Jake Evans is no shadow of the player he was last year

It’s the same old story. The same unpalatable (and unhealthy, Mr. Prime Minister) cold poutine.

Which bacon ranch poutine os*i am I talking about? The one served in the concessions on the Bell Centre ice since the start of the season.

The Canadiens have once again found a way to put on a flat performance in front of their fans, who, let’s not forget, pay hundreds of dollars to attend this “show”.

Following yesterday’s loss to the Senators, the Habs find themselves this morning in 12th place in the Eastern Association, just two wins ahead of the Panthers and last in the conference. #InTheMix

Since the start of the season, the Canadiens have lost seven of their 13 home games; that’s too many! Above all, it has suffered four thaws in front of its fans. All four in the last three weeks..

7-0, 5-1, 8-4 and 5-2…

No, Saputo Centre Bell Stadium is no longer a fortress. Against division rivals and Western teams alike..

Yesterday, we were treated once again to a disappointing performance from Samuel Montembeault, to a big team getting the better of our small and (too) young team, to an opposing team coming to our place and dominating the shots on goal..

In short, to the same unpalatable poutine!

No Montreal player was able to finish the game in the plus against the Sens. The “best” were Alexandre Carrier, Arber Xhekaj, Brendan Gallagher and Oliver Kapanen at zero.

It’s time to return Jared Davidson to Laval and replace Florian Xhekaj (or Alexandre Texier) with Samuel Blais, who is on fire in the AHL. But that’s another subject, as is the status of Jacob Fowler..

The Habs have a chance to bounce back tonight and finally give the team’s fans what they ask for when 21,000 of them show up at the Bell Centre: a performance to match, a show and a win. I had a better show when I went to see my niece play Ultimate Frisbee two weeks ago, and it didn’t cost me a kidney!

Will the Jets be docile enough to allow this?

Jake Evans is a shadow of his former self
Martin St-Louis didn’t mince his words in his team’s dressing room after the first period: ” Those who can’t play defensively will sit out,” he told his players.

Who was left sitting more than the others after that? Florian Xhekaj… and Jake Evans.

Evans didn’t even play 10 minutes yesterday. And he found a way to finish the game at -3!

Where’s Jake Evans, our defensive specialist? The one who supposedly accepted a paycut (at $2.85 million per season) after making his boxes?

Nobody knows. Evans has a -15 differential so far this season, the fifth worst in the NHL.

Going from Emil Heineman and Joel Armia to Alexandre Texier, Josh Anderson or a young Rocket sometimes makes things a little more complicated in your zone. And it doesn’t give you the same offensive punch.

Because let’s talk about Jake Evans’ offensive game. Evans signed his current contract on March 4. He finished last season with 13 goals and 26 assists, notably being on fire during the month of December. Remember, he was scoring almost every night for a while.

This season, however, he’s not producing at the same pace, with just 4 goals and 4 assists in 25 games.

Did he take his foot off the gas after signing his four-year contract? Did he play over his head at the best possible time, when his agent was negotiating with Kent Hughes?

Perhaps… but I think the birth of his twins at the end of August had something to do with it. Looking after two babies at the same time, when you’re already dealing with an atypical schedule like that of an NHLer, isn’t easy. Nights are even shorter and naps a lot more difficult.

Evans isn’t the first player to experience a downturn after becoming a father.

We can just count ourselves lucky to have a GM who didn’t flinch by giving him $5 million a year last spring.

extension

Oh yes, I forgot: last year, Evans shared the defensive responsibility at center with Suzuki, Dvorak and Newhook. Now, he’s doing it with Suzuki, Kapanen and Veleno.

Not the same… man-to-man or zone system!