Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier : on the ice for four goals by the Blues yesterday

Dose
Crédit: Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Yesterday, when looking at the state of the Canadiens’ defense (a team officially in reconstruction at the moment), we realize it’s divided into three different parts.

First, there’s Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble. The two have been used a lot by their coach and are the only two defensemen on the team who finished the game with a positive differential. This is really noteworthy.

And obviously, Lane Hutson got an assist on Nick Suzuki’s goal. At that point in the game, it was an important goal since it allowed the Habs to tie the game.

David Savard and Arber Xhekaj, on the third pair, didn’t do too badly. In 15 minutes of play, the guys were on the ice for just one goal at even strength for the Blues.

Savard and Struble were there for the sixth goal, but it was on the powerplay.

So, the first pair was on the ice for the Blues’ other four goals. Alexander Carrier and Mike Matheson finished the evening with a -4 differential each.

This isn’t my favorite statistic… but when it’s extreme, it means something.

This doesn’t mean the guys were to blame for all the Blues’ goals. But it does mean the first duo, who face the toughest opponents, wasn’t as solid as usual.

I imagine Matheson knows he was far from the action on the Blues’ fifth goal.

Yesterday’s game doesn’t make me reconsider Matheson’s importance in the team (even if a lot of people like him less than last year), but it does make us say this: when these two guys let in goals at a rate like we’ve never seen this season, it hurts the Habs.

Lane Hutson can’t take on too much defensively and the third pair can’t eat up a lot of minutes.

The way the lineup is currently constructed, if Matheson and Carrier don’t have their best game, the Canadiens will struggle. And yesterday was the ultimate proof.

The return of Kaiden Guhle will do some good, you say? Obviously.

Overtime

– Note to baseball fans.

– Big game for the Islanders tonight in the playoff race.

– Playoff chances: the Habs at 43.6% this morning. [MP]

– Good listening.