The Montreal Canadiens received a brutal reality check this week, suffering consecutive devastating losses that exposed the young team's ongoing learning curve in the NHL.
Crushing Defeats at Home Ice
After starting the season with an impressive 10-3-2 record, the Canadiens were brought back to earth with a thud, first falling 5-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday before experiencing an even more humiliating 7-0 shutout against the Dallas Stars on Thursday at home. The combined 12-1 scoreline over two games represented the kind of harsh lesson that even veteran teams struggle to process.
As journalist Jack Todd noted in his analysis, the team discovered that in hockey, as in life, there are no shortcuts around necessary learning experiences. Even blowout losses serve their purpose in a team's development.
Pivotal Moments and Costly Injuries
The Stars game turned dramatically during a 20-second sequence early in the second period. Defenseman Alexandre Carrier's stick shattered in front of the Montreal net, creating immediate chaos. As forward Kirby Dach attempted to hand his stick to Carrier, he took a shot directly to the ankle that left him kneeling in pain in the corner.
With both players effectively out of the play, Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell capitalized on the confusion to score and extend the lead to 2-0. The situation worsened moments later when Alex Newhook suffered a significant injury after being hauled down by Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and crashing hard into the boards.
Newhook's development had been one of the bright spots in Montreal's early success, with his speed fitting perfectly into coach Martin St. Louis's system. His absence, whether for games or potentially months, creates a significant void in both offensive production and penalty killing.
Contextualizing the Setbacks
Despite the lopsided scores, Todd's analysis suggests the outcomes weren't entirely reflective of the games' dynamics. The Canadiens actually outshot the Stars 24-19 and outhit them 30-17. Similarly, against Los Angeles, Montreal recorded 21 hits to the Kings' 10 in what wasn't a particularly physical contest.
The narrative that size differential determined the outcomes appears questionable. Instead, experience proved more significant than physical stature, with both Western Conference teams demonstrating superior ability to protect leads once established.
In goal, Jakub Dobes's performance drew scrutiny after he allowed five goals on just 13 shots against Dallas, though defensive breakdowns and unfortunate bounces contributed significantly to the numbers. Coach St. Louis faced questions about his decision to return to starter Samuel Montembeault rather than riding Dobes's recent strong form.
The Path Forward
For a young team still establishing its identity, these types of humbling experiences, while painful, form part of the essential growth process. The Canadiens demonstrated last season they could battle back from adversity, mounting a December resurgence to secure playoff positioning.
This season presents different challenges, as the element of surprise has evaporated and opponents arrive prepared for what Montreal brings. The team now faces the test of responding to adversity against traditional rivals, with a matchup against the Boston Bruins looming on Saturday.
The fundamental truth remains that development isn't linear in professional sports. As Todd emphasized, you're never as good as you look during winning streaks nor as bad as you appear during difficult stretches. For these Canadiens, the lessons from this week's setbacks may ultimately prove more valuable than the points lost.
