With three wins in four games, Canadiens hope they've turned the corner

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Each NHL victory is necessary, particularly for the Canadiens, who’ve managed solely seven wins in 19 video games thus far this season.

However Habs gamers have motive to be feeling good about their outcomes because the season reaches the quarter mark, with wins in three of their final 4 video games.

And with all due respect to Columbus, which went into Boston Monday, beat the Bruins and subsequently acquired head coach Jim Montgomery fired, the Canadiens’ 3-0 win in opposition to Edmonton that very same night time on the Bell Centre most likely carries extra cachet than their 5-1 victory in opposition to the Blue Jackets final Saturday. The Oilers, in any case, reached Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup last final season earlier than shedding to Florida.

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“The win was nice. Clearly the outcome. However to me it’s how we gained that galvanized the group,” head coach Martin St. Louis mentioned after Wednesday morning’s follow on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard following Tuesday’s time without work. “You take a look at our second and third interval. We had been superb in all of the issues that we speak about and we made it arduous for Edmonton to get again within the sport.

“To me, it’s how we did it, not a lot the outcome. I really feel, proper now, we’re in a great place to bolster the stuff that’s working. We’re not essentially in collective fixing mode. We’re taking this week attempting to assist some people.”

The Canadiens have a uncommon five-day break earlier than internet hosting Vegas Saturday night time, with three practices scheduled earlier than assembly the Golden Knights, who gained the Cup in 2023 and lead the Pacific Division with an 11-5-2 file previous to Wednesday night time’s sport at Toronto. Vegas is in Ottawa on Thursday, so is likely to be weary come Saturday, compelled to play three matches over 4 days.

Whereas Montreal’s two-game successful streak is sweet, the crew hasn’t been in a position to string three straight victories collectively this season, making it troublesome to find out how shut — if in any respect — the crew is to turning the nook in its rebuild.

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“It’s arduous to say. That’s a great query,” defenceman Mike Matheson mentioned. “I feel it’s important to preserve being constant. Is it every week from now? Two weeks from now? We don’t actually know. Or a yr from now? Precisely. It depends upon the way you’re evaluating that, too. If it’s only one particular standards that’s one factor. If you happen to’re wanting on the entire image, I feel you’ll have a greater understanding of it.

“You must comply with it up and do it in opposition to a crew like Vegas on Saturday. I feel not wanting too far forward sooner or later is necessary. Realizing at the moment we had a great skate and had been in a position to get higher. Do the identical (Thursday).”

Though the Oilers outshot Montreal 30-27, famous person captain Connor McDavid was restricted to at least one shot and fellow star Leon Draisaitl had solely two. Regardless of taking part in its second sport in as many nights on the highway, Edmonton had no bother with Ottawa on Tuesday, defeating the Senators 5-2. The 2 gamers mixed for 9 pictures and three objectives in that sport.

The Canadiens haven’t allowed greater than 30 pictures in six consecutive video games, so it seems one thing have to be working.

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“We’re positively taking part in a significantly better collective sport,” Matheson mentioned. “Extra strong as a gaggle defensively. I really feel our offensive sport is beginning to come as nicely, with out it being on the expense of our defensive sport.”

St. Louis acknowledged he’s spending this week working individually with gamers, hoping to refine their video games. Whereas the struggling Kirby Dach undoubtedly is on the prime of that checklist, the coach additionally hung out on the finish of Wednesday’s session with Josh Anderson. It was an apparent educating second and St. Louis, as all the time, was animated together with his on-ice gestures.

“Perhaps to not get puck-focused, relying on whom you play in opposition to,” Anderson defined. “Generally once they give-and-go, you get caught within the practice tracks. You’re watching the puck and so they can bounce by you.

“Proper now we’re taking it one sport at a time and are feeling good about ourselves. We have now a variety of confidence proper now.”

With 4 objectives and 9 factors in 19 video games this season, the 6-foot-3 226-pound winger seems en path to rebounding from his horrendous 2023-24 marketing campaign, when he slumped to 9 objectives and 20 factors in 78 contests. Anderson is also pleased with the efficiency of his linemates — Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak.

“Personally, and as a line, I feel we now have a bit extra id taking part in a five-man sport,” he mentioned. “That has helped us out rather a lot.”

Notes: Gallagher (remedy day) didn’t practise on Wednesday. … Injured ahead Patrik Laine (knee) was on the ice earlier than follow and briefly together with his teammates.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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