) looks like an elite level player.

Possible short term solutions

1) Play to your strengths.
The Habs are a puck possession team. Against Edmonton, there was some 2-1-2 offensive attack. That has to be constant for 60 minutes. In that game early on, the breakout was better, as forwards were more dedicated to coming back deep for puck support. Gap control was way consistent too. Players must be dedicated to playing as a 5 man unit in each zone. The top two lines have to continue to try and gain speed through the neutral zone and carry it in. Let checking lines three and four play the North/South game of getting the puck behind the defence on the shoot in. Encourage, the defence to play both
bluelines aggressively. Defend both bluelines with as much vigour as possible.

2) Kovalev, Markov and Price:
The team goes as far as these three guys. It is all on their shoulders. Price is showing signs of elevated performance. Markov and Kovalev need to do the same. Unfortunately, Markov never displays that emotional component on the ice.

Despite obvious short comings, the team is way underachieving relative to the talent level. Gainey needs to take an iron hand, and get the players believing in his forechecking system, his defensive emphasis on taking away the middle of the ice. The team needs to use its speed to gain advantage. Most importantly they need to be emotionally committed to win the races for loose pucks, the one on one battles, and be positonally sound. It does not look like that is going to happen, but the schedule is soft, the goaltending is there, and perhaps Gainey can reach some of the players with his vision.

[Source: GOHABS.com]

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