If I requested you to inform me what number of instances Josh Anderson has discovered the again of the web this season, I believe you’d all be capable of inform me the reply is zero.
As you’ll be able to see, for the reason that begin of the season, Anderson has been unable to purchase a purpose. Regardless of how laborious he tries, he merely can’t rating.
He hasn’t scored in his final 19 video games – all 16 this season, plus his final three video games in 2022-2023. It’s been over eight months (March 14) since he final lit up the web.
And it’s not for lack of effort.
Clearly, when Josh Anderson is on the ice, you’ll be able to see he’s attempting the whole lot he can. However proper now, he’s in all probability so wired and centered on his purpose that he’s shedding it.
Markstrom robs Anderson and actually I’m beginning to really feel very dangerous for him pic.twitter.com/2xg5GOEXX2
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 15, 2023
Despite the fact that Martin St-Louis gave him possibilities in massive offensive conditions (notably late within the sport when the CH had extra skaters than the Flames and he completely needed to rating) on the sidelines of the CH’s 2-1 loss, Anderson simply can’t do it.
I don’t know what’s going to take him at this level. In spite of everything, simply yesterday, he took three photographs and obtained loads of enjoying time. You may inform the membership has religion in him.
However Anderson have to be shedding confidence in himself. Despite his 37 shots this season, he’s not doing something proper.
Yesterday, he talked about that he might need to vary his sticks to regain his scoring contact. And since hockey gamers are superstitious (they’re just a little stitieux, on the very least), we wonder if he was joking or not.
However don’t assume he’s the one one guilty. No!
What do I take away from final evening’s sport, through which the Canadiens have been unable to grab victory from a Western Canadian membership for the second straight sport?
For instance? Alex Newhook has not scored in his final 13 video games. Tanner Pearson has not discovered the again of the web in his final 11 video games. We’re speaking about 15 video games for Jake Evans and 13 video games for Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who hasn’t scored this season.
However there’s extra to it than that.
At five-on-five, Juraj Slafkovsky hasn’t scored this season. Cole Caufield hasn’t had a five-on-five purpose in 14 video games. Keep in mind that Caufield is a scorer…
Actually, at five-on-five, just one ahead has managed to search out the again of the web for the Habs within the final 4 video games. We’re speaking about Brendan Gallagher in opposition to the Bruins on Saturday.
And provided that the CH’s final 4 targets have been scored by defensemen since Gally’s, it’s clear that the forwards must produce some day.
2. Yesterday’s solely purpose, as you might have guessed (and as you might have seen), was scored by a defenseman. Gustav Lindstrom, usually the Canadiens’ #7 defenseman, scored a wonderful purpose on a wonderful sequence.
Nice work by Slafkovsky, good go Dvorak, and Gustav Lindstrom ties this again up for the #Habs pic.twitter.com/sOyT4s6IBv
– Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) November 15, 2023
3. In the long run, the Canadian didn’t play badly in opposition to the Flames. It had an excellent sport in opposition to Jonathan Huberdeau’s membership (did you see him yesterday?), however wasn’t opportunistic.
4. Brendan Gallagher wasn’t a contented buyer final evening. He took a late-game penalty when he didn’t precisely should be despatched to the dungeon.
That’s the story of his profession.
Certain, ref. pic.twitter.com/wVOPeHWOuc
– Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) November 15, 2023
Within the penalty field, Gallagher wasn’t pleased… and neither was he in entrance of the media. He criticized the NHL, saying, as reported by Jean-François Chaumont, that the referees had made a terrible decision in an essential second of the sport.
Referee Pierre Lambert went by way of the wringer for Gally, who could possibly be fined if the NHL doesn’t get robust.
He took motion as a result of he noticed the Flames gamers reacting on the bench. It may well’t occur at this stage and he is aware of it.
You may’t make a mistake like that at such an essential second within the sport. – Brendan Gallagher after the sport
He additionally mentioned he’d prefer to see referees have the precise to seek the advice of with one another to make the precise choice on the ice, as we see in different main leagues in North America.
Prolonged time
The Canadiens, who’ve simply two wins in 60 minutes this season, can be again at apply this morning to arrange for the go to of Dominique Ducharme’s Golden Knights.
