Panthers top ‘drained’ Habs
Scoring a problem for Canadiens squad that’s played 11 games in just 19 days
MONTREAL Head coach Michel Therrien believes it might be time for his club to have a break.
After a tough 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre, Therrien came to the defence of a Montreal team that couldn’t generate much offence during the game.
“We’ve played a lot of hockey in less than three weeks,” said Therrien. “This team is drained. They’re empty.”
The Canadiens have played 11 games in the last 19 days, including a 1-0 overtime victory against the Islanders in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday night. The team touched down at Trudeau airport in Montreal in the wee hours Sunday, delayed by a snowstorm, and even scratched their pre-game skate.
Therrien didn’t blame the loss on a lack of effort or passion, but simply on fatigue.
“The lemon is squeezed of all its juice,” said Therrien. “When physically you’re tired, the execution is not quite there and you make bad decisions. They go hand in hand.
The Canadiens started slowly, recording their first shot on net seven minutes into the first period, and were sluggish for most of the game. After two periods, the Panthers led 2-0 and were outshooting the home side 20-12.
Montreal came into the third with a burst of ener- gy. With the Habs pressing on the power play, its first of three in the final 20 minutes, Alex Galchenyuk reduced the deficit at 2:28 after banging home captain Brian Gionta’s rebound from inside the goaltender’s crease.
But with Florida’s Mike Weaver and Scottie Upshall in the penalty box later in the period, the Canadiens couldn’t gain control of the game despite playing 35 seconds of 5-on-3 hockey. Galchenyuk had a golden chance in front of the net to tie the game, but fanned on the bouncing puck.
Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen made 17 saves, six of which came in the third period, to earn his second victory of the year. He got the nod in net in place of Tim Thomas, who’s sidelined with a groin injury.
“Our penalty killing came up big for us,” said Clem- mensen, looking back on the 5-on-3. “Our guys were diving in front, getting sticks up there, deflecting passes, being in a good position. It was great. That’s how we win games.”
Peter Budaj got the start in net for the Canadiens, his first of the season at home. He stopped 23 of 25 shots.
Jesse Winchester, a former Senators forward, got the Panthers on the board at 4:44 of the second, beating Budaj to his right with a one-timer off the post and in.
Nick Bjugstad doubled the Panthers’ lead at 7:11, finishing off Florida’s 3-on-2 rush by firing a wrist shot under Budaj’s glove.
Florida (12-17-5) extended its win streak to three games. The Canadiens (20-12-3), meanwhile, have now lost three of their last four games, and have only scored three times in those outings.