Christian Dvorak’s “punishment” for being useless? Have some 5-on-3 ice time!

Dose
Crédit: WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 31: Dylan McIlrath #52 of the Washington Capitals battles for the puck against Christian Dvorak #28 of the Montreal Canadiens during a game at Capital One Arena on October 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images)

It’s November 1st. That means it’s already Christmas in the stores.

But before we turn the page on Halloween, let’s remember that last night, the Canadiens gave up two points to the Capitals as if they were, well, Halloween candy.

And Martin St-Louis’ men didn’t need to dress up to look like a bad team.

In the 6-3 loss, which prompted the coach to say that the club had puked on itself in a press conference, the Canadiens really looked like a disorganized club on the ice.

Again, you might say.

There are several possible explanations for this poor performance. But the first player to be singled out is Christian Dvorak. Once again, you may ask…

First question: why is he only capable of making beautiful passes… to his opponents?

Second question: why, after the game, does everyone act like he played an uneventful game when he collects performances that are very, very… embarrassing?

No one is grilled about Dvorak after the game.

Third question: why does he get five-on-three playing time? Just when everyone’s wondering what the coach is waiting for to send him a message, the center gets quality minutes on the powerplay.

Let’s not give them to Jake Evans or Emil Heineman, eh?

It’s completely illogical for Martin St-Louis to tolerate such performances from Dvorak – and many other players. But if he’s not punished, how can Dvorak know he’s in the wrong?

But don’t think I’m picking on him. After all, there are positives: Martin St-Louis is cutting back on his playing time (he was the least-used forward with 10 minutes and 12 seconds), the player is winning his face-offs… and he’s capable of making some great passes. #Oups

This club needs a shake-up, and giving Dvorak or Joel Armia, for example, powerplay time isn’t going to get it done, we agree. Agreed?

The club is all crooked, and it’s clear that simply stirring the pot won’t be enough. At the very least, we’re going to have to call up some people from Laval, where the start of the season is going much better. It’s now or never to try and be #InTheMix… for those who still believe in it.

Anthony Marcotte raised several names that could make a difference, and it’s not just Joshua Roy and Alex Barré-Boulet who could be options. A Luke Tuch, for example, could change the identity of the fourth line.

Actually, I stand corrected: he could bring an identity to the fourth line. You can’t change something that doesn’t exist, after all… and right now, the fourth line isn’t doing anything at all.

Will it be like this all year? I don’t think so… but the question arises.

After all, the same problems keep recurring from game to game, and I have a feeling that the things I say the day after a game keep coming back.

1. Cayden Primeau let in six goals on 34 shots. But hey: that’s better than the eight goals allowed against the Kraken on Tuesday and the seven against the Rangers last week.

The Habs have given up 26 goals in their last five games. That’s not good: it’s about one goal every 12 minutes.

Are the goalies to blame? No. But could the goalies give more to save their defenders’ butts once in a while?

Jakub Dobes picked the wrong time to get hurt. Am I exaggerating? A little, but…

2. On a positive note: Cole Caufield scored his 10th goal in 11 games. Nick Suzuki collected two points, including a goal, for a total of 13 points this season. Lane Hutson, who is clearly on his opponents’ game plan, picked up two assists.

Brendan Gallagher found the back of the net again.

3. Six shots in the first. Six shots in the second. Four shots in the third. Do Martin St-Louis’ men really think that 16 shots are enough to win a hockey match?

The Capitals took 34 shots – 13 in the second and 14 in the third. And surprise: it was in these periods that they scored six times.

4. You won’t believe this, but I forgot something in the positive category: Josh Anderson showing leadership by fighting Tom Wilson.

And he even won!

5. We could go on for a while, but let’s end on this: Jayden Struble and Justin Barron only played a little over 10 minutes. The coach doesn’t trust them enough.

But at the same time, he must be wondering who to replace them with.

Overtime

The Canadiens take on the Penguins tomorrow. In the meantime, at noon on Friday, there’s a practice on the menu in Washington. Will it be an intense practice?

Will Martin St-Louis be shuffling his cards?

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